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Meet Hamilton, the Tricky Coonhound

6/9/2019

2 Comments

 
Laura Cole posted a video in recent months showing her hound Ham (Hamilton) mastering the last trick he needed before testing for the AKC Advanced Trick Dog Title (now accomplished!). We thought you’d enjoy learning from her experiences as she and Ham moved through the levels of trick dog expertise. A dog with a Canine Good Citizen certification only needs 5 fairly simple tricks for the AKC novice title, so consider spending your rainy days giving treats for tricks and adding to your hound’s credentials. You might be surprised how much your coonie already knows.

Ham’s odyssey also holds hope and inspiration for those among us owning hounds with challenging behavioral issues. ​

How did Ham become part of your life?

For the last three years, I have been involved in cat rescue through a local organization, Austin Pets Alive! There, I photograph cats in need of homes to help promote them and get them adopted. In that time, I’ve met some amazing animals, but I have also met some incredible humans. Natascha, a current staff member and close friend, is a hospice foster. She had recently lost a cat, Barry, who was expected to pull through. After struggling with that loss, she decided she needed a happy change of pace. She took in two bottle baby puppies, Catahoula and hound mixes Ferdinand and Arabella.
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Of course, as a dog lover, I had to meet my friend’s new fosters and photograph them. I wasn’t counting on falling in love. Ferdinand, now Hamilton, came into my life when he was just four weeks old. He was weak and a little skinny, covered in big brown cow spots. But he stole my heart from the beginning, and I visited him every week in foster until I took him home at 8 weeks old.

Had you owned a hound before?

Never. While I wanted every dog under the sun growing up, from Norfolk Terriers to Schipperkes to Rhodesian Ridgebacks, hounds were never truly on my radar. As a city girl, I’d never really noticed them. I grew up with a Chow mix, two Chihuahuas, a Toy Poodle, and a Labrador throughout my childhood years. Based on his markings and his eventual floppy ears, it was easy to guess Ham has Catahoula in his mix.
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Even after reading about that breed’s respective quirks, I felt that I could handle anything. I intended to go all in with my first dog as an adult — training, socializing, and doing everything right. But boy, Ham has given me a run for my money! I thought I knew so much about dogs before getting him, but he has shown me how much I had (and still have) to learn. He’s also turned me into a hound lover for life.

Tell us about Ham

From the time he was a puppy, Hamilton was tenacious. I would say that he was equal parts sweet, goofy, and naughty. From chasing the cat, to nibbling hands, to munching every stick he could get his paws on… he drove me crazy. But it was all worth it when he fell asleep on my chest or showed his smarts in how fast he picked up new tricks or commands. He grew quickly and soon exceeded his estimated adult weight of 35 pounds (topping out at 75). Hamilton grew up as a dog park, go-anywhere dog; but after his first birthday, he started to display signs of fear-based reactivity. It turned our world on its head. Previously, I had aspirations to train him as a therapy dog so he could share his infectious personality with others
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While he had never bitten anyone, he would definitely fall under the ‘fight’ category when it came to a question of fight-or-flight. Suddenly, my over-confident, social puppy was reacting. It was a scary time, when I grew afraid of losing him. But instead of giving up, I took action. I reached out to a behaviorist, and after a long while also decided to add medication into the mix. Addressing his quirks has taken a small village — from my family and friends, to the trainers who love him like I do.
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His progress has been tremendous, though he is definitely a “project” dog. As I said, he has given me a run for my money — but for all the effort put into training him, all the emotion and fear, I wouldn’t trade him for the world. Our partnership has gotten stronger through our struggles. He’s gotten more cuddly, loving, and attentive. We’ve built trust together. And when it comes to the people and animals he knows and has built up similar trust with, you won’t meet a more loving, happy-go-lucky dog. And after all our hard work, and thanks to muzzle training, we are still able to get out in the world, visiting his favorite pet stores, going to plant nurseries, having playdates with his furry friends, going to classes, and hiking. He’s come so far!
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What spurred your interest in pursuing Trick Dog Titles?

I had never even heard of a Trick Dog Title before attending my training school, Zoom Room. This dog training chain offers a variety of classes, from obedience, to agility, to urban herding in some areas. Alongside that, they also offer various workshops like scent training and tricks and some, including the one in Austin, are AKC certified testing facilities. I started seeing “TKA” listed out on some of my trainer friends’ dogs’ Instagram profiles and looked into it. I realized that Hamilton was already close to a novice title, so we started working on it.
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When I was growing up, I wanted nothing more than a dog I could train with. I taught my childhood Chihuahua a variety of cute tricks, and made homemade agility “courses” for my Labrador. But Hamilton showed an aptitude for picking up new tricks that none of my dogs growing up had. While some tricks aren’t suited to his abilities or his large size (no back stalls for this duo), it’s been super fun to see how far we can take it. It’s been surprisingly accessible, and a great way to earn AKC titles in spite of his quirks.

