Registered: Jan 2009
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 91

Good morning everyone. First off, please let me say that I am not a coonhunter. I do, however, own a lovely young male Treeing Walker Coonhound that I rescued when my neighbor abandoned him following two pelvic fractures. My challenge with this dog is how to keep him inside my five foot chain link fenced yard that has a hot wire at the top and a line of barbed wire at the base. Luke, my Walker, has been escaping on a pretty regular basis and he is not left in my yard alone for any length of time. My husband and I have even driven fifteen inch long fencing stakes in the ground at the base of one of his favorite corners to hold the chain link to the ground and he digs a hole between the stakes in a matter of just a few minutes.

When I asked for help on other message boards, most of the responses were simply that the pet hounds owned by the members simply did not wish to get out and run. Luke is, however, very interested in having his run through the hundreds of acres of woods that surround my home and then returns to my house for his nap in the kitchen on his dog bed. After a good run, he does not move until feeding time or the following morning, which ever comes first.

This is the first time that I have ever owned a truly hunting hound and, although he lives in my home with my other 8 dogs, he is still very interested in his hunting heritage. None of my other dogs (sporting dogs) tries to escape with the fervor that Luke does. He can get out in about two inches of give in my fencing and, if it rains, digs a hole in no time.

Luke lives in my home and not in a kennel. He is not tethered at this point either, although I am considering putting up a post with a trolley and runner so that he can be outside more now that the weather is nice and the temperatures are warmer. When it is cold and wet, he is quite happy to snuggle in to his dog bed in the kitchen. At night, my neighbors are very happy that he is indoors and not making his music in the woods around our homes.

Does anyone have any suggestions for helping me keep Luke safe and happy with me? He has already been kicked by a neighbor's horse (resulting in two pelvic fractures) and spent a night in a steel leg hold trap after another escape. He is a great dog and I don't ever expect to take the hound out of the coonhound, however, I would like to know how I can best keep him home and safe. He does not climb my fence, only going under it in spite of fencing stakes, zip ties and a line of barbed wire.

I appreciate your suggestions.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Two Rivers WI
Posts: 996

Hello there. First off congrats on taking Luke in. You've done a good thing.

Secondly, if he shows that much of an interest in being in the woods etc maybe you should consider finding a club and see if he'll make a pleasure hunter.

In the mean time...I'd get a cable/chain set up pretty quick. Sounds like that is the only thing that will keep him in the fence.

Now if you're not opposed to 'em you can get an ecollar and when he tries to escape you zap him. Start at a low setting at first until you find a setting that gets his attention.

I have a 6 foