Can anyone tell me a bit more about puppy walking?

[tootsietoo]

Can anyone tell me a bit about what puppy walking involves? I had a quick chat to our whip yesterday about it, but before I ring the kennels and offer our services, I need to know whether it is realistic for us to do it.

I guess I would need to provide a secure outside space for him/her - we have a stable we could use - and regular walks. But how much walking? And do they have a tendency to head off after any smell they come across? I don't want to be haring round looking for a lost hound all the time! How are they with children? I have a 3 and a 4 year old, and I think perhaps the 3 yr old might be a little bit small to cope with a nearly fully grown bouncy young hound, but then again, maybe if they've known each other since the puppy was small they might be ok. We have no other dogs right now which I guess might be an advantage?

Any advice gratefully received, thank you!

 

[rosie fronfelen]

We have 3 pups out at present, now about 7 months old and been gone about 3 weeks- they will tend to hunt in their puppyish ways as they get older but these are used to everything- sheep, chooks,, little people, adults and are pure delights BUT can be naughty,carting anything everywhere- mind you, we are lucky being on the farm and miles from everywhere they have been used to being walked free with a mixed gang of terriers, sheepdogs etc, never have them in the house of course.once you have had them you will want more as they are great fun!!! Good luck-----

 

[tootsietoo]

Thanks Rosie. How old are they when they go out to homes and when they go back to kennels? How much exercise do they need?

The carting things everywhere shouldn't be a problem. The children constantly trash the place anyway, so I am always putting things back where they should be, it would just be like having a third child!

 

[rosie fronfelen]

TT, these are our pups any way so they could have gone at about 12 weeks, considering the weaning time(approx,8 weeks) and hubby took them out twice a day with the gang- the 3 that are gone will return after the summer and have all gone to farms so lucky girls as they have a free rein, we kept them in a loose box til they got too vocal so we movedthem,he cattle sheds, for our sanity!!! half an hour will suffice exercise wise.

 

[hunting mad]

All i can say is you will look forward to getting them,likewise you cant wait for them to go back!!!
I keep mine in a kennel with my other dogs,let them out with the other dogs.Making sure they see cattle,sheep,chickens etc.
Also,it is very important they are taught to walk on a lead.
I have walked puppies for many seasons now,and my children now 13,11,and 4 have loved it.....they get knocked over from time to time,but thourghly enjoy it,and its always makes puppy show much more interesting

 

[tootsietoo]

Mmmmm. Hubby comes up with all sorts of reasons not to get dogs as he is not a doggy person (part of the reason why I thought of puppy walking - a way to persuade him as it goes back at the end!) but it's one of those things where there's always a reason NOT to do it, but in the end you just have to dive in anyway! Whip said that there won't be any ready to go for about 3 months, so I have a bit of time to think and get the place ready. I will give them a call!

 

[Maesfen]

Have two! They are so much less trouble than a single as they keep each other amused and play together.

Foxhounds are the very easiest to house train, far easier than any other breed of dog we've known. As you can guess, ours do come into the house but no further than the kitchen/sitting room; I'm not that stupid!

These are the only pics I have on this computer but give you some idea of their temperament and playful characters. You know when they're ready to go back but goodness is the place empty when they do; you'll not be able to wait for the next litter next year!

 

[L&M]

You are right to put a lot of thought into this! They are time consuming, noisy, destructive, escape artists, but ultimately good fun and very rewarding.

We walked puppies the summer before last and had 2 - it is easier than 1 on its own as they can play with each other, which in turn also excercises them. We are lucky as our yard is of about 2 acres and is fenced in on all sides so we could let them out to run around, as well as have a daily lead walk. We were careful to socialise them with the horses, sheep, chickens and traffic, and made a point of introducing them to anyone that came onto the yard.

We kept ours in a brick built stable (not wanting to scare you, I have heard of ones that have chewed through wooden ones!), and although they are not that trainable, managed to get them to come to call by constant rewarding of treats!

Anything within their reach will become 'toys' whether that is brooms, horse rugs or lego so be very careful what you leave lying around, and would not recommend having them in the house!

Also another thing to consider is what to do with them if you are going away, as you may need to return them to the kennels short term or get somone in to look after them.

We got ours at 10 weeks old, around April time, and returned then in Sept when they started to become to big for me to hold on the lead. I cried when I took them back, but have loved seeing them both at various puppy shows and out hunting this season. We did not have any last summer as the litter we were having them from unfortunately did not survive, but are hoping to have some again this spring.

