Hunting is in a spot of bother

I'm Dun

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A chase instinct in a dog is just that, but they are not born to chase specific species. Species specific chasing/ hunting/ scenting is either trained by human or in the wild taught by their parents. This is why many herding breeds will naturally show herding towards many things not just to one particular livestock. Your terrier is chasing rats as that’s what’s available to him at that moment in time.
Drag hunts rarely get caught up with chasing foxes, and guess what - majority are using foxhounds, which shows training is absolutely at the forefront and that the instinct to scent is not species specific to foxes.

Not in mines case. He isnt interested in livestock or horses or other dogs etc. He knows deer, foxes, rabbits and squirrel are prey though. I damn certainly didn't teach him, and spent and still spend a lot of time trying to prevent it. My other one is a pet, doesn't have the same drive or interest, so its hard to know if he knows the difference. I'm inclined to think yes, he's just not interested enough in anything to waste time chasing it.
 

I'm Dun

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That’s a valid point about what is the reward for trail hunting foxhounds at the end of each trail. I’d not even considered that before.

Having only hunted pre ban the reward for a successful hunt was a kill. I believe that Bloodhounds get biscuits and cuddles from their human ‘prey’.

So what’s the reward for following a trail to its conclusion for legally trail hunting foxhounds?

In the case of sighthounds they get a high from the chase. It takes roughly 3 days for cortisol levels to drop down after a chase whether they catch anything or not. I don't know enough about hounds but as scent animals Id guess their high is chasing the scent
 

ester

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In the case of sighthounds they get a high from the chase. It takes roughly 3 days for cortisol levels to drop down after a chase whether they catch anything or not. I don't know enough about hounds but as scent animals Id guess their high is chasing the scent
It being self rewarding comes up quite a lot on the dog section.
 

skinnydipper

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Not in mines case. He isnt interested in livestock or horses or other dogs etc. He knows deer, foxes, rabbits and squirrel are prey though. I damn certainly didn't teach him, and spent and still spend a lot of time trying to prevent it

In the case of sighthounds they get a high from the chase. It takes roughly 3 days for cortisol levels to drop down after a chase whether they catch anything or not.


I know you were going to take Cooper lurcher racing but that might get him more ramped up. What about scentwork?


"Scientific research tells us that the act of sniffing actually helps lower a dogs’ pulse rate and impacts their nervous system in a way that helps them relax.

The activity of scentwork activates the seeking system, this releases dopamine which can reduce anxiety and stress levels.

Dopamine release is also linked to increased feelings of motivation and reward, increased attention levels and enhanced memory.

Another study also found that scentwork activities can increase a dogs’ optimism and lead to a more positive emotional state (See “Let me sniff …” Duraton & Horowitz, 2019). What benefits might these have to your dog?

With a dog who loves to spend their walks trying to hunt and chase wildlife, it can be hard to find ways to keep their attention and teach them to enjoy walks in other ways.

By playing some simple hunting games on your walks, you can re-direct predatory urges and give your dog a safe and controlled outlet for their instinctual desire to hunt.

You can train your dog to perform safe parts of the predatory sequence instead of the unsafe part, i.e chasing wildlife.

Searching for hidden treats for example covers the first and last part of your dogs predatory sequence (searching and consuming) and both are linked to low arousal, so they're a great way to calm your dog down at the start of a walk, after stressful events or between high arousal games

Teaching your dog to backtrack and search for dropped items on walks is the perfect game for dogs who like to chase, grab and possess. If you ask them to find a toy stuffed with treats like a lotus ball, your dog can eat when they find the toy, which means you'll satisfy the the final part of the prey sequence (consuming). This will in turn lead to the release of endorphins which will calm your dog down.

When your dog is 'hunting', hormones are released into your dog's body, filling them with adrenaline and dopamine. The thinking part of their brain is disengaged and their primal brain has taken over. So your dog will find it harder to listen and respond to you. This is why your dog might hold onto their toy a little longer after retrieving it or why they might parade around with it. "



 
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palo1

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But that isn't the type of thing I am referring to. Hounds strewn all over the roads/riders on the wrong side of the road etc that is obviously unsafe.

I am referring to posts that simply show a group of riders on a road. I've seen several posts in the last few weeks accusing riders of taking over the roads, arrogance, etc. I'm not condoning hounds and horses all over the roads but a group of riders riding up the road is perfectly legal and not arrogance or taking over the road.