What training did Ham have before you started working on tricks?

Hamilton and I started training from the moment I brought him home. At first, it was just sit, down, stay, shake, but soon we started to class. Puppy pre-school (a socialization class), puppy obedience, and puppy agility were his first forays into training, and we continued to build up in those different areas. Today, Hamilton is in a Canine Good Citizen level obedience class (though we’re not sure if we’ll get that title) and level 2 agility which involves some simple courses. We’ve also done a bit of scent work together, which is a lot of fun for his nose! ​
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What motivates Ham? (food, toys, praise, etc.)

Hamilton is the kind of dog who stares at you when you throw a ball as if he’s saying, “What do you think I am, a retriever?” A good treat is Ham’s best friend when it comes to rewards — but we have to mix it up so he doesn’t get bored. His current favorites range from fancier fare like freeze-dried chicken hearts and lamb lung, to junk food like milk bones and turkey dogs. While he is a pup with a balanced, nutritionally sound diet, sometimes you gotta break out the “bad” stuff when it comes to doing something super hard. He does love a good squeaky toy, but gets a little too excited about them to use them as a training reward — or not excited at all. It really depends on the day. But food is always a winner.
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When did Ham get his novice and intermediate titles?

Hamilton earned his novice title in January of 2018, a few months before his first birthday. In between, we did a ton of behavior work, so we took a break from working towards his intermediate title. However, less than one year later, he earned his intermediate title. Between the two, he has showed off 20 different tricks and commands. We’ve got around 30 now, which moved him on to the advanced title!

Do you work with Ham according to an approximate schedule or just when time and interest allow?

Hamilton and I attend classes at least one to two times per week. Right now, that’s usually agility and obedience. In April, we’ll be adding in an advanced nosework  course to the mix at a sport training facility. We’re super excited as we’d love to pick up some scent titles, too! When life gets busy, I don’t get as much time to work with him at home on “fun stuff” (e.g. tricks). However, every time we go out into the world I am actively working with him. I don’t leave the house without a clicker, harness, treat pouch, and muzzle. Since the world is full of triggers for him, it takes constant vigilance to make sure he is happy and relaxed. One of the biggest challenges in fact has been learning to keep my cool when we hit a stressful spot. He tends to feed off of me!
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What trick or types of tricks have been the most challenging for him?

Remember that “not a retriever” comment? Catching and holding objects in his mouth is not his forte. Some tricks we have put aside and may never pursue (e.g. “put away your toys”), but others we’ve been able to master. One of those is flipping a treat from his nose and catching it.
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Does Ham like to ham it up and show off for people?

If he knows them, for sure! When Hamilton is relaxed and comfortable, he lives up to his name — whether it’s flashing his pearly whites in a toothy smile, doing a trick, acting like an oversized lapdog, or asking for belly rubs. Strangers, not so much. But if he’s relaxed enough, he may show off a trick on command in public!
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Books and demonstration videos for teaching tricks are readily available, but did you ever (or often) have to step back and completely rethink your approach for a particular trick in light of what you knew about Ham?

As I mentioned before, catching was initially quite hard for him, so I had to work on his coordination. A few things we tried: using popcorn because it’s lighter weight and doesn’t fall as quickly, counting to three before tossing to let him know it was coming, and not letting him have the treat unless he catches it (a race to the treat on the floor). In a hound’s mind, why should he try to catch it if he can just grab it off the ground? That was actually what really changed the game for us! Shout out to our trainer for the idea.

Does Ham have any “wild card” handler’s choice tricks that you slipped in because Ham offered the behaviors on his own?

Yes! One thing I’ve learned, and advice I’d give, is that things your dog does naturally will be easiest to capture and turn into a trick. For example, Ham loves to be on his back, so play dead (“bang!”) and rollover were really easy for him. So was “yoga” (or bow), as he loves to lean down into a big stretch.
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How has trick dog training affected your overall relationship with Ham and how you view your hound?

It’s been so fun to work on tricks together. I would definitely say it’s a bonding experience, and it’s such a great feeling when I see the light bulb turn on for him! I also feel really proud that we can get these titles together. It’s a good reminder that whether your dog is purebred or mixed breed, you can still achieve together. Go get some ribbons! You may be surprised that your hound is already close to qualifying for a novice trick title. We didn’t intend to go past the first level, but after the first one, we gained confidence and I thought — you know, we can do this. We can keep going.
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How about sharing some “best practices” and tips for adding trick training to a house hound’s curriculum?
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Watching videos and asking my trainer who is passionate about tricks for advice was a huge help. But the nice thing is, you don’t really need anything special to get started. Some people use a marker word like “yes” when a dog offers the behavior you want, but I far prefer a clicker. It’s a more precise marker and it helps your dog understand exactly the moment they offered the correct action. It helps them learn much faster. If you don’t know where to start, check out AKC’s website for lists of tricks for the various titles for some ideas. 