As with any young animal, the more time and work you put into them, the easier they are...

Good luck!

 

[tootsietoo]

Thank you all.

All my best decisions have been made without mulling them over for months, so I think I might just ring the kennel tomorrow and get the deed done!

Maesfen's pictures have me completely sold!

 

[JanetGeorge]

Mmmmm. Hubby comes up with all sorts of reasons not to get dogs as he is not a doggy person (part of the reason why I thought of puppy walking - a way to persuade him as it goes back at the end!)

He'll be even LESS doggy after puppy walking - he's never let another dog on the place!

 

[tootsietoo]

I've just shown him the thread, and I think the pictures did it. Thanks Maesfen .

 

[Maesfen]

You're very welcome! When I've time I'll scan a lot more in for you, we have some classics but that's only to be expected after 25 years of walking foxhound pups plus another 10 with bassets. You do get addicted and there's no better feeling than knowing your puppy is working well with the pack or it still coming up to you at the meet and making a fuss of you. We had one bitch that always would come back to greet me, give me a slurp and then happily go off to work, it was lovely. (I'm a real softy!)

 

[combat_claire]

The staff who have to enter hounds always appreciate the ones who have been well walked. The puppy walkers for the minkhounds do sterling work with pups that grow very large and hairy and mature a lot later than foxhounds!

One walker used to take her puppy everywhere with her and he used to get regular trips to London and walks down Oxford Street and in Hyde Park. Those who have had a full education at walk and have come across everything they are likely to meet as a working hound are a pleasure to enter and so much more confident than the ones who never left the stable.

 

[EAST KENT]

One of my foxhound puppies was reared in the house by a bull terrier foster mum;her mother had 13 puppies,so some of them were fostered out.It was so funny to watch Gossip jumping all the barriers that kept bullies in..but were mere fag packets to her leaping skills.

 

[doodleberry]

I have been walking puppies for 14 years and every year i say i am not going to have any but every year i do!! it took me 10 years to safeguard the yard so they didn't wander off but now they have the run of the place!! just make sure that anything you need is safely put out of reach as they will destroy it!! i get mine at 10 - 12 weeks unless i have the bitch here straight after welping at approx 4 months i put a collar on and leave it on for gradually a bit longer each day then we try leading always do this slowly and positively and then sometimes let them wander around with the rope attached ! lots and lots of cuddles and calling them so they come to their name but really thats all, they have to learn to see things cows sheep tractors horses etc anything that will eventually encounter its just confidence they need whatever you do dont teach them to sit or puppy show could be quite amusing!! i usually send them back when they are becoming a nuisance or start to hunt a bit on walks as if they chase after a rabbit or deer etc this is best curbed on horseback out on hound exercise by the whipper in!! thats his job!!
feeding wise flesh from the kennels is great if you can get it some prove to be fussy but do consider that when they go back to the kennels they have to eat what they are given i also feed milk for as long as they will drink it (just lambs milk powder is fine) i think i have covered most things but enjoy and defo send them back to the kennels if you have to go away!! they won't mind at all

 

[EAST KENT]

Mine were all trained to go on couples before going home,as they were often eight months by then;now that is quite amusing..having a couple on couples roaring down the field to you..and knowing full well one will pass on either side of you. Not much chance of staying upright there. As a form of weight loss I can strongly recommend taking them down the woods on couples and a lead connecting them to you, once they get a whiff it is a case of mud ski-ing. Everything gets stolen and hidden,my first couple carefully removed many neat little parceled up door bolts from the handyman`s car boot ,secreted them away and carefully unwrapped each one before burying it.
When they made "windows" in walls that previously had none it was time to go home.

 

[doodleberry]

ha ah why do we do it?? i had to leave a box outside for the postman so he didn' get mugged but unfortunately many a thing from ebay got 'inspected' by the puppies before i got it!!! yes forgot about the couples always appreciated by the huntstaff although putting them on 2 excited puppies is a challange as you get one on then it wanders off etc etc!! but the joy of seeing them working and greeting you at a meet when you haven't even noticed them is better then xmas!! I am now enjoying having puppies that i havwe walked a few years ago back very soon after they have welped i call it maternity leave they are much more relaxed being in familiar surroundings with no pressure or commotion a bit like us really!!

 

[tootsietoo]

How lovely!

There will be a bit of work to do then before they arrive. I'll have to get round to putting a box by the gate for the postie and milkman.

