Rosabella89
New User
Do any of the UK hunts actively rehome their retiring hounds at the end of the season?
If so which ones can we contact about this?
If so which ones can we contact about this?
Rehoming retired hunt hounds
- Thread starter Rosabella89
- Start date
ycbm
Overwhelmed
Welcome to the forum.
They tend not to be rehomed because they are used to living in outdoor kennels in large same sex groups where they toilet anywhere in the run and have exercise running free as a pack over several miles a day.
Consequently they tend not to adapt to domestic life very well.
Why do you want one?
.
They tend not to be rehomed because they are used to living in outdoor kennels in large same sex groups where they toilet anywhere in the run and have exercise running free as a pack over several miles a day.
Consequently they tend not to adapt to domestic life very well.
Why do you want one?
.
TGM
Well-Known Member
The Coakham Bloodhounds rehome quite a few of their hounds, either young hounds who won’t make the grade for some reason or older hounds who are retiring. Hounds marked for rehoming go to the huntsman’s home first where they can be assessed as well as being accustomed to a more domestic lifestyle. Then suitable homes will be found. Most settle well in domestic homes, although a country home with other dogs, plenty of exercise and a big garden is likely to suit better than being an only dog left home alone in a city flat! But each hound is different, some are slower and/or lazier than others. Toilet training isn’t normally too much of a problem. They live in group kennels with an outside run and additionally get out into grass paddocks during a day and most avoid toileting in the inside area unless they are absolutely desperate.
ycbm
Overwhelmed
That doesn’t fit with what I have seen at either of the two hunt kennels that I have been up close to. I'm prepared to accept they weren't well run kennels, though.
.
TGM
Well-Known Member
I agree that in badly run kennels where hounds don’t get outside regularly they will be forced to toilet inside. But most hounds won’t want to soil their sleeping quarters if they have other options. Bit like the use of crates for toilet training puppies working on the basis they won’t soil their bed. But if they are left too long they have no other choice. And dogs/hounds are creatures of habit and tend to toilet in the same areas so you don’t want them to get into a situation where they are forced to go in the wrong area and then continue doing so out of habit.
TheOldTrout
Completely Unknown Member
There's a rehomed foxhound near us, I think he came via a rescue. She got him and a spaniel as a pair. He's a bit of a couch potato according to the owner.
Sandstone1
Well-Known Member
It would take hard work to rehome a foxhound brought up in kennels but it would not be impossible.
Its a fallacy spread by hunting people to give more reason for hunting not to be banned. It would not be easy to retrain a ex hunting foxhound but if the new owner had the time and experience it would be possible.
The hunts love their hounds that much that they put a bullet in their head when they get old or injured or just dont want to hunt..... Foxhounds as a breed do not need to die out. Other hunting hounds live as pets. Otterhounds, Bassett hounds, Beagles, etc. Even dogs such as Dachshunds and Jack Russells have been bred to hunt but how many of those live as pets?
Walk round Crufts this week and you will see many many breeds bred to hunt but no longer do so.
Its a fallacy spread by hunting people to give more reason for hunting not to be banned. It would not be easy to retrain a ex hunting foxhound but if the new owner had the time and experience it would be possible.
The hunts love their hounds that much that they put a bullet in their head when they get old or injured or just dont want to hunt..... Foxhounds as a breed do not need to die out. Other hunting hounds live as pets. Otterhounds, Bassett hounds, Beagles, etc. Even dogs such as Dachshunds and Jack Russells have been bred to hunt but how many of those live as pets?
Walk round Crufts this week and you will see many many breeds bred to hunt but no longer do so.
rabatsa
Confuddled
Most of the breeds seen at shows only have the name in common with their ancestors. The best traits for their original job have been bred out of them to make them more pet friendly.
For the foxhounds that I have met, a lot has depended on how they were walked as puppies. One walk always raised the hound pups in his house and they were very good on lead and had some basic obedience instilled into them. This was obvious at the puppy shows when the walkers showed off their walks at the end of the show. Some people had no control whatsoever and needed an extra pair of hands to help control their walked pups. He would walk his pups with no lead pulling and could keep their attention (with kibble). This was no fluke as his walked hounds were like this year after year. Some hounds went back to him when they retired.
For the foxhounds that I have met, a lot has depended on how they were walked as puppies. One walk always raised the hound pups in his house and they were very good on lead and had some basic obedience instilled into them. This was obvious at the puppy shows when the walkers showed off their walks at the end of the show. Some people had no control whatsoever and needed an extra pair of hands to help control their walked pups. He would walk his pups with no lead pulling and could keep their attention (with kibble). This was no fluke as his walked hounds were like this year after year. Some hounds went back to him when they retired.
Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
Shame no update from OP.
palo1
Well-Known Member
I've had a retired hound at home: she didn't make the grade for hunting so we had her at 2 and she died at 14.5 years! She was a fabulous dog but not easy in a number of ways. She lived with another dog which helped and was able to run freely for miles every day (we have our own land). She was generally really mellow in the house and a wonderfully sweet character. She was not, ever, really like a truly domestic dog however. Hunts are reluctant to re-home because it is difficult for hounds to have such a huge change: they are bred as pack animals and really do need to live within a pack to be happy I think. I would have another hound but, as the last one was, it would need to be a hound that demonstrably did not thrive in the pack setting.
TGM
Well-Known Member
Some rehomed Coakham hounds:
Solace who had a recurring paw problem that curtailed his hunting career and is not a problem in his new pet home.
