tell me about foxhounds

[appdream]

I have had a few crossbred foxhounds (English/American, for those not familiar) and absolutely love them. I have to add that I have found that when training, especially when you are starting. They respond much better if you have a whip to crack. They might ignore your voice, but when the whip cracks, you have their undivided attention.

I forgot about the counter surfing! Our old hound has been with us since she was 4 months old and never got that habit. But, at 28 inches to the shoulder and 120 pounds, she can reach most anything she wants with both feet planted on the ground.

[vineyridge]

The best thing about scent hounds that have been created to be pack creatures is that the vast majority of them haven’t got an aggressive bone anywhere. The hunting ones have been trained to respond to very few people and so seem shy.

[Frosty_M]

That makes sense, Viney. Here’s a funny story about what else the Longreen hounds would obey. I was hanging out with the Master’s son when he got an important telephone call. He had just let a batch of puppies out and he ran off and let me in charge of them. Of course, they paid no attention at all to my voice and disappeared over the hill toward the road. I panicked and then realized the only thing I could do. I dashed into the kennel room and filled a metal pan with their kibble. I ran after them, rattling their food in the pan. In not time at all, they came to me, tails wagging, and followed me and their food back to the kennel. Whew! What a relief to lock the gate with the pups safely inside.

[CANTEREOIN]

I adopted an American Crossbred Foxhound at 5 months (after he broke his elbow) from our hunt club. He came into my home, had two accidents and then was housebroke (better than my lab).

As for trainability - he might occasionally question whether I’m serious or not but if I’m consistent, he accepts me as his pack leader. My brother has two from the same litter and spent $ on professional training. One year later, those two hounds are amazingly well behaved and still very houndlike.

As for loveability - my hound, by far, captured my heart like no other animal has including my beloved horse. He loves to cuddle and is affectionate. I’ve found most foxhounds are cuddlers if they’ve been socialized.

An old huntsman told me that hound are full of Fs - Friendly, Funny or Frightened. My hound makes me laugh… particularly when he thinks he’s stealing something as I’m watching him…

They are forward animals so I never chase him. I turn and tell him to go “Over here!” He’ll stop and swing around to go ahead of me in the direction I want to go.

I ride with him, take him everywhere and for the most part, he’s pretty good. If he gets anxious he will chew things apart… like the trunk of my CRV. But then again, my lab ate the back part of my old Tahoe… so maybe he’s done with that.

See, I could go on! Luf me my hound! (Pics are on my recent blog)

[Ambitious_Kate]

I’ve fallen in love with several different hunting breeds, but I sure would love to get to know foxhounds better! What a great thread.

Since I don’t (at this time, yet,) hunt, I’ve never been around them. Makes me look forward to that, though.