Our 2017 wall calendar is ready to order for holiday giving. Delight friends and family with a whole year of companionable hound friends – from an adorable youngster with his toy prey to a distinguished adult sporting a competition ribbon; from a sleepy-eyed beauty to a dock-diving athlete. You’ll meet a new hound each month as the calendar showcases the wonderful variety of coonhound personalities and good looks. Click here to order. The page will open in a new window. Remember to select January as your "starting month" on the order page to avoid disappointment. The calendars are 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches high when closed and open to 17 inches high. The paper is heavyweight high quality white glossy held together by a refined wire-O binding. Each day’s square is big enough to fill in with personal reminders so your hound can track trips to the vet and play dates with friends. Your price is $17.99 plus shipping. Every penny of profit goes directly to our programs. Thank you so very much for supporting our work! “Coonhounds and Foxhounds Are Only Good for One Thing… HUNTING!” NOT! The Secret’s Out: They Make Great Pets! There’s a myth still circulating about coonhounds and foxhounds: They are only good for one thing — hunting. But anyone who’s ever shared home and hearth with one quickly learns that they make great pets too. Black and Tan, Bluetick, English, Plott, Redbone, or Treeing Walker coonhounds, and all foxhounds, are pretty darn resilient, and incredibly forgiving toward humans. No other breed that I know of would tolerate the cramped quarters of a dog “box” in the back of a pickup truck, cooking in the heat during a Texas summer or freezing in the cold during a Minnesota winter, moving along at highway speeds, without emerging with some physical or psychological damage. The big hounds usually come through that perfectly happy, which I attribute to their inherently benevolent temperaments. Bred to work as full partners, out of sight of their human hunting buddies, they are also about the most loyal, affectionate dogs around, closely attuned to the wishes of their handlers and eager to please. I’ve been rescuing hounds, mostly Treeing Walkers, for over 30 years. Almost all of mine have been exceptional companions. Not only are they affectionate by nature, they are rarely quarrelsome with other dogs. Coonhounds are bred to team up, hunting with dogs they’ve never met before, so they’re good at making friends with strangers. They’re generally pretty easy to house train, too, even if some rescue hounds need to be taught all sorts of indoor manners before they are adopted out because they haven’t shared quarters with humans before. Coonhounds and foxhounds are really beautiful dogs, too. They come in a wide variety of rich coat colors and patterns -- red, “blue” (mottled black and white), black, brindled (striped), tri-colored like a beagle -- with such endearing features as tan “almonds” over the eyes, black “pencil lines” on the toes, and perfect spots for kissing on the top of the head, to say nothing of those long silky ears. Hounds have a short, dense coat which is easy to keep clean. Ninety-eight percent of the Walkers I’ve rescued over the years lived long, healthy lives, with none of the health issues (hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, hypothyroidism, cancer, etc.) that seem to plague so many of the more popular breeds. One of our Walkers, a male named “T.J.,” lived to the ripe old age of 17, with clear eyes, no skin or ear problems, and cancer-free. Without a doubt, he was the finest example of a well-bred coonhound I’ve ever known. Breed longevity is a bonus for any dog lover, but longevity and good health is the ultimate “package” deal. Of course, T.J. was exceptionally long-lived, but 12-14 years is not unusual for a coonhound or foxhound that hasn’t met an unnatural death in a “shelter” or crossing a road, intent after game. And there’s a new concern added to the burdens that coonhounds in shelters have faced. Over the last few years, the American Kennel Club, the largest registry of purebred dogs in this country, has begun to recognize most of the coonhound breeds. (They’ve recognized two breeds of foxhounds and American Black and Tan Coonhounds for much longer.) That may well increase the price breeders, both good and bad, will charge for purebred puppies. In the past, only the United Kennel Club, the National Coon Hound Association, and the Continental Kennel Club, much smaller registries, recognized these coonhound breeds, and these are largely hunting registries. Puppies weren’t worth much until they were trained to hunt and proved their skills. AKC registration may give breeders an incentive to produce pups without regard for the working characteristics that have kept coonhounds and foxhounds so robust until now. I hope that AKC recognition for conformation doesn’t prove disastrous for these hounds, as it was for German Shepherd Dogs and a host of other breeds which became popular after gaining recognition from the most recognized registry in the world.
