Start a Long Ear League group
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Meet-ups for coonhounds, foxhounds, and
their owners
Download a copy of our start-up kit.
Do you love a coonhound or foxhound or a dog that is mixed with one of these breeds? Would you like to meet other hound owners and their dogs for fun, to learn more about the breeds, and to support breed rescue? Then a Long Ear League chapter may be for you. A Long Ear League group will facilitate trading information about your hounds, give you a chance to watch them play together, introduce you to other people who share your interest and love of hounds, and make you laugh at their antics. It’s an opportunity to learn about your breed, and help promote the adoptability of hounds languishing in shelters and rescues.
INVITE—Start by getting together with a few other hound owners you already have connections to—through an adoption organization, a rescue group in your area, a hound breeder, your veterinarian, a training center you have contacts with, acquaintances from a dog park you have been to, a day-care center, or a dog-related club you already belong to. Maybe you've seen other hound owners walking their dogs in the neighborhood. Set an informal play date, and invite a few dogs and their owners over.
WHEN TO START—There’s no time like the present for the initial steps, but as you reach out to a larger audience, you may want to coordinate with other local events. Choose a time of year (usually spring or fall) when weather is likely to be conducive. Most successful groups meet rain or shine, and work around very hot or very cold times by shifting the time of day of the meetups, or arranging for an indoor space.
A REGULAR SCHEDULE can be useful, perhaps weekly or monthly. You’ll have better turnouts if you do. Not everyone will come to every meetup, but they know you’re there, and they can schedule their next "hound fix". One Great Dane meetup group in Texas has over 900 members; they meet twice a month, and typically have 20-50 attendees each time. Some are there nearly every time, but many come and go as their schedules allow.
Download a copy of our start-up kit.
Do you love a coonhound or foxhound or a dog that is mixed with one of these breeds? Would you like to meet other hound owners and their dogs for fun, to learn more about the breeds, and to support breed rescue? Then a Long Ear League chapter may be for you. A Long Ear League group will facilitate trading information about your hounds, give you a chance to watch them play together, introduce you to other people who share your interest and love of hounds, and make you laugh at their antics. It’s an opportunity to learn about your breed, and help promote the adoptability of hounds languishing in shelters and rescues.
INVITE—Start by getting together with a few other hound owners you already have connections to—through an adoption organization, a rescue group in your area, a hound breeder, your veterinarian, a training center you have contacts with, acquaintances from a dog park you have been to, a day-care center, or a dog-related club you already belong to. Maybe you've seen other hound owners walking their dogs in the neighborhood. Set an informal play date, and invite a few dogs and their owners over.
WHEN TO START—There’s no time like the present for the initial steps, but as you reach out to a larger audience, you may want to coordinate with other local events. Choose a time of year (usually spring or fall) when weather is likely to be conducive. Most successful groups meet rain or shine, and work around very hot or very cold times by shifting the time of day of the meetups, or arranging for an indoor space.
A REGULAR SCHEDULE can be useful, perhaps weekly or monthly. You’ll have better turnouts if you do. Not everyone will come to every meetup, but they know you’re there, and they can schedule their next "hound fix". One Great Dane meetup group in Texas has over 900 members; they meet twice a month, and typically have 20-50 attendees each time. Some are there nearly every time, but many come and go as their schedules allow.
Happy Birthday pictures are easier with coonhounds.
SPECIAL
EVENTS can attract more
people. For instance, a twice-a-year potluck at a private venue, usually the
home of someone with a large, fenced yard, may generate a turnout three times
the size of a regular meetup. If you
can't find a venue that's suitable for both the human dining and dog play, have
these events without the hounds. Hound
people always have plenty to talk about even when the hounds are home in bed.
Remember that hounds can be grabby about food, and trying to eat around a pack
of hounds may be difficult, especially if young children are involved.
