What do you want in a hound?

[trappnman]

I demand 2 things first:

Soundness- I cannot abide an unsound hound, one that will lack stamina and endurance because of his body type and

2) temperament. I want a cheerful hound, one that works well with other, is bold and cheerful. Hounds are pack animals- there is no place for egos.

After that, then one can concentrate on traits. Its a check and balance trade off, but my ideal hound would have, in no order:

1) Honesty. Only barks on track, on game. And always tongues when on game and making progress.

The opposite bad trait would be stealing and skirting- those traits that include running silent, circling ahead, and babbling.

2) Voice: true. See above. I don't mind a hound coming back and pinpointing that check.

3) Independent w/honoring: I want a hound to be sure of himself. Don't be too willing to give up his own work, yet hark in to honest packmates.

I detest a hound that watches more than works.

Stealing is a fault I don't like- that of watching packmates work, and when one gets happy, rushes in to grab the trial and go.

4) Drive: Controlled drive. I don't like a hound that has his feet going faster than his brain. I don't like slashing and sideways running- I want to see all A-hole- meaning straight, forward progress.

5) Check: To many ignore good check work- and good check work is what saves a drive. I want a hound to stop on the end of that check- and however he works it- whether out and back, or in increasing circles- I want him to know WHERE that check is, and if he can't find the line, I want him to hit that point again. And A hound that tacks that point down, reaffirms that last scent before looking again, is a bonus.

The hound that does the above, is the perfect hound. I've owned a few. They are gems when you have them.

Comments?

[rockcreekcurs]

I'll take that same hound... just on a lion track instead.

[trappnman]

always wanted to go on a lion hunt....way things are going....lions are coming to me!

[kyboy]

Hard hunt...cant stand a "ME too" hound...A little cold nosed dosnt bother me too bad if they know what to do with it. Thats kind of hard to explain..
I like a hound with some sense
I like a hound that isnt afraid of briars
I like a fast hound, but a fast hound that can keep the line. Not overshoot at every turn..
I like a good mouth, got a fine female thats with pups right now. Good hound but the poor little thing has a mouth like a mouse fart'n thru a stove pipe...
I dont tolerate running trash..My strain of houds arnt bad for it anyway but I use training collars when their young as well..
I like a 14"-15" beagle, just personal preference..

[trappnman]

agreed-

but I like the little guys- always ran 13" males, 15" females (just easier whelping)

I don't fault beagles for running off game- I like to hunt pheasants, grouse and fox and squrrell with them.

Only had 1 beagle that was 100% rabbit- Fd Ch Close Call Charlie- would run the heck out of a rabbit- and if he tongued, it was a bunny- zero exceptions.

coonhounds I will not tolerate off game.

And I should say- I want a dog that will hunt. TRUE jump dogs are rare- those hounds that when you cast- you don't see until you hear them..THATS my kind of hound!

and guts- had one hound- Nr Fd Ch Cherakawa's Barbara Ann- running small pack- went over a barbed fence 2 inches off the ground. She cartwheeled yelping- I rushed up, untangled her while she is jumping around, bleeding like a stuck hog- got her free, she squirmed righto ut of my arms, back into the pack. Won that trial. Beautiful red and white hound- never raised a decent pup out of her- but 100% heart and a jump dog supreme. Some of the old hunters around her still judge their hound by her.

[branchplotts]

Intelligence first, desire second and everything else is up to me

[Airedale From NY]

I like "Balance" in my hunting dog's abilities, anytime you go overboard in anyone area it seems to throw the overall performance out of wack!

Al

[trappnman]

[b[Intelligence first, desire second and everything else is up to me [/b]

can't argue that!

[rockcreekcurs]

Aug 5, 2008 20:22:50 GMT -6 branchplotts said:

Intelligence first, desire second and everything else is up to me

I humbly disagree. There are a lot of things that we have no control over such as cold nose, grit, track speed, tree style, etc. All you can really do with a hunting dog is put a handle on them and put them in the right situations to let their instincts guide them.

Sure you can teach them some things like to handle and what game to hunt... everything else is up to the dog. There is a saying... "A dog is like an ATM, if there is nothing in there you can't get anything out". They are what they are when they are born. You can't put grit into a dog for example... they either have it or they don't.

Now you can sure take it out of them by putting them in the wrong situation before they are mentally prepared... but that's a whole post in itself. Take care.

[trappnman]

I read it a little different- that ALL hounds must have intellegence and desire- and after that, the triats (whats desired) is up to whoever feeds that hounds.

If it was meant as- give me intellegence and desire- and I'll make a good hound- then I also disagree.

Becasue I'm a firm beleiver in that you can do nothing to improve whats not there. Give me just about any Lab, etc- and I'll give you a good decent hunting dog- I won't (and can't) say the same about hounds- one reason I very seldom sold an unstarted pup-

[tomcat3006]

Looks, brains,ability, good nose and good mouth and lots of desire.

[trappnman]

I've never seen an ugly hound- seriously.

[tomcat3006]

Not a ugly good hound anyway. If they are good they never seem ugly.

[trappnman]

ain't it the truth.

[ruff]

I want a hound that will go hunting when turned out.

Have brains especially when hunting bear.

If he has brains then I want gritt to match them. Other wise you just end up with Vet bills.

Be at the tree when I get there with the meat.

[freepop]

I love these two males. I have put alot of time in them and it's paid off. I particularly like how they compliment each other.

The older one on the right is cold nosed, he'll follow that track till he jumps. Younger one only opens when that track is smokin' hot. This way I know what's going on.

They won't run off game, they've ran rabbits through deer beds and stayed on the rabbits.

The oldest will follow hand signals for direction.

The youngest is fast and a killer. He's killed 5 woodchucks and several rabbits already this year.

The oldest is mouthy in a check but I kinda like it cause I know where they are.

They hunt with me until we jump one, I hate chasing or searching for a dog and I can call them off a track. If I jump one I yell tally -ho and the trust me totally and come running because I dont lie to them.

They have drive, desire, stamina, and think that running is a daily thing.

[trappnman]

sounds like a pair I'd like to hunt over......

[freepop]

If you ever get to Michigan in the winter, you're more than welcome.

I have to agree quite a bit with the ATM theory. A friend of mine jsut about completely ignored his dogs and hee was always saying how worthless they were. I asked him what he did with them and he replied that he fed them. I said that all that does is make them poop.

Bottom line is he invested nothing and pretty much got the same in return.

[trappnman]

you should have seen Buddy today- came around a file,d and 15 or so turkeys were there. Buddy always has head out of window and he saw them, so we stopped and let him out...he chased them until he had tracks, then ran them like a pro. Doesn't bother me if he runs off game- he has fun.

Tuekry dog hunts...?

[irnhdmike]

Don't they use beagles to break up flocks when fall hunting?