What’s next for Ham? Will he advance to a performance dog title or try something completely different?

We plan to stop at the advanced title for tricks. We’ll still keep pursuing trick training, but the performer titles are next level (no pun intended). I think rather than trying hard at something that might not come very naturally to Hamilton, we will instead focus on something he was made for: scent work. We’ve already done a handler discrimination class and a basics workshop, and I’m excited to pursue more oil identification via container searches. We’ll also continue our recreational agility. While he’ll never be an agility dog for many reasons, it’s just another way we bond and grow our relationship. Training is truly a way to deeply connect with your dog.

NOTES:

To follow Hamilton’s adventures, see training videos, and read about his journey with reactivity, head over to Ham’s Instagram, which is updated daily at http://www.instagram.com/hamiltontherescue.

Dogs of any breed or mix at any age and size can earn trick dog titles. Classes are available in many areas, but trick training is also a great DIY activity. Check local training centers to find an authorized evaluator. The titling entities are American Kennel Club and Do More with Your Dog.

The MUZZLE UP Project (https://muzzleupproject.com/muzzle-training), though no longer being updated, houses excellent resources on training your dog to a muzzle. ​

The opinions expressed in this guest blog are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily endorsed by Coonhound and Foxhound Companions.

2 Comments

Picturing Honeybug

2/26/2019

3 Comments

 
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You’ve undoubtedly noticed this precious TWC on coonhound facebook pages; and Honeybug with ears flying recently commanded the cover of the 2019 Coonhound Companions Calendar. We asked her owner, Sandy Decker (Sandra Ann), to share her secrets and experiences in photographing her coonie.
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Coonhound Companions (CC): First, how did Honeybug come into your life?
Sandra Ann (SA): I actually was looking at another hound at a rescue in Virginia; but when I inquired, that hound had been adopted. I then gave Bawf Rescue the type of hound I was looking for: shy, timid, scared, and a failed hunting dog. This describes the previous three I have had, and I know they are difficult to adopt out. They almost immediately found one at a local shelter and pulled her for me. Living in an apartment, I have always adopted the shy and gentle hounds because they tend to be less vocal. In fact, 2 out of the 4 I’ve had never barked in the years I had them. And Honeybug, like the others, rarely bays except for a minute of excitement when I get home.

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CC: When did you first realize that Honeybug has star quality?
SA: I believe all coonhounds or foxhounds have star quality if treated well and with patience. A photo of my lost foxhound Daiseybug went viral. I later stumbled across a painting, jewelry, and t-shirts of her on the Internet created from the photo I posted years back. At that point I even made her a facebook page: Daiseybug American Foxhound, which now has posts of my beautiful Honeybug.

CC: I’ve seen great action shots of Honeybug as well as lovely portraits. What camera set-ups and settings do you use to photograph Honeybug?
SA: Nearly all photos are taken on my Galaxy smartphone.
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CC: How much image editing do you do in terms of cropping, adjusting exposures, tweaking colors, etc?
SA: I rarely edit any coloring or exposures. I try and wait for the right time of day or night. However, on occasion I do have fun with the Prisma app that makes a photo look more like a painting.
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CC: Some hounds are impatient if not averse to having their pictures taken. How do you coax Honeybug’s cooperation?
SA: Well, Honeybug is pretty cooperative and queen of the side eye. I just have to be patient and give her time and space, then snap several at a time. I do not really teach her any commands; instead, I focus on her responses to everyday noises, distractions, and nature. She was in a shelter for over two years and was scared of a leaf falling. Its been 3.5 years now, and I still see many things that she isn’t comfortable with; so I don’t push. I don’t want her to revert to being so scared and anxious.
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CC: Honeybug’s face conveys a luminous sweetness in many of her pictures. How would you describe your coonhound’s temperament and personality, and how does this inform the images you capture?
SA: Honeybug is a very good girl. She is never destructive or loud. She is shy of humans but loves other animals and doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. She acts scared and puts her head down when a stranger tries to pet her but is completely harmless. Once she warms up to someone, she may even let them get a pet in. She’s a couch potato with very little to say. She is just so happy to be loved and cared for that she sticks by my side. She is pretty attached to just me. Even though my elderly parents have Honeybug every day when I am at work, she doesn’t come out of her shell until she hears me walk in to pick her up. Then she comes running out of her bed and jumps all over me.
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CC: I’ve also seen pictures of Honeybug amazingly calm and collected close to other animals, such as deer and geese. Is this a learned behavior, or is it just who Honeybug is?
SA: She’s gentle with anyone and any animal she comes across. Honeybug has been nose to nose with deer, raccoons, opossums, cats, dogs, and even vultures. She simply sniffs them and walks away. They also must know she is a gentle soul, since they do not fear her either.
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CC: Do you have any additional tips for fellow hound owners trying to capture the essence of their own beloved hounds?
SA: Patience, patience, patience. Let them be comfortable in whatever environment and take a candid shot. Forcing them in a position or environment they are not comfortable with will not benefit them or the photo.
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CC: Has the time spent photographing Honeybug and focusing on her images influenced your understanding of and relationship with your hound?
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SA: Well, I didn’t realize how much side eye she had until the photos (lol!). Overall, I think my experience with these shy and sensitive hounds helps me understand them pretty well going into the adoption. However, I find it pretty interesting how my photos touch so many dog owners and how the images actually allow them to read her personality. So many of the comments by strangers, just from the photos I post, are amazingly accurate with their descriptions of Honeybug’s nature.
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CC: Thanks for sharing Honeybug with the hound community and contributing that engaging photo for the calendar cover. We’ll be tracking Honeybug on facebook.