View attachment 148013

This is just one example. Although I've seen quite a few posts like it.
And Northants hunt sabs continue to brag about splitting packs of hounds (this time with the Cottesmore)...potentially very dangerous to hounds and increasing the chance of hounds getting lost/being where they shouldn't or being unable to take direction from the huntsman. Not to mention their usual assertion of 'seeing foxes to safety' without any evidence whatsoever of any actual risk to those foxes. Sadly and ironically it would appear that 2 of the 4 foxes ''saved' by the sabs might have subsequently been shot in the vicinity. This group seem hell -bent on spreading trouble and misinformation. For balance I don't know much about the Cottesmore but I would have thought by now that sab s would know better than to be splitting hounds if they care about their safety and control.
 

Clodagh

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I’ve no idea how long ago it happened but several people down here have seperately told me the story that the sabs called a pack of hounds over the railway line and many were killed. It was apparently an appalling sight and the guy who had blown them on to him was really upset. Word doesn’t seem to have spread though.
 

palo1

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Do sabs bother hunts that they know do not hunt illegally?

@Fellewell, @Fred66, @palo1 Do they sab your hunt?
Yes, they do. They seem to target poorly behaved hunts and those with form for illegal hunting which is understandable but for various reasons, usually to do with their logistics of personnel, they will bother anyone, or visit a shoot - which will instantly have to completely shut down due to the issues around firearms, and also anglers.

I have been trail hunting with a hunt derided by sab s as being 'incapable' of catching a fox (!) - on that day they followed, catcalling, splitting the pack, walking slowly in front of all and any rural traffic on the narrow lanes, or driving their vehicle so close to a pony that it's tail was on their bonnet and then reported that this hunt was so 'useless at 'catching foxes' that they wouldn't bother again. It was very demonstrably experienced trail hunting going on. The reason they visited, it seems was because they couldn't find their preferred hunt. Sabs have also troubled bloodhounds...

I personally experienced 4 landrover's worth of sabs (i e 16 masked individuals) swaggering down a tiny lane in a rural hamlet of less than 6 houses, peering into people's gardens and filming my 12 year old son and my vehicle when we were following (on foot) an entirely and demonstrably legal trail hunt. It was deeply disturbing and felt very unsafe in a number of ways. Again, they slated this hunt as being 'unable to catch a fox'.
 

palo1

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I’ve no idea how long ago it happened but several people down here have seperately told me the story that the sabs called a pack of hounds over the railway line and many were killed. It was apparently an appalling sight and the guy who had blown them on to him was really upset. Word doesn’t seem to have spread though.
Sabs hit a pony with a child riding locally, with one of their vehicles. Neither pony or child was hurt thankfully but obviously the police were called. Well known sab, out of their usual area, lost and furious apparantly!
 

Trickywooo

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A chase instinct in a dog is just that, but they are not born to chase specific species. Species specific chasing/ hunting/ scenting is either trained by human or in the wild taught by their parents. This is why many herding breeds will naturally show herding towards many things not just to one particular livestock. Your terrier is chasing rats as that’s what’s available to him at that moment in time.
Drag hunts rarely get caught up with chasing foxes, and guess what - majority are using foxhounds, which shows training is absolutely at the forefront and that the instinct to scent is not species specific to foxes.

And yet he will not chase cats or other dogs. He's not particularly bothered by squirrels either. Very interested in rats however. So we shall simply have to agree to disagree.
In any event, can we all stop the facade that hunts are catching foxes on accident? If a fox is chased and caught that is entirely what the hunt wanted to happen. The reality is they have control over their hounds, they simply use accident as a ready made excuse. Those that let hounds riot on to private land or attack pets simply don't care.
The fact is as you say a pack of foxhounds will chase a fox/hare etc etc regardless and yet drag packs seem to manage perfectly well proves it can be done. Trail hunts that are still catching foxes are doing so because they want to. It really is that simple. It's not an issue with training, it's an issue with lack of control or the appearance of for the sake of convenience.
 

I'm Dun

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I know you were going to take Cooper lurcher racing but that might get him more ramped up. What about scentwork?