So the next time you visit a shelter, rescue, or animal control facility and see one of those “only good for one thing” hounds, please consider adopting it and giving it a chance to be your beloved pet. Chances are it will be a great companion. Perhaps some hunter had too many dogs to feed, the hound is gun-shy, or your candidate came into the shelter as a stray after it went too far afield, lost its tracking collar, and couldn’t find its way home. Kill shelters in almost every southern state are brimming with unwanted coonhounds and foxhounds, which are usually near the top of the euthanasia list at public shelters, outranked only by pit bulls and owner surrenders. The myth about coonhounds and foxhounds is so widespread that I believe that only one in five shelters in the South even attempts to find rescue for them. When shelters do reach out, the few rescues willing to take hounds are often full to capacity. I know. I’ve turned down too many needy hounds myself, although I always try to help if I possibly can. Bonney Williams Director, Etosha Rescue and Adoption Center The opinions expressed in this guest blog are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by Coonhound and Foxhound Companions. Our 2016 coonhound calendar is posted for sale now, just in time for holiday gifts for all your hound-loving friends. This year’s edition features one or more pet hound by name in each and every month. Come Rumi; come Poppy; come Penny; come George! Come Nutmeg; come Claudia; come Calhoun; come Hank! Come Willy and Rosie and Lilah and Arlo! Come Rebel, too! The pack is all here and wants to visit with you! Whether your preferred breed is brindled or plain, ticked or spotted, prefers fishing, swimming, farming or sniffing flowers, you’ll have a companionable hound friend overseeing every month. Click here to order. The page will open in a new window. Remember to select January as your "starting month" on the order page, to avoid disappointment. The calendars measure 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches high when closed and 17 inches high when open. The paper is heavyweight high quality white glossy held together by a refined wire-O binding. Each day’s square is big enough to fill in with personal reminders so your hound remembers his trips to the vet and play dates with friends. Your price is $17.99 plus shipping. Every penny of profit goes directly to our programs. We are an all volunteer organization with no paid staff. Thank you so very much for supporting our work!
by Marilyn Swan When I retired after 34 years at a major corporation, I had one last thing on my Bucket List. Get a dog. I knew I wanted an older dog so I went to a rescue site and there was a beautiful 5-year-old Treeing Walker Coonhound, who needed a “furever” home. She had lost her home through no fault of her own and she turned out to be the perfect dog for me. Daisy Mae has just one problem. She is terrified of thunder! Living in Florida, especially during the summer, there seems to be a daily downpour. Often, long before the storm, she would start pacing and trembling uncontrollably.
My vet suggested that I meet with a Veterinary Behavioral Specialist to address her fear. He explained that dogs get worse with age when they are so fearful. An older dog can perish from a fear-induced heart attack. The Behavior Specialist came to my house and presented a plan to manage this fear during the summer, then work toward trying to desensitize her to thunder in the fall. I’d like to share these suggestions so that others can find some relief for their dogs. First, we created a den for Daisy Mae. It is the floor of a closet, where she had gone to hide. I put a bed, blankets and pillows on the floor. I set up an IPod with CDs from a collection called Through a Dog’s Ear. They can be found on ITunes. This closet is part of a room that only has one window. I close the window blinds and the hanging clothes dampen the noise. Also, I have a Thunder Shirt wrapped tightly around her. In the room, I have a diffuser with Adaptil Spray that is on constantly. This product emits a smell that is similar to an appeasing pheromone of a nursing Mother Dog. Daisy Mae also wears a lightweight collar that emits this smell. The den has become her safe place and she readily goes there when she senses hard rain or a storm. The Vet also prescribed a low dosage of Xanax, which I give to her about 2 hours before I think there will be a storm. This drug has stopped the shaking, which was so painful to watch. I was also cautioned that just trying to hold her during a storm was giving her mixed messages. She could have sensed that I was also afraid. I am keeping a daily journal of Daisy’s behavior so that the Behavioral Specialist can evaluate her progress. It seems like the Xanax is working because Daisy will sometimes come out of the den to eat even during a storm. Previously, she never would have left her den during a storm. I am also giving her 2 capsules (100mg) daily of a natural supplement called l-Theanine made by Swanson. It is a calming supplement. Not all of the L-Theanine products are safe for dogs. Avoid any products that have xylitol in them. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that can be toxic to dogs. Another wonderful tool has been the new TAGG GPS Plus pet tracker. It attaches to her collar and through an app on my phone, I will always know where she is. Certainly we know that coonhounds can run if they catch a scent off leash. Should that happen, not only do I get a text message, I can easily find her whereabouts on the phone app. There are several other great features on this product to track her daily activity and her temperature. It is modestly priced and the monthly subscription price is well worth the peace of mind it gives me. The system can be purchased online. I hope these suggestions will be useful to other coonhound owners. I hope they can find a Veterinary Behavioral Specialist in their area to ease their dogs’ thunder fears. Resources: American College of Veterinary Behaviorists http://www.dacvb.org/about/map/ Through A Dog’s Ear: http://throughadogsear.com/ Thundershirt: http://www.thundershirt.com/?gclid=COeIkcDZycYCFcdcfgodg9oCEA Adaptil: http://www.adaptil.com/uk/#redirected l-theanine http://www.swansonvitamins.com/l-theanine TAGG GPS plus http://www.pettracker.com/# The opinions expressed in this guest blog are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily endorsed by Coonhound and Foxhound Companions. By Stanley Coren, Ph.D. One factor in George Washington’s becoming president was dogs. George Washington, the Commanding General of the Continental Army and later the first President of the United States, had a life-long association with dogs. His major concern with them had to do with fox hunting, which was one of his great delights and passions. During his years in Virginia he would ride out with his dogs to hunt foxes every week and sometimes two or three times a week. However what is not well known to most people is that his dogs would make it easier for him to become the leader of the new nation that emerged from the American Revolution. Nor do most people know that he would ultimately bring a new breed of dog into the world. As an educated and devoted farmer, Washington knew the basics of animal breeding and husbandry. With his usual painstaking care he began to build a pack of hunting hounds. They became his hobby, and his passion. Washington's diaries are filled with his accounts of his dog breeding and eventually he created a unique breed of foxhound that he called "Virginia Hounds." Washington's feelings about these dogs can be detected in the names that he gave them. There was Sweet Lips, Venus, and Truelove. These shared a kennel with dogs named Taster, Tippler and Drunkard, but we don't have time for a psychological analysis of another love that is perhaps indicated by these names. With the rise of discontent against British rule, the Continental Congress was formed to discuss the relationship between the American colonies and King George III. Washington was appointed as one of the representatives from the colony of Virginia. Congress met in Philadelphia, and Washington found the conditions quite difficult since he obviously could not, simply at a whim, mount his horse and assemble his dogs to hunt foxes through the streets of the city. However, Samuel Powel, the wealthy Mayor of Philadelphia, and his lovely wife Elizabeth Willing Powel, rescued him. Elizabeth Powel had originally taken notice of Washington, when she had been struck by his handsome elegance. She described her first encounter with him saying, "His movements and gestures are graceful, his walk majestic, and he was walking with a tall, exceedingly graceful dog of the hound type as he strode down Walnut Street." The dog was one of Washington's favorites, Sweet Lips, who he kept as a companion while he stayed in the city. Elizabeth, from her comments, was obviously attracted to both the look of the man and the look of the dog. However, she stopped the Virginia gentleman to comment specifically on the dog. Washington was seldom modest about his dogs and he proudly informed her that it was a "perfect foxhound" that he himself had bred. It was Elizabeth who brought Washington to her husband's attention. Samuel recognized that this was a man with political as well as military talents and that it might be in his own political interests to foster an association with him. When Elizabeth had met Washington and Sweet Lips, he mentioned his disappointment at not being able to hunt while Congress was in session. Elizabeth suggested that her husband might be able to help solve that problem and invited