The opinions expressed in this guest blog are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily endorsed by Coonhound and Foxhound Companions.
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3 Comments

EASY’S URBAN ADVENTURE or, You can take the dog out of the country, but….

1/13/2013

11 Comments

 
by Gates Murchie
This past October, we visited our son, Colin, and his family (Molly and Miles) in the Washington, D.C. area. Our grandson’s first birthday provided the opportunity, and off we went. Though we usually impose on them in their house, this trip was different. Molly’s parents drove up from Texas for the party and had dibs on the spare bedroom. Up until now, our Black and Tan, Easy, stayed with friends when we traveled. This time, we grabbed the chance to expand Easy’s horizons to include hotel life in the “big city.” 
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Front to back: Miles, Candy, Franki, Easy
Step 1: find a “pet-friendly” hotel. Google provided a list of options and I began the search. As it turns out, it isn’t as easy as I thought. Although a number of hotel chains say they are “pet friendly”, it doesn’t necessarily mean “pet welcoming.” Many limit the pet size to 50 pounds or less (that would not be Easy!). Others impose significant fees for bringing your loved one on a per-stay or per day basis. It seemed we were destined to be 20+ miles away from the family and residing in a “third tier” establishment at “first tier” rates. That is until my son mentioned the Kimpton Hotels. 

I looked and we were in the 3-4 star hotel category. Gloom filled the air. Then I found the Kimpton Helix hotel. A few short blocks from Dupont Circle (pix can be downloaded here) and 200 yards from Logan Circle, the 3-star hotel was in the middle of shops, attractions and dining and a mere 5 miles from my son’s house. The gloom thickened as I imagined the cost. I called anyway and the cheerful reservation person quickly ascertained my eligibility for discounts, offering a rate competitive with the pet-loaded rates at the other hotels. OK, now what can go wrong? Oh, yeah, the dog. I asked about bringing Easy. She said, “How big is he?” Expecting a fee adder, I sighed and said, “About 75-80 pounds.” Her response, “Oh, he’ll need a big bed. Does he want his own bowls?” What? He’s welcome! You’ll provide a bed and bowls? What’s his favorite treat? You’ve never taken reservations for a coonhound before and you’re excited! Free wine every evening? Okay, we’ll be there.

So now, the trip begins in earnest. Easy is in the back of the Subaroooooo and we are off. Only, he thinks we are going to nearby Otsiningo Park to tree squirrels and begins baying as we leave the driveway. Thirty miles later, he realizes his error and we now know why they have hound boxes in THE BACK of pickup trucks. The next 3 hours go by uneventfully and we pause at a Pennsylvania rest stop for a picnic lunch. Not just A rest stop, but THE BEST rest stop EVER. Why, you ask? Because the rest stop attendants have been feeding the squirrels around the trees in the dog walking area!!!! Hooray!!!!! Anyway, this recreational interlude gets even better when a second hound shows up to join the chorus. Back in the car and time for a nap.
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Arrival - and Easy meets with his old friend, Frankie the dog

Frankie and Easy

Frankie is my son’s rescue dog and he is a North American LBD (Little Brown Dog). They proceed to light up the neighborhood with barking and bawling as they chase squirrels in the yard and on a walk. City squirrels are a little too sassy for Easy and he quickly teaches them that running 3 feet up a tree is not far enough to avoid a near-death experience at the mouth of a coonhound. This lesson would be repeated numerous times during our visit, in the yards parks, streets, and outdoor cafes of the D.C. area.

Now, it is late and time for the hotel…we arrive, 15 hours into our day and looking a bit bedraggled. We are met with an on-going full-blown party and a moment of wondering, “What happens next?” A hearty greeting and a pat for Easy and now, we face navigating the crowd and ….. an elevator.  Luckily, for the uninitiated, a B&T coonhound looks enough like a Rottweiler that navigating the crowd quickly resolves itself. This would also prove true when walking the city streets. People respect your personal space when part of it is occupied by a serious dog. Back to the elevator.

