Puppy Walking Advice

[AusDilecce]

HELP!
Looking for any advice on puppy walking. I'm getting a couple in about a fortnight and want advice on exercise routine, interaction with my dogs. Do I let them sleep in the house or in a box?
They are Kerry Beagles. We're just putting a new pack together and open this Saturday with 3 1/2 couple (I'm in Australia) and have been given 3 1/2 couple of little pups which we are farming out in couples (huntsman is getting 1 1/2) and I am keen for input from those who have done it before.
All advice gratefully received.

 

[billyslad]

I have two hounds that I currently walk twice a day once on the lead and the other off , they stay in a large fenced in pen during the day and sleep in one of the stables on straw at night
They do come in the house on occassion but not unsupervised ! They get to meet all different dogs out on a walk and also on the yard during the day , I have walkeed them up to our local pub and they have been inside

They have also met my pigs and the horses

 

[mshc]

Where abouts in Aus are you? I'm a Sydney member and always glad to hear the sport is spreading.

 

[AusDilecce]

I'm down in Victoria, joint MFH of Barwon Hunt. We've previously hunted behind Melbourne hounds and more recently Yarra Glen. We have put a small pack together for this season and have some young pups coming in and I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing by them. Huntsman and I are each taking a couple.
You've got your 100 year coming up soon in Sydney don't you?

 

[Joss]

Our hound puppies used to live in a kennel. They did come in the house but were a bit unruly & there is no real need to house train them or teach them not rip up their beds.

They interacted with our other dogs straight away & older dogs are useful for teaching them a few manners & the younger dogs for playing with them.

The main thing is to get into a routine & then life is easy. Ours were always loose around the yard & run in the garden & paddocks for an hour or so in the morning & then would have breakfast & sleep for a while. They then had more exercise before lunch & then a sleep then would normally be out for a good few hours later.

It depends how old they are when you get them but try to do some lead work from an early age; the more you educate them the easier they are.

My Mum always taught hers exactly the same as she would a domestic dog with the exception of house training them. You do need to be certain they will come back when called before letting them loose in an unfenced area. I have heard many tales of hounds gong missing whilst being 'walked'. Also do not leave them out loose & un attended unless you are 100% sure of your fencing they are good at finding unsuitable amusements especially as they get older.

All hounds should have perfect kind temperaments do not ever allow any growling (or worse) at a human, report any sign of dodgy temperament to the huntsman straight away. A hound with a nasty streak should not be kept.

Be warned they eat ALOT - but guess beagles will be cheaper to keep than our foxhounds were as they are much smaller.

Enjoy..... we absolutely adored all the ones we had, taught them tricks & did lots & lots of cuddles. They are all really really friendly even though some of them have been back as part of the pack for years.

p.s a bath might be your first job - they often smell when coming straight from hunt kennels!!

 

[L&M]

We have had ours for a week now and so far so good!
We keep ours in a large stable overnight, which opens up into an enclosed run of about 25 ft square for the day also.
I let them out in the morning to bumble around the fields with me whilst I do the horses, then let them out for another 1/2 hour or so on the yard after lunch. My little boy then lets them out after school and plays/excercises for another hour or so, and then back into their stable. We also put them on leads for a few minutes each day to get them used to the idea.
We are feeding them 3 times a day, on puppy kibble, a tiny bit of tinned food and any scraps from the house. They are relatively quiet until they hear you coming over to the yard and mix daily with our 2 labs. We have put wire over all the gates and blocked up any 'escape' routes that we can think off but am sure that as they get older will be more adventurous!!

 

[AusDilecce]

Baptism of Fire! Prior to the beagles coming down we've got 2 x 10 month old fox hounds that are staying with us for a month until their kennels are finished. They are double the size of the beagles and have never even walked on a lead before. I fear shoulder dislocation is imminent.
Mistake Number 1 - I put them in the back of the landcruiser on the way home and thought they were a bit smelly then realised it wasn't them that smelled but in fact a deposit had been made which was then rolled around in for the duration of the trip so yes, a bath was high on the agenda. Closely followed by carpet steam!
They cannot be trusted off the lead so OH has hound-safed a stallion yard which is approx 15m x 6m and works well for a few hours break and romp. It will stand us in good stead for when the little ones come too.
They are quickly slotting into the routine, now if I can just teach them not to knock me over when I'm putting their leads on in the stable I will be happy.
Please keep advice coming. I have a thirst for knowledge here

 

[mshc]

Yes that's right in 2010. Unfortunately I have not been out yet this season due to conflicting commitments. I think we also have a couple of young Kerry Beagles though I'm not sure if they have been entered yet.