Then there is the magnificent Statesman who worked very hard and enjoyed his retirement on the sofa.
The next is Harmony, who has moved to Dorset, and again is loving life. Her new owner has a few other dogs, but Harmony has taken centre stage in her heart. Again, perfectly behaved, doesn’t run off, very clean, very loving.
The next is the amazingly wonderful Romance who struggled with fast hunts because of a heart issue.  she is doing wonderfully and even goes on boating holidays in Italy!!
Solace who had a recurring paw problem that curtailed his hunting career and is not a problem in his new pet home.
Then there is the magnificent Statesman who worked very hard and enjoyed his retirement on the sofa.
The next is Harmony, who has moved to Dorset, and again is loving life. Her new owner has a few other dogs, but Harmony has taken centre stage in her heart. Again, perfectly behaved, doesn’t run off, very clean, very loving.
The next is the amazingly wonderful Romance who struggled with fast hunts because of a heart issue.  she is doing wonderfully and even goes on boating holidays in Italy!!
Attachments
marmalade76
Well-Known Member
Have you ever seen a Bassett hunting pack? They're like a completely different breed to the Bassetts seen in the show ring and pet homes.
The bloodhound pack I used to hunt with would rehome hounds, remember seeing a lady take one home in the cab of her lorry after hunting. I don't think bloodhounds are quite as lively as fox hounds, though.
My old YO would walk hound pups, they'd end up in the house with her own dogs, on the sofa, etc. They soon got big and boisterous and she'd take them back to the kennels then.
MurphysMinder
Well-Known Member
They're gorgeous. We used to have a bloodhound, not ex hunting , and she was a big lovable dope. I think bloodhounds have less drive than foxhounds so would probably take to retirement from the hunting field better, though I am sure there are foxhounds who have done the same.
I don't actually have a problem with retired/injured hounds being shot if the kennelman feels that is best for them.
I'm Dun
Well-Known Member
If a dog has been bred to hunt and had a life doing just that, Id also have them PTS before I forced them into a pet home of walks on leads and living in a totally alien environment. Mine isn't a fox hound but he's got a ridiculous prey drive. If he doesn't get to go rabbiting once a week at least he gets incredibly sad and mopes around.
If I couldn't keep him I would without a shadow of a doubt have him PTS before he went to live in your average pet home. He'd be too much for a lot of people and hed be utterly miserable.
I'm Dun
Well-Known Member
I think bloodhounds are a very different proposition to fox hounds. I'm glad they all found a place they were happy.
ycbm
Overwhelmed
marmalade76
Well-Known Member
My collie would never have coped in an average pet home either, even now, she's at least 12 this year and still spends more time running about than a lot of pet dogs.
Rosabella89
New User
Thanks all, we were looking into it as wanted an older dog and something a bit different. I have always been taken with the foxhounds at events. They are so good with people and dogs etc would only want to rehome if the hunt master believed the dog would be a good fit and make the adjustment so the feedback has been good. I live very rurally and have horses and another dog. I hadn't even considered bloodhounds tbh but will now look into them. Coakham seem very proactive about rehoming which is nice.
Rosabella89
New User
Lovely to see. I hadn’t considered bloodhounds before as there’s no packs local to me. Thank you
Rosabella89
New User
I have now
I didn’t get any notifications that people had respondedpoiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
This is interesting, It's not something I'd ever really thought about. I'd assumed they were pts.
I'd not be convinced a Fox hound would really be a great pet, Have you thought about a retired Grey Hound? They seem lovely and It would be nice to give one of them a happy ending.
I'd not be convinced a Fox hound would really be a great pet, Have you thought about a retired Grey Hound? They seem lovely and It would be nice to give one of them a happy ending.
ClaraB
New User
An ex had a hound he’d ‘rescued’. It wasn’t great in the house and would regularly take itself off on adventures round the village. But the ex wasn’t a fantastic owner so maybe not the hounds fault.
CorvusCorax
Deary me...
I knew the daughter of a huntsman who 'rescued' a hound that was going to be shot. She was generally very rebellious, vegetarian, etc. Dog was a nightmare.
[151802]
Well-Known Member
A Trailhound may be worth considering.
I knew one once, he was very sweet and potentially a more manageable size (not saying a Foxhound would be too large, but some are rather large!).
From having a quick Google, there is a charity that re-homes this breed / type.
I knew one once, he was very sweet and potentially a more manageable size (not saying a Foxhound would be too large, but some are rather large!).
From having a quick Google, there is a charity that re-homes this breed / type.
SEL
Well-Known Member
I asked the question a while back and if they can be retired to a suitable home then they are - a couple back to their original puppy walkers which I thought was nice.
ycbm
Overwhelmed
[151802]
Well-Known Member
No they’re not.
They’re much smaller - please look at the Lakeland Trailhound Welfare webpage. I have seen a handful for re-homing through The Dogs Trust, and they are quite different.
ETA: I appreciate they’re not a KC recognised breed, but they are a different type of dog.
ycbm
Overwhelmed
...
Last edited:
ycbm
Overwhelmed
EDITED
Ah, I see they are a totally different hound bred specifically for hunting the Lakes.
I think most people, like me, will mistake Trailhound for any hound hunting trails or drag followed by riders, and those of course are fox hounds.
Last edited:
MurphysMinder
Well-Known Member
Trailhounds are more like fell hounds, lighter build than foxhounds.