Puppy Walkers

[Baileysno1]

Has anyone on here ever been a puppy walker for their hunt? Please could you give me an idea of the details of what this entails, I imagine the dog must be kept in an outdoor kennel, does the hunt put any particular restrictions on the dogs care, how long do you have the hound for? We love the idea of doing it but are worried we wouldn't be suitable and I don't want to contatc the kennels and look like an idiot!

 

[Maesfen]

Until recently, we have walked puppies for nearly twenty years, more if you count the Bassetts we've whelped and walked too!

It's great fun, sometimes annoying (when they've found your best shoes and only left one!) but always entertaining!

Ours would live out in the stables at night but be about all day if I was here. If I went out anywhere, I would shut them up too just in case. They happily mingled with our own dogs, slept with them too and foxhounds are very easy to housetrain believe it or not. I really miss not having any but we have too many of our own at present - there'd be no room on our sofas if hounds were added too!

If you can give them space and freedom coupled with discipline and loads of love, then you'd be great puppy walkers I'm sure but I would stress, the more time you put into them, the more you get out. All of our old hounds would make a point of finding us at meets or if we visited kennels to say 'hello' and it was great watching them learn their job which they were bred for. The big thrill was winning one year, the Best Young Hound Cup; it's what all puppy walkers want to win! :grin:
Some pic's to whet your appetite!

I did have one somewhere of them all eating with the hens too; if taught early enough, they will get on with any of your animals including cats, so don't worry about that aspect; they can be the softest things on four legs if treated properly!


** sorry about pic's, they won't come up; I'll put them in the Gallery for you!

 

[Maesfen]

I should have said too, if you can, always walk a couple! They are much less trouble than a single hound believe me and they do keep each other amused - it's also easier to see a couple than just one if they do a bunk when they get a bit older!

Also, normally, pups go back by the autumn but they can go back earlier if they become too much of a handful or if you have busy roads etc. It always seems pointless to me to keep them any longer if they have the habit of bunking off down to the road; you haven't spent all that time rearing them for them to get themselves run over on your doorstep! Believe me, you will know when it's time for them to go back; you'll be almost throwing them into the back of the Huntsman's LR yourself! Also, believe me, the house will seem so quiet once they've gone back you'll not be able to wait for the next couple to arrive!

Which Hunt are you with BTW?

 

[Baileysno1]

Hi I've been out with the south wold a few times and one of the ladies mentioned puppy walking. It sounds great, I'm definately going to enquire, having 2 would probably be the best option, thanks for posting the photos the dogs look fab and so happyy too!

 

[CLS.]

My friend has done it in the past and they were an adorable couple. Got on well with the labs etc. Although they do bunk off and are competent escape artists! The sacks of flesh from the huntsman are a bit stinky in the warm weather :grin:

we would take them out across the land at the back and onto the bridleways for hours with the horses come back they would sleep for what seemed like 5 mins then bugger off again if you didnt watch them! Absolutely brilliant characters and one did win the cup and we were all very proud.

 

[tormor]

I should have said too, if you can, always walk a couple!

but don't try 3 it really is madness!

 

[buckybee]

We've had lots of hound pups and it is soooo much fun!! we had 5 once!! :shocked: Our own little pack!

We only have them in the summer because they live in a stable and there is no room when the horses come in but some people have them for up to a yr with our hunt.

We've had harriers and beagles and they are such nice dogs - if i little mad! Give them a call and see what they say - I'm sure they would be trilled at getting some extra help!