WHERE—DOG PARKS are one obvious choice, at least if they're not too crowded. Check the rules at any park you are considering. Some parks may limit group events to specially reserved times. Most hounds have a grand time at dog parks and interact well with other breeds. PRIVATE VENUES—If someone in your group has access to a large, fenced area where the group can meet, that’s ideal. Some groups meet in dog parks some months and on private land other months, so as not to wear out their welcome. If you live in a very hot climate it might be worth looking for an indoor summer venue, perhaps in a dog or horse training center at a time when classes aren't scheduled. Be sure to honor all of their rules. REMOTE VENUES—Established groups in large metropolitan areas have had some success with occasional "out of cycle" meetups in outlying towns. These are in addition to the regular, scheduled meetups, and are generally smaller, but draw people unable to get to the regular meetups. Once per quarter seems to work.
HOW TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE—Ask the initial participants to invite other hound owners they're acquainted with. You can place meeting announcements at places any of your members frequent—vets, pet supply stores, web-based social networks, rescue groups.
BROADCAST—Some groups start with a single owner broadcasting an invitation to meet at a specific time and place with other hound owners. You can do this on the Net at http://www.meetup.com. Meetup.com is not free, and that can be a barrier. Other, less expensive ways to start include broadcasting on a hound-related page on Facebook, starting or posting on the board at a new or existing Yahoo! group , or starting your own website. You can also post ads in the local newspaper, on community bulletin boards, etc.
LOCAL MEDIA—Contact a local newspaper or radio station and invite them to cover your event. A lot of times, such media will give you a free ad if you are fund-raising for a local charity.
E-MAIL SUPPORT LIST—Once your regulars get to know one another they will want to keep in touch between meetups. Meetup.com has built-in e-mail and a forum to handle this. If you aren't using Meetup.com you might consider setting up a Yahoo! group for those who are interested. Or, you can just print up a list of regular attendees, their emails, their phone numbers, and their dogs' names. Some participants may not want to be in the e-mail support group. That's okay.
BUSINESS CARDS—One group made up business cards that describe their group and include instructions for finding them on Meetup.com. Regular members of the group carry the cards and pass them out when they encounter someone new who owns their breed
WELCOME MESSAGES—When potential new members contact the group, make sure you have a welcoming message to respond to them. Include any rules in the message so they aren't ambushed by unexpected policies. Be up front if your group requires all dogs to be spayed or neutered, discourages attendance by other breeds, requires proof of vaccinations, or bans cell phone use. The welcome message should also include a friendly but firm statement of the group's position regarding aggressive or out-of-control dogs and owners.
SAFETY ISSUES—Rules on safety issues should include abiding by any rules required by the location where the meetup will be held. You will probably evolve new rules as the group develops, but some issues you might consider: whether to invite a sympathetic vet or keep one on call during meetings; the maximum number of dogs that can fit comfortably in the space; the number of dogs allowed per handler; and policies for children attending. As the group grows, you may want to consider liability insurance.
WHERE—DOG PARKS are one obvious choice, at least if they're not too crowded. Check the rules at any park you are considering. Some parks may limit group events to specially reserved times. Most hounds have a grand time at dog parks and interact well with other breeds. PRIVATE VENUES—If someone in your group has access to a large, fenced area where the group can meet, that’s ideal. Some groups meet in dog parks some months and on private land other months, so as not to wear out their welcome. If you live in a very hot climate it might be worth looking for an indoor summer venue, perhaps in a dog or horse training center at a time when classes aren't scheduled. Be sure to honor all of their rules. REMOTE VENUES—Established groups in large metropolitan areas have had some success with occasional "out of cycle" meetups in outlying towns. These are in addition to the regular, scheduled meetups, and are generally smaller, but draw people unable to get to the regular meetups. Once per quarter seems to work.
HOW TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE—Ask the initial participants to invite other hound owners they're acquainted with. You can place meeting announcements at places any of your members frequent—vets, pet supply stores, web-based social networks, rescue groups.
BROADCAST—Some groups start with a single owner broadcasting an invitation to meet at a specific time and place with other hound owners. You can do this on the Net at http://www.meetup.com. Meetup.com is not free, and that can be a barrier. Other, less expensive ways to start include broadcasting on a hound-related page on Facebook, starting or posting on the board at a new or existing Yahoo! group , or starting your own website. You can also post ads in the local newspaper, on community bulletin boards, etc.