The one thing I am a bit worried about is that we live right on a fairly busy lane. It's quiet at weekends, but it's a commuter cut through in the mornings, and there are a lot of milk tankers and tractors. The previous tenants did dog proof the whole garden with dug-in chicken wire, but the pony paddock runs adjacent to the road, and there are a few places the could squeeze through the hedge. I guess I need to check the whole fence and block up holes? Do they jump 5 bar gates?

I've rung the kennels, but no answer and no call back yet..... will see KH today though.

 

[doodleberry]

they tend to climb more than jump as they only really learn how to do that when they follow an older hound out hunting best thing to do is block up any holes and make sure they cant climb up anything you wont have a problem till they are about 5 months as they are quite small and content with life until then!!

 

[tootsietoo]

Apparently he's got a bitch who needs a home now! So he'll call tomorrow and I guess will be round with her as soon as he can! Uh oh! She's 12 weeks apparently, and that's about all I know. This thread may have to be an ongoing one for a list of things which have been destroyed! So excited. Husband rolling eyes......

 

[EAST KENT]

Being as mine stayed till around eight months they took themselves off now and again,once a nieghbouring farmer came to report my two were a mile away and hunting..however they must have heard the other dogs barking at home and came flying down the field and over the field gate .As I said "problem? What problem ,they are present and correct ".
However,if the huntsman called they legged it,think they wanted to stay in the idle life somehow.

 

[tootsietoo]

She's here!

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/album.php?albumid=1592&pictureid=8763

I hope this link to the pic works - it's the first time I've tried it.

She arrived this morning and was thoroughly sweet and chipper about the whole thing. She's installed in her stable, with ad lib dry dog food, water, a nice thick shavings bed, a blanket, a toy and a chewy thing. She cried a bit when I shut her in but settled really quickly and was flat out asleep on her blanket after her walk this afternoon! I'm a bit worried she will be cold though - it's going to be zero tonight apparently! I might give her a hot water bottle. Am I a sap?? I haven't had a dog for ages, and anyway they were house dogs, so not quite the same!

 

[hunting mad]

I got mine yesterday as well...........sadly he is 6 months old,and has been out on walk previously,but they couldnt cope with him.....think i may have my work cut out with him

 

[tootsietoo]

is he very insubordinate then, hunting mad?! good luck with him.

my mum and brother are very jealous, so much so that I wouldn't be surprised if mum rings their hunt kennels and offers her services!

When I got back from my ride this morning I stayed on the horse and took her for a run round the fields. All the gates are open as the cows aren't out yet, the sun is shining and she stayed with me the whole way. Heaven! I'm trying to do a bit of desk work now so I shut her out, but gave into the wailing and let her into the office, and now she's curled up at my feet and gone to sleep! very sweet. I do wonder how long it will last though..... This morning was chaotic. The puppy was angelic, but the excitement has sent the children loopy!

 

[hunting mad]

I dont think he will be that bad,just not done enough,or had enough time spend with him......he was said to be a bit independant minded,and buggers off,like alot of them are...........but he is six months old and doesnt even know his name yet.Im hopeful,and he will get alot of attention from me and the boys!!

 

[marmalade76]

Foxhounds are the very easiest to house train, far easier than any other breed of dog we've known. As you can guess, ours do come into the house but no further than the kitchen/sitting room; I'm not that stupid!

My YO used to have them in the house too!

She doesn't have them anymore because she's getting a bit too old to cope with them. I miss having them around but don't miss having my grooming kit chewed up!

 

[tootsietoo]

She's certainly a quick learner. I've only told her firmly not to go up the stairs a couple of times and today she just stood at the bottom looking up longingly! And she knows exactly what is going on when I go to put her away!

Have you house trained a hound then Maesfen? Though if I house trained mine it could be a disaster, she'd be snuggled up with me on the sofa every night and everything would be chewed!

 

[hunting mad]

Day 3 with my older pup,and im so pleased with him.....much easier than i thought he was going to be.....he is now walking on a lead,has seen cattle and horses.Rather fond of him,but im sure there will be a time when i cant wait for him to go back!!!

 

[tootsietoo]

excellent hunting mad! I guess if you are expecting the worst, then any good behaviour is a bonus!

Do you travel them in the car much? If so do you have a cage? It seems the only option for avoiding chewed coats and boots. Can anyone recommend a good place to get them, or type or brand to get? I have never had to get a dog cage before.