Easy does not like new surfaces or wiggly floors. The vet’s moving table and scale are not popular places. Anyway, the elevator opens and two people get in, not realizing we are getting on, too. They look nervous and Easy freezes. Undeterred, I tug and Candy scoops and he is in. This was his one and only problem with the elevator. All further trips went without a hitch, although I can only imagine what went through his mind. “OK. There was this party and these people and we got into the little room and then the door closed and then it opened and they were gone and then we went to bed and got into the little room and the door closed and it opened and different people were there.” (I imagine Easy thinks in run-on sentences.)

A quick call and Easy’s very comfy bed and bowls show up at the (very nice) room and our first night begins. No issues except that he stares at the dog in the floor to ceiling mirrors and tries to look behind them. 

The next morning at 7, it is time for the a.m. walk. We travel up to Logan Circle and quickly accomplish the mission… and discover that the circle and its trees are loaded with squirrels in desperate need of a fitness program. The new regime is announced with great gusto and much fanfare. Unfortunately, the ceremonies serve to wake those unfortunates who spend the night sleeping at the circle. There is much grumbling and rustling of plastic. I feel bad about this and resolve to avoid repeating it the next day, if possible. Their lives are difficult enough (pic can be downloaded here).

Breakfast outdoors at Caribou Coffee is another new experience for Mr. E. Coonhound. Still exhibiting exemplary behavior, he sits under the table and examines the passing parade with great interest. Different smells from different cultures, different vehicles and different foods all provide the same amusement as a morning paper … Until he discovers pigeons. They act like squirrels, make squirrel noises, flutter about and are annoying. A surprise bawl sets things aright and gives the other patrons something to remember. 
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Easy holding still for his close-up
The rest of the visit is equally wonderful, the birthday party a great success and the return trip satisfying. Easy took many more elevator rides, met many more people and showed us that he is a traveler of great sophistication. And that you can’t take the country out of the dog.
Picture"Easy's dreams after his visit to the nation's capital swells his head."

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Bo invited me!
PictureThat's one funny looking raccoon!

11 Comments

$100 for 50 Fundraising Challenge for Coonhound Companions!

12/15/2012

1 Comment

 
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Please help us by going to our home page and clicking on the Donate Now Button!
We need 50 of our fans and supporters to donate toward
our new fundraising campaign to help us meet our
new $100 challenge.  When we get to our goal of 50 donations, one of our board members will generously add $50 and a long-time friend and hound lover will donate the other $50.  WOW!  an additional $100!

We are on our way to meeting the challenge; our numbers are growing! Can you help us get the word out by emailing this to a friend or sharing it on your facebook page? A donation in any amount of $10 and over counts toward the 50 needed to qualify for the challenge. 

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  • Do you admire the work of Coonhound Companions and want to help share the message that coonhounds and foxhounds make great pets? Please share this blog with a friend!
  • Do you like the colorful promotional posters we supply for free to shelters and pounds?  They help hounds get attention from potential adopters. They really work. Please donate!
  • Do you like to help ill or injured coonhounds in shelters? Ringo got that help! A sweet, older Treeing Walker, Ringo came in to an Ohio shelter very skinny, hungry, with dangling tumors. Our Long Ears Alive! program donated to his care to have the tumors removed. He's now alive and well and living with his new family in New Jersey. Help us help them!

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Ringo's winning smile says it all!
Coonhound Companions is the first international advocacy group for the adoption of coonhounds and foxhounds and we are making a difference. More hounds are being adopted because of our work and your support.
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We have helped get dozens of “long ear” dogs the care they need to become adoptable.

Thank you for helping us spread the word so we can help more Coonhounds and Foxhounds in need!

Coonhound Companions is registered as a 501(c)3 through our fiscal sponsor Sunbear Squad Inc. and your donation is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law in the United States.
1 Comment

Introducing the Long Ear League

3/17/2012

2 Comments

 
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Click to get to the start-up kit and web page.
Coonhound Companions (and Foxhound Companions) have now posted helpful hints for starting a Long Ear League chapter. These tips can be found on our website for free download. Just click on our logo, left, to get started. Our web page includes a start-up kit with art for signs, posters, business cards, and a link to a store with logo t-shirts and other gear, and lots of links to outside coonhound information.

Long Ear League is a new idea from Coonhound Companions. We hope to encourage the formation of meet-up groups for owners of pet coonhounds and foxhounds that will enable coonhound people to meet each other and have social events with each other, both with and without the presence of their pet coonhounds.

Getting together with other hound owners and their dogs is great fun. Most hounds are sociable with dogs and people, and interact well with each other and with children. Meeting other hound owners will help you compare experiences and learn about training ideas, fun activities, and quirks of the breed from each other. And no one appreciates how gaga you get over your long-eared companion than another pet hound owner!  What could be more enjoyable than a group of sociable coonhounds singing their hearts out?


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Coonhound Companions (including Foxhound Companions) is an advocacy group educating the general public about coonhounds and foxhounds, with the aim of helping long-eared hounds in shelters find adoptive homes more quickly. Coonhounds and foxhounds are bred primarily as hunting dogs.  Since they also make great pets, those that lose their hunting homes are often stranded in shelters and rescues for lack of interest. We want Long Ear League chapters to be mostly fun, but we also hope that gatherings of pet coonhound owners will attract public attention to the full range of potential for these lovable long-eared dogs.

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Bark Park Fundraiser - A Howling Success!

10/5/2011

3 Comments

 
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On Saturday, September 17, 2011 with many thanks to Marcia Perry Rhoades and Lenny Rhoades, Coonhound Companions was the beneficiary of a fundraiser by Bark Park (www.barkpark.org)
 
This is difficult to write because I was moved in so many ways. Coonhound Companions is my pet project and I'm happy, overwhelmed and grateful to see this fundraising success on its behalf.
 
 "Thank you" is too simple and understated for the incredible generosity of the participants who paid gate fees, had their dogs bathed, nails trimmed, bought raffle tickets, donated raffle items, who baked and donated desserts, who bought food, buttons, notepads, t-shirts and other items, who baked and donated gluten free homemade dog biscuits and more.
 

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Bark Park is held on a slice of doggie heaven, a completely fenced property with dual gates for safety including open areas and wooded areas and a lovely pond for swimming. 
Spayed or neutered, vaccinated dogs that are friendly with people and other dogs are welcome to join in the fun for a great play date.  Bark Park is the one event where dozens of people cater to my hound's love of chasing balls and are humored by his loud vocalizations demanding that someone throw a ball for him. 

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Blaze literally ran and swam and bayed for three hours, at which point he flopped at my feet to take a well deserved nap amidst the fun and games.   I do not think my Blaze was the coonhound star of the day. He was just one of the clowns, joined by Melody and Arthur(two hounds up for adoption from Madison County Humane Society). 

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This is one of the Madison County Humane Societies coonhounds, having the time of his life and looking forward to his forever home.

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The true star was the hound with all the grace and dignity in the world.  The Grand Hostess of the event. Miss Scarlett, the newest addition to the Rhoades' family, spent the day near the gate so she could greet and welcome every new arrival.  What a gal!  It was moving to watch hundreds of dogs constantly rotating through the park, playing and enjoying the glorious autumn weather that Ohio provided.



Some dogs ran, some dogs swam; some dogs lounged under the trees and watched the action.  Some dogs played with their best buddies, some played solo.  Some dogs begged and melted against any human who would pet them.


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So,the most moving part of the Bark Park day for me?  The volunteers!  The Humane Society of Madison County sent at least a dozen volunteers to help and to bring a couple hounds and a retriever mix to play for the day.  Mind you, Madison is undergoing the remodeling of a building that will be their new shelter right now so they've got no shortage of need for volunteers on their own home front! They ran the concession stand, sold raffles and ran the sales table, manned the gate, you name it they did it.

Then, Bark Park had-more than 16 volunteers show up to work their tails off for the day setting up chairs, poop bag stations, tables, tents, and so much more.   I can't even begin to thank everyone.  I just don't know how.

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Perhaps you are saying, why is this so important? People volunteer everyday so that's not so remarkable.  But it was.  The entire day was perfect.  It went off without a hitch.  Not a single grumpy word, not a single problem, not even a grumbly dog.  With eagerness, enthusiasm, and a willingness to do anything that was needed, so many volunteers cheerfully gave up their beautiful weekend day to commit to a cause very important to me. 


Many of these volunteers I hadn't met before, but I'd certainly be proud to call them "friend" after seeing their character in action.  I didn't beg them, badger them, push them, and order them to help. They simply showed up and made the day a success.  It was like someone waved a magic wand.  I think I've learned a new life lesson, magic wands exist and they are made up of good people.  Thank you, my friends, thank you.
 
Mary Beth Hall
CoonhoundCompanions.com

3 Comments

We Didn't Think We Could Love Again

9/16/2011

19 Comments

 
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We didn’t think we could love again. We didn’t think we could laugh again. It was March, cold and raw, when we lost our beloved Dalmatian, the first dog we’d ever had. We were crazy about him, and miserable without him.
 
We were so sad we couldn’t live another day, it seemed, without a dog. So again, we made the trip to the animal shelter, Buddy Dog Humane Society, in Sudbury, Mass.
 
There, across from the cage where, ten years before, our Dalmatian had stood, gorgeous, noble and proud, waiting for a home, we watched a large, black, white and chestnut-colored pup fold his improbably long legs into the confines of a tiny round bed. We laughed, for the first time in weeks.
 
Some sound other than the furious barking of the shelter dogs attracted his attention. He unfolded his nimble body, stretched impossibly tall, and trotted off to investigate. Back he came, curiosity satisfied, and plopped down again. We laughed.
 
