Photo by Justortitri - some rights reserved.
The fox hunter's horn has echoed through the Virginia countryside since colonial days, calling together hunters on horseback and long-eared hounds in pursuit of the poultry-snatching fox. George Washington, the first President of the United States, eagerly participated in the sport, which combined horsemanship, the music of skilled dogs, and an exhilarating gallivant through miles of forest and farmland. The same sport continues to attract adherents to the present day, although in contemporary hunts, foxes are seldom harmed.
The hounds form an enthusiastic and noisy pack and love what they do. Many of today’s foxhounds trace their ancestry to the famous pack developed by President Washington. These dogs are very good at what they do in the field, but as they get older, they slow down and begin having trouble keeping up with the pack. They are still very social with other dogs and people, but they are better suited for pedestrian companionship than keeping up with horses and foxes. They prefer a life filled with praise and company to getting left behind. That makes them great potential pets.
The hounds form an enthusiastic and noisy pack and love what they do. Many of today’s foxhounds trace their ancestry to the famous pack developed by President Washington. These dogs are very good at what they do in the field, but as they get older, they slow down and begin having trouble keeping up with the pack. They are still very social with other dogs and people, but they are better suited for pedestrian companionship than keeping up with horses and foxes. They prefer a life filled with praise and company to getting left behind. That makes them great potential pets.
Photo by Bob New - some rights reserved
A good hunting hound must be very social with other dogs or he couldn’t hunt in a huge, dense, excited pack. The social skills developed in the hunting pack carry over to a “family pack”, and these dogs do well with children as well as other dogs. The urge to please humans is necessary in their profession, and just as desirable in a pet. By the time they are ready to retire, the high energy level of a hound puppy has mellowed and they are just happy to be with you. Like many working breeds, foxhounds have fewer health problems than breeds bred primarily for show or to meet pet market demands, and even older dogs can have many healthy years ahead.
This situation is very similar to the plight of racing Greyhounds some years ago, and today many ex-racing Greyhounds find themselves in wonderful retirement homes with families who consider them the best couch potatoes ever. It’s time for the same to happen to hunting hounds.
This situation is very similar to the plight of racing Greyhounds some years ago, and today many ex-racing Greyhounds find themselves in wonderful retirement homes with families who consider them the best couch potatoes ever. It’s time for the same to happen to hunting hounds.
You can read about successful adoptions of foxhounds from a hunt at:
http://articles.philly.com/2004-08-17/news/25392204_1_foxhounds-rescue-group-hunting-dogs
To see hunting foxhounds at work, click on:
http://www.klmimages.com/foxhunting
http://articles.philly.com/2004-08-17/news/25392204_1_foxhounds-rescue-group-hunting-dogs
To see hunting foxhounds at work, click on:
http://www.klmimages.com/foxhunting
Jerry Dunham
Coonhound Companions
Coonhound Companions
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