Washington to join them for dinner at their home. It was through the Powels that Washington was offered a chance to ride to the hounds at the Gloucester Hunting Club, across the river in New Jersey. It is usually claimed that the Gloucester club was the first foxhunting club in the New World. Washington impressed everyone in the club as being a "splendid horseman" and his dogs were also deemed as being impressive because of their "stamina and sagacity." Mayor Powel was very well connected in both the political and financial worlds, and many of his powerful friends were also members of the club. The men that Washington met through his visits to hunt with the club were the men who had the ability to sway the current government. They liked this man from Virginia. He was intelligent, organized, had a commanding presence. It also appeared that he was honest and moral, and, not to be ignored, he had a love of dogs and hunting. When Washington made a gift of some of his Virginia Hounds to these men they were pleased and appreciative. Their appreciation would turn itself into a lobbying effort that would help to win Washington the command of the Continental Army. Washington's affection for dogs is vividly illustrated in an incident that occurred during the Revolutionary War. It was when American forces were trying to contain British General William Howe's troops, who had occupied Philadelphia. During the Battle of Germantown, which was not going well for the Americans, Washington was encamped at Pennibecker's Mill. On October 6, 1777, a little terrier was seen wandering the area between the American and British lines. It turns out that General Howe's little terrier had somehow gotten loose and had become lost on the battlefield. The dog was identified from its collar, and brought to Washington. His officers suggested that he might want to keep the dog as a sort of trophy which might weaken the morale of the British general. Instead he took the dog into his tent, fed him and had him brushed and cleaned. Then, to the surprise of everyone, Washington ordered a cease fire. The shooting stopped and soldiers on both sides watched as one of Washington's aides formally returned a little dog to the British commander under a flag of truce. At the close of the war, Washington retired to Mount Vernon to continue his agricultural work, to engage in Virginia politics and to fulfill his dream of creating "a superior dog, one that had speed, scent and brains." He had decided that his Virginia Hounds were too lightly built and were lacking in the strength for a long sustained hunt. In addition they were too easily distracted from the trail of the fox by other things. During the war Washington had developed a warm personal relationship with the Marquis de La Fayette, the French general and political leader whose assistance was vital to the success of the revolution. In their many private conversations Lafayette had praised the French King's staghounds for their stamina and focus when on the trail of a quarry. So Washington began a long correspondence with his old comrade-in-arms to try to obtain a few of these dogs as breeding stock. The hounds that Washington wanted had originally been bred in the French royal kennels and were not easily obtained, however Lafayette continued searching and he eventually managed to find seven large French hounds that he promptly sent off to America. Washington quickly set about breeding the larger French staghounds to his smaller Virginia Hounds. He was very selective in his breeding, carefully breeding dogs with desirable attributes to others that had different qualities that he also desired. He was looking for a hound whose size was a bit bigger than his Virginia hounds but considerably smaller than the French hounds, while still retaining the speed and strength of the French imports. The dog needed to have better running speed than the English foxhound since the hunt was generally much swifter given the broader expanses of open ground in the Americas. His experiments were successful and Washington is credited as being the main developer of the American Foxhound. Washington's experiments with dog breeding would be cut short by political pressures. In 1787, he headed the Virginia delegation to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and was unanimously elected presiding officer. During his long stay in Philadelphia he again spent time with the Powels and he also visited the Gloucester club to hunt with a few of his newer dogs and to renew acquaintances. Washington's foxhunting friends used their influence to buy him support from members of the Electoral College, which had been established to elect the President of the United States of America. After the new Constitution was ratified and became legally operative, Washington was unanimously elected president. How much of this