We took him for a walk to test him out. That was the plan, anyway. He took us on a dizzying tour of the shelter’s grounds. We were convinced he was the one. “What mix is he?” we asked, as we put down our deposit. “Actually, we think he’s a purebred Treeing Walker Coonhound,” the shelter worker said.

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“A what?” we asked. We did our homework. I sat biting my nails as I watched videos of these tree-climbing dogs, then called the fence company to replace our four-foot picket fence with a more substantial six-footer.
 
When we went to pick him up, he spooked at a ball of cat hair rolling across the parking lot, then refused to get in the car. The shelter worker managed to coax him in, and knowing the shelter’s rule that I had to take him to the vet within 10 days, we practiced every day. We tried many treats. We had dog friends show him what to do. We climbed in, and out, and in, and out, ourselves. “He’s a hound,” said our neighbor, a Basset hound owner. “What does that mean?” I asked frantically. She just smiled knowingly. “You’ll find out.”
 
We did.

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Lesson #1. Hounds are independent thinkers.
Hounds think a lot. Tucker considers where he wants to go—and doesn’t. Never having walked on a leash, he would simply sit when he had different plans than we did. We called it the Plop o’Doom, because 85 lbs. of stubborn hound are impossible to move. Tempting treats in one’s pocket are a necessity.
 
Lesson # 2. A hound is stealthy.
They’re hunters, so they’re experts at moving without making a sound. Tucker is so quiet, we often think he’s slipped out somehow and gone gallivanting. But no, he’s usually asleep in one of his many favorite spots or simply waiting to be noticed.
 
Lesson #3. A hound is sensitive. At first, Tucker didn’t know the difference between his food and ours. Rather, it was clear he preferred ours. When I sprayed him with water (a technique that would barely quiet our barky Dalmatian) after he tried to eat our dinner, he stood shaking in the hallway. I never did that again.
 
Lesson #4. A hound is gentle and friendly. Where our Dalmatian tended toward fear-aggressiveness, Tucker loves everyone and every dog, especially tiny ones. He can play with the big guys and the little ones. He stands still so toddlers can pet him. Easy!
 
Lesson #5. A hound is smart. Now that Tucker loves the car, we have to spell the word, otherwise we’ll get knocked over as he races to the door. He was easy to train, and possesses several graduation certificates. It seems like he knows what we’re going to do even before we do. He’ll also go get his leash when he’s ready for a walk.
 
Lesson #6. A hound sleeps a lot. Our Dalmatian was always underfoot, begging to go out for a run—three times a day! A coonhound’s job is to hang around until needed, so they’re perfectly willing to wait for a walk. Then, they’d like a good, long one.
 
When admirers used to ask us if we would recommend they adopt a Dalmatian, we would have to tell them no. We were up to the challenge, and loved it, but knew many families wouldn’t have the time or energy to keep up with the exuberant breed.
 
Now, when people ask about our hound—and they do, Walker hounds are known mainly to hunters in the Northeast—we enthusiastically can recommend the breed. Tucker barely sheds. He’s extremely quiet—no barking, and his throaty bay and his antics make everyone laugh. We laugh all the time now, with our goofy, sweet, lovable hound.
 
by Lisa Rogers
Guest Blogger
dreamsdudog@yahoo.com


19 Comments

Olivia’s Story Part One: Her Road to Rescue and Her Human Helpers Along the Way

8/26/2011

6 Comments

 
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This August 5th was Olivia’s Adoption Day. The day we took hold of her leash and walked her into our home. Her birthday and age is only an educated guess. She was one or two years old when she was picked up as a stray in Round Rock, suburb of Austin, Texas and brought to Town Lake Animal Center (TLAC).  In 2007, TLAC had a three day hold policy, Olivia was given her three days, waiting for an owner to claim her, after that she was scheduled to undergo euthanasia. The first photo I have of our Olivia was taken of her in her cage at the shelter, she was sitting next to a pail of water looking up at  the camera. She was given the required shots, an ID number and a small chance to live.


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Lucky for her, the staff thought she was a sweet girl and alerted one of the rescue volunteers. These volunteers have taken on the unenviable task of visiting the dog shelter to look for dogs that they can “pull” and bring into a foster program. Many of the dogs won’t be saved and this is their last chance. Olivia’s road to life started with Coonhound Companions member Jerry Dunham. Coonhounds are one of the many breeds that he helps save.

He knows his hounds and was surprised that he had missed her on his recent visit, but when he approached her cage he could see why. She was curled up in a tight ball at the back of cage. He said “she looked liked she had given up”. To this day, when Olivia feels stressed, I find her in her bed, curled so tight that I can’t lift her paw. We call it her “coonhound lockdown” time.

Many phone calls and juggling of schedules later he found a foster home for her. He was allowed to pull her under the auspices of The Texas Alaskan Malamute Rescue. Our little underweight, scared black and tan coonhound went to Lynn, who fosters Mals but found room in her busy life and home for Olivia.