LOCAL MEDIA—Contact a local newspaper or radio station and invite them to cover your event. A lot of times, such media will give you a free ad if you are fund-raising for a local charity.
E-MAIL SUPPORT LIST—Once your regulars get to know one another they will want to keep in touch between meetups. Meetup.com has built-in e-mail and a forum to handle this. If you aren't using Meetup.com you might consider setting up a Yahoo! group for those who are interested. Or, you can just print up a list of regular attendees, their emails, their phone numbers, and their dogs' names. Some participants may not want to be in the e-mail support group. That's okay.
BUSINESS CARDS—One group made up business cards that describe their group and include instructions for finding them on Meetup.com. Regular members of the group carry the cards and pass them out when they encounter someone new who owns their breed
WELCOME MESSAGES—When potential new members contact the group, make sure you have a welcoming message to respond to them. Include any rules in the message so they aren't ambushed by unexpected policies. Be up front if your group requires all dogs to be spayed or neutered, discourages attendance by other breeds, requires proof of vaccinations, or bans cell phone use. The welcome message should also include a friendly but firm statement of the group's position regarding aggressive or out-of-control dogs and owners.
SAFETY ISSUES—Rules on safety issues should include abiding by any rules required by the location where the meetup will be held. You will probably evolve new rules as the group develops, but some issues you might consider: whether to invite a sympathetic vet or keep one on call during meetings; the maximum number of dogs that can fit comfortably in the space; the number of dogs allowed per handler; and policies for children attending. As the group grows, you may want to consider liability insurance.
Olivia looks for the most interesting places to go.
GROUP
ACTIVITIES TO CONSIDER
SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSORED BY OTHERS
SPECIAL EVENTS THE GROUP INVITES THE PUBLIC TO
These can be great opportunities to tell the public what wonderful companions our hounds are.
- Teach all the hounds the same trick
- Bring photos and mementos and make scrapbooks
- Make a permanent paw print impression
- Hold an Easter egg hunt
- Bob for tennis balls or biscuits
- Swim with your dogs in a lake or pond
- Make toys for your dogs
- Make a fancy collar or leash
- Do trailing exercises
- Agility training
- Ice cream social (no chocolate flavors!)
- Picnic
- Tail wagging contest
- Baying contest—loudest or most
SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSORED BY OTHERS
- Walk together as a group in any charity dog walk or seasonal dog event in your area.
- Work together to help fundraisers for dog rescue groups that rescue coonhounds and foxhounds.
- Go as a group to help handle homeless hounds at adoption events. Volunteer as a group to attend workdays at local shelters.
- Take a group field trip to a competitive coon or fox hunt, bench show, field trial, agility or obedience contest in your area.
SPECIAL EVENTS THE GROUP INVITES THE PUBLIC TO
These can be great opportunities to tell the public what wonderful companions our hounds are.
- Meet the breed. Have someone knowledgeable talk about coonhounds and foxhounds. Include what's good about them and what's bad. No breed is perfect for everyone, and we need to recognize that when dealing with those who don't know our breeds. Make sure people get the opportunity to pet the hounds.
- Invite local rescue groups that have hounds to bring them to meet the public.
- If anyone in your group has show dogs, have them display their hounds and talk about what it's like to perform in the show ring. Same for agility or obedience hounds.
- If anyone in your group hunts, have them show off their hounds and hunting equipment, like tracking systems and coon squallers. Talk about what the hounds do in the woods, how they hunt, and discuss "catch and release" hunting with hounds.
- Invite a dog trainer to discuss training issues peculiar to hounds, and show off a well-trained one.
-
Have special
activities for children showcasing hounds' fondness for the little ones. For
example, a story hour where the kids take turns reading a children's book about
hounds to each other and their dogs.
Let us all be as relaxed as our Coonies!