"Scientific research tells us that the act of sniffing actually helps lower a dogs’ pulse rate and impacts their nervous system in a way that helps them relax.

The activity of scentwork activates the seeking system, this releases dopamine which can reduce anxiety and stress levels.

Dopamine release is also linked to increased feelings of motivation and reward, increased attention levels and enhanced memory.

Another study also found that scentwork activities can increase a dogs’ optimism and lead to a more positive emotional state (See “Let me sniff …” Duraton & Horowitz, 2019). What benefits might these have to your dog?

With a dog who loves to spend their walks trying to hunt and chase wildlife, it can be hard to find ways to keep their attention and teach them to enjoy walks in other ways.

By playing some simple hunting games on your walks, you can re-direct predatory urges and give your dog a safe and controlled outlet for their instinctual desire to hunt.

You can train your dog to perform safe parts of the predatory sequence instead of the unsafe part, i.e chasing wildlife.

Searching for hidden treats for example covers the first and last part of your dogs predatory sequence (searching and consuming) and both are linked to low arousal, so they're a great way to calm your dog down at the start of a walk, after stressful events or between high arousal games

Teaching your dog to backtrack and search for dropped items on walks is the perfect game for dogs who like to chase, grab and possess. If you ask them to find a toy stuffed with treats like a lotus ball, your dog can eat when they find the toy, which means you'll satisfy the the final part of the prey sequence (consuming). This will in turn lead to the release of endorphins which will calm your dog down.

When your dog is 'hunting', hormones are released into your dog's body, filling them with adrenaline and dopamine. The thinking part of their brain is disengaged and their primal brain has taken over. So your dog will find it harder to listen and respond to you. This is why your dog might hold onto their toy a little longer after retrieving it or why they might parade around with it. "




I did scentwork with Floydy and he was incredibly good at it, he still uses the stuff he learnt when I ask him to find a toy or my keys. Cooper might quite like it actually. We do the things you mentioned already, mainly as Floyd loves it. Coopers not totally convinced by searching for things though. I'm hoping racing gives him an outlet for his drive. I know he finds it incredibly frustrating walking on a lead through areas with deer in and they are everywhere at the moment. I have somewhere I take him rabbiting and if I didn't I think he'd be utterly frustrated and miserable.
 

Tiddlypom

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Last night Channel 4 News ran a piece on the ongoing saga re the Warwickshire Hunt, Warwickshire Police and the Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner (who is a member of the Countryside Alliance).


Earlier this week the local MP raised a question about this mess in Parliament.

View the Hansard contribution by Matt Western on Monday 21 October 2024
https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commo...ribution-10B043E5-7395-489F-8120-CA2D50CA7AC2

It is almost two years since Warwickshire police issued a community protection notice against Warwickshire hunt. Eight months later, it was mysteriously replaced by a secret protocol. The police and crime commissioner, who receives financial support from the Countryside Alliance, claims that he knew nothing of the protocol. The chief constable refused to give me a copy and now she has resigned, claiming retirement. Trust in the PCC and the leadership of Warwickshire police has been seriously damaged. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the need for a truly independent inquiry, as opposed to the sham one being undertaken by the PCC?

Matt Western alleges that the Warwickshire PCC is on the payroll of the Countryside Alliance, which if true really ramps up the level of this whole sordid affair.
 

Tiddlypom

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A program on hunting and what's changed tonight on BBC Wales at 10.40pm, will be interesting to see but I have a feeling I will be fast asleep!
There’s a bit about it on the BBC news page, but I hadn’t twigged that it was also going to be on tv 🙈.

Could be a fairly balanced view on hunting - we will see. It’s going to be available to see on iplayer.

Called 'murdering scum' but still fighting for the hunt https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgvj0z7244o
 

palo1

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There’s a bit about it on the BBC news page, but I hadn’t twigged that it was also going to be on tv 🙈.

Could be a fairly balanced view on hunting - we will see. It’s going to be available to see on iplayer.

Called 'murdering scum' but still fighting for the hunt https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgvj0z7244o
Byron John is an absolute legend tbh and while he says some people feel he's sold out, I think the vast majority of hunting people have huge respect for him. He understands hunting, relentlessly pursues clean boot hunting and encourages newcomers and sceptics alike. The bloodhounds are amazing too. I'm glad the BBC have chosen him to talk about hunting.
 
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