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I later found out that the very pink slippers that can be seen on Olivia’s Pet Finder page were Lynn’s.

Olivia went from a being a hungry, injured stray, surviving on the streets by herself to being given a second chance and what may have been her very first name ever, “Scout”.

She was put up for adoption on Pet Finder and the American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue’s site, I first saw her picture there.

Lynn was the first to notice that Olivia was showing signs of being very sick and alerted Jerry. He contacted a local vet that would do pro-bono work of rescue dogs to see if she would take a look at Olivia. “Scout's” survival was in question.  She came out of the shelter with a nasty kennel cough that quickly turned into double pneumonia.  It was touch and go for several days, but she pulled through and we are grateful to vets like Dr. Culp that donate their time to rescue dogs.


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Before adopting Olivia I wanted to know more about her. My dogs had always been six to eight weeks old when I got them and I wanted to know what I could expect with a full grown dog. Jerry answered every question I emailed him and if he didn’t know, he put me in contact with someone that did. This was my first experience adopting a dog and I had some trepidation, but I had made the decision to “walk the talk” and adopt a dog from a shelter. The commitment and support of these rescue workers sharing their stories about coonhound behavior, and what I could expect when I brought her into our home sealed the deal for us. I said yes. We’ll take her!


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Foster mom Lynn, says good bye to a now healthy Scott!

My current work with Coonhound Companions is my way of “paying it forward” - repaying the support and help I received, and continue to receive, for my Olivia from the dog rescue community. Many coonhound owners have begun to share their coonhound stories on our Coonhound Companions Facebook Page, and follow our Long Ears Blog on our CoonhoundCompanions.com website.

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 Anyone can help save a life by simply going to www.coonhoundcompanions.com, click on Poster & More and download the free PDF’s of posters and promotion kits. Pass the link onto a friend, your local shelter or rescue group. Every “like”, comment, and download is helping save a coonhound life and better the understanding of this oft-misunderstood breed.

The life I helped save was Olivia’s. On August 5, 2006 my husband and I met the transport driver Norm, in our local park. We signed some paper work and took her leash from him.  My life changed immediately. I was once considered the consummate dog person, but I soon discovered that I knew little about how to handle this neglected, fearful canine.

Olivia: “The Cautious Canine”.

What’s going to be title of Olivia’s Story, part two?  “She Exhausts Me.”



6 Comments

Those Colorful Coonhound Names!

6/12/2011

166 Comments

 
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“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”-Shakespeare

With coonhounds having such colorful backgrounds and history and such vivid personalities, I find that their names are often just as fun. Peruse a list of names of real coonhounds…

Montgomery, Blaze, Leila, Savannah, Huckleberry, Blue, Bayou, Austin, Clamour, Mudd, Jed, Maggie, Bonnie, Zooey, Duke, Bubba, Mikki, Billie, Whitey, Hubert, Ruthie, Penelope, Pearl, Rocky, Olivia Rose, Atticus, Ringo, Pepper, Barney, Belle, Maya, Chase, Roscoe, Ellie, Jill, Lucie, Gunner, Kali, Daphne, Clementine, Daisy, Boomer, Lacey, Darby, Buddy, Biscuit, Hank, Xena, Pickles, Milton, Comisky, Holly, Elvis, Buckshot, Addie, Granger, Colonel Harlan, Beaux, Big Dan, Ranger, Rooster, Fern, Rusty, Juanita, Bert, Tucker, Guinness, Moses, Daisy Mae, Maggie May, Liza Jane, Rufus, Gator, Happy, Libby, Grimm, Wanda, Trouble, Chester, Waldon, Henry, Brendon, Chuck, Shiloh, Floppy, Captain RC, Fender, Mandy, Ruby, Copper, Princess, Dodger, Watson, Harley, Buddy, Boss, Rebel, Gypsy, Mitch, Rex, Ladybird, King of the Hill, Zeke, Chloe, Bodacious, Gracie, Marty, Farrah, Stanley, Fred, Rap, Gizmo, Chip, Reba, Homerette, Jasper, Tilly, Sharona, Natalie, Winky, Bailey, Hiram, Molly, Traveller, Daffy, Dixie, Brandy, Scout, Hunter, Ruger, Tank, Pepsi, Snickers, Grizzly, Moon, Roscoe, Lightning, Thunder, Diesel, Donner, Kink, Nemo, Bella Blue, Blue Belle, Cyrus, Conrad, Archie, Ellie Mae, Earl, Otis, Sophie, Rosy, Posy, Happy, Frankie, Johnny, Clyde, Jossee, Dakota, Trooper, Finnigan, Alafair, Annalaise, Carter, Libby, Rusty, Gunner, Treagle, Dryfuss, Peanut, Mojo, and Copperette, Della, Brego, Jethro, and the list goes on!

Homerette?

Tell us what you have named your special coonhound and why!
166 Comments

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