THINGS
THAT CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS--
DOG PARK ISSUES—Some off-leash dog parks are the worst possible places to meet. If it's too crowded, too small, isn’t well maintained, or is frequented by irresponsible dog owners with out-of-control dogs, it can turn into a miserable experience. Know your target dog park. Visit it before suggesting it as a venue, and make sure your trial visit is on the day of the week and time of day of the proposed meetup; some parks are virtually empty except for certain very specific time periods each week.
TOO MUCH STRUCTURE—Successful groups have no board of directors, no officers, no official membership and no dues. What they have is one or two dedicated people who get it set up and send out the monthly announcements. People will generally be put off by excessive bureaucracy. The ideal number of organizers seems to be two; allowing for the unexpected, such as an organizer being transferred to another city.
STARTING TOO SOON WITH SPECIAL EVENTS—The special events described above are great for building a strong social fabric in your group, but make sure the basics are in place and people are happy with the regular meetups before taking the next step.
What we offer here is borrowed from other breeds' successful social groups. If you start a local meet-up group for hounds yourself, please let us know and share your experiences, both good and bad. You can write us on our Contact Us page or our Coonhound Companions Facebook page. Please bear in mind that even though coonhounds and foxhounds are the most social of canine breeds, every dog is an individual. If any group of strange dogs can be thrown together and get along well, it's our hounds. But, even among hounds there are dogs that don't play well with others. Know your own dog and be a responsible owner.
FUND RAISING IDEAS
DOG PARK ISSUES—Some off-leash dog parks are the worst possible places to meet. If it's too crowded, too small, isn’t well maintained, or is frequented by irresponsible dog owners with out-of-control dogs, it can turn into a miserable experience. Know your target dog park. Visit it before suggesting it as a venue, and make sure your trial visit is on the day of the week and time of day of the proposed meetup; some parks are virtually empty except for certain very specific time periods each week.
TOO MUCH STRUCTURE—Successful groups have no board of directors, no officers, no official membership and no dues. What they have is one or two dedicated people who get it set up and send out the monthly announcements. People will generally be put off by excessive bureaucracy. The ideal number of organizers seems to be two; allowing for the unexpected, such as an organizer being transferred to another city.
STARTING TOO SOON WITH SPECIAL EVENTS—The special events described above are great for building a strong social fabric in your group, but make sure the basics are in place and people are happy with the regular meetups before taking the next step.
What we offer here is borrowed from other breeds' successful social groups. If you start a local meet-up group for hounds yourself, please let us know and share your experiences, both good and bad. You can write us on our Contact Us page or our Coonhound Companions Facebook page. Please bear in mind that even though coonhounds and foxhounds are the most social of canine breeds, every dog is an individual. If any group of strange dogs can be thrown together and get along well, it's our hounds. But, even among hounds there are dogs that don't play well with others. Know your own dog and be a responsible owner.
FUND RAISING IDEAS
- Sell hats, t-shirts, mugs, totes, notepaper, etc. visit our Coonhound Companions store on Café Press for merchandise
- Hound booksale
- Bake and sell homemade dog biscuits
- Sell hound supplies—leashes collars, tracking collars, coon scent, coon squallers
- Hold a raffle to support hound rescu
Singing and smiling! Our coonies love time spent together.
GIVE YOUR GROUP A CATCHY NAME
It will do wonders to publicize your group. Here's some possibilities:
It will do wonders to publicize your group. Here's some possibilities:
- American Hounds Sing Out
- Bay & Play
- Calling all Hounds
- City Hound; Country Hound
- Cool Companion Hounds
- Coonhound & Foxhound Crew Days
- Coonhounds & Foxhound Pack Days
- Coonie Crew
- For Baying Out Loud!
- Found Hounds
- Foxhound and Coonhound Excitement (FACE)
- Foxy Hounds
- Hounds Abound
- Hound and Determined
- Hound Choir Practice
- Long Ear Love Club
- Long Ears Rock!
- Long Ears Sniff-around
- Look What I Hound!
- Looking for Hounds in all the right places
- Pack Mentality (Long Ears division)
- Pet Hound Play Group
- Scent Hound Convergence
- Sniff & Bay Club
- The Music of the Hounds
- United Long Ears Club of [your town or region here]
- Zounds! Hounds!