honor was due to the political support that he gained as a result of events set in motion because the wife of the Mayor of Philadelphia stopped to comment on a handsome dog, we will never know. Washington would never have time to return to continue to shape his "perfect hounds." However, there would be a few additional changes made to the breed in the early 1800s, when Washington's friends at the Gloucester Foxhunting Club would take his basic foxhounds and cross them with some English foxhounds to make them look a bit more like the Old World version of the breed. Nonetheless, it is certain that George Washington—the first U.S. president, the heroic general and the Virginia farmer—had clearly defined the model of what the American Foxhound should be. Copyright © SC Psychological Enterprises Ltd. May not be reprinted or reposted without permission of the author. “Canine Corner: The Human-Animal Bond” : http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner The opinions expressed in this guest blog are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by Coonhound and Foxhound Companions. Copyright © Covertside Magazine Retired foxhounds can make it as house hounds with the right training By Polly Wilson I have a habit of bringing home strays. Therefore, it should not have come as a surprise that I brought Benny home. Benny was clearly becoming fond of hanging about with the second field rather than hunting, and, although we all loved to have him with us, it was time for Benny to retire. He was one of the original pack members from when the Few Hounds Hunt became the Green Mountain Hounds. Aptly named, there had been only three couple regularly hunted by Elaine Ittleman, MFH and huntsman, at the inception of Few Hounds Hunt. Three years before his retirement, Benny was nose to the ground and in the game. As the last few seasons progressed, he slowed down. By the time Benny was actually retired, he was beyond ready. I called his name and he hopped into the truck. I told friends that he came with his golf shoes and a condo in Florida. Benny is an example of a retired foxhound who was ready to move from the kennel to the hearth and he did so with ease. Since then, I have taken three other hounds, all with equally big personalities and each with a different take on retirement. Last year, a hunt member who was considering retiring a hound from her hunt had asked Terry Hook, MFH, what he knew about re-homing a hound. Terry then referred her to me. It has occurred to me that fellow hunt members might (in secret) be calling me “the crazy hound lady.” After a couple of emails about what to expect from a hound in the house, she thanked me and sent a picture of her new family member. I began to wonder how often people take retired hounds home. Is it common practice with hunts in general? How successful is the practice of letting members take on hounds? So, I put out the question to followers of Foxhunters on Facebook and to the huntsmen I knew, and this is what I found. WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT Kate Selby, huntsman for Green Mountain Hounds, says that she believes that it becomes clear when to retire a hound. “An older hound who is slowing down is one thing, but when they can’t physically keep up they can become a danger to themselves. Exhaustion, increasing lameness issues, and inability to recover quickly from a day out are all clear signs that hunting days are coming to an end.” Ittleman has two retirees from her days as huntsman. She would rather see a hound in work for as long as it enjoys the hunt. When it is time to retire a hound, however, she prefers to see hounds go to a hunt member who understands what kennel life has been like and will understand the personality of a foxhound. Lorraine Groneau of Limestone Creek Hunt has retired out many hounds. “Some just do better to stay at the kennels and some have great second careers as house hounds,” Groneau says. When Limestone Creek hounds are adopted, a formal agreement is signed by the huntsman, MFH and the new owner. Terms are clear that the new owner is responsible for the hound and will incur all expenses henceforth. For hounds who prefer the consistent life of a kennel, Lori lets them stay on and employs them to teach the puppies their manners. Some hunts have designated retirement kennels. The Iroquois Hunt has The Hound Welfare Fund, a non-profit run separately from the hunt, which allows their venerable retirees to continue their lives in the kennels. The Hound Welfare Fund works hard to raise money to support the retired hounds. Deb Riley of Middlebrook Hounds is, whether by choice or by proxy, the staff for the retirement pack. Her farm, Finalea Farm, is aptly named for the hounds who get the pleasure of retiring there. She also confesses to keeping a couple of retired staff horses, and a few cats, too.
Riley says, “First, you must know that foxhounds are the most grateful of all the dogs I have ever had the honor of taking care of ... or loving. They go day-to-day having the love and affection of one person — the huntsman. They return his love by hunting and working hard to find chase for him and the field of followers. They look at him with love and affection and then tiredly return to the kennel awaiting his next arrival. In the end, they transfer that love and affection — if only for a brief time — to the people that show them love until they leave us to go hunting with the ultimate huntsman above.” THE HOUND IN THE SINK Retiring a hound from its pack can be stressful. It’s a bit like what Eliza Doolittle went through in “My Fair Lady.” Until you witness it, you have no idea how refined a life house pets have in comparison to kenneled pack life. The good news is that, generally speaking, foxhounds are smart. They learn fast and they want to please. The bad news is that foxhounds like to run. They have a curiosity that makes great hunters, but can cause havoc when they decide to check out the new neighborhood. Hounds have a hard time figuring out what is okay and what is forbidden when it comes to countertops, tables, and other high places. Finding a hound in the sink is always a surprise. If you have other dogs, they may be stunned at how fast a hound can devour its own food and then grab its companions’ dinners as well. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention that house-training an older hound is tricky and should be the number one priority to maintain peace in the house. Once again, the good news is that they do learn fast with firm instruction. It takes a bit of time and patience to retrain a hound. One key element to making the transition easier for everyone is making — and keeping — boundaries. If you love your white couch, then make that room off-limits. If you can’t get out for a walk for exercise, then fence in an area for your hound to move about. Expect holes. Digging is what dogs do; hounds do it really well. I find a large dog crate creates harmony for all the occupants of my house, including the hound himself. It is a cozy place to den up. It might be six months before you see the changes, but your hound will adapt. Or, as my friend and fellow hunter from Old North Bridge Hounds, Suzanne Adams, says, “I’ll never have another kind of dog but foxhounds. They are so devoted.” As this season end approaches, you may notice a hound in your pack who has slowed down, and prefers to stay by the huntsman’s stirrup. Maybe the hound missed a few meets. This will be the hound that needs a retirement home. Step up and ask the huntsman or staff if there is a need for adoption. You will not be disappointed and neither will the hound. Polly Wilson hunts with Green Mountain Hounds, where members call her “The Hound Lady.” CafePress has fixed their website issue so the calendars are now orderable. We are so sorry for the inconvenience to the dozen people who had orders cancelled.
We are sorry to report that we are having trouble with our calendar ordering site (CafePress). Please check back here in a day or two -- we are working diligently to get the problems resolved with the June and October month photos disappearing.
We might have the best photographs ever featured in our iconic annual calendar — we are truly excited to offer it to hound lovers everywhere. Check out that totally adorable hound puppy on November with the spotted ears — unbelievable! Look at those crazy flying ears on January's coonhound! Did you see August — that wet, goofy Redbone in the swimming pool? April's portrait subject is so very soulful. Your heart will melt when you see this white-faced girl. The old hounds are the best! Click here to order. The page will open in a new window. Remember to select January as your "starting month" on the order page, to avoid disappointment. The calendars measure 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches high when closed and 17 inches high when open. The paper is heavyweight high quality white glossy and a refined wire-O binding. Your price is $17.99 plus shipping. Every penny of profit goes directly to our programs. We are an all volunteer organization with no paid staff. Thank you so very much for supporting our work! Wear your coonhound pride during the holidays! While looking at calendars, don't forget to look at our other great gear for the holidays.... notice how some of the headlines read "Happy Howlidays" which could be really cute on shot glasses! By Melissa O'Brien Two years ago we adopted a blind coonhound whose name was Priscilla when we met her at All Breed Rescue. Little was known about her. She came to Vermont from a shelter in the south; she had had puppies just before making that transition, though none of them survived. She was about 5 or 6 years old, and she was missing one eye. The other eye was clouded over by what we though might be a cataract condition, but we later learned was scar tissue.
We renamed her Daisy Mason, paying homage to the magnificent woman who was the housekeeper in the home where I lived and worked in Kentucky for many happy teenage summers. Daisy Mason, the woman, was small of stature but large of personality. She worked her way, daily, through the southern mansion inhabited by the wonderful Jones family, with grace and always, always, humming a tune. Miss Daisy Mason, like her canine namesake, was loyal, loving and peaceful. A true southern grande dame survivor. Though the story of her past remains a mystery to us, Daisy has taught us that it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter that she may have been neglected or abused. She probably was, and yet she shows no signs whatsoever of having gone through those hard times. She lives each day as if she has no memory -- a deep and powerful blessing. Last year, after living with us for just eight months, Daisy made it through the difficult testing process to become a member of the Therapy Dogs of Vermont family, proving that though one may have been "disabled," displaced or mistreated, one has the capacity to turn those struggles into something beautiful. Daisy, once abused, is one of the most powerful healers I know. Lessons From a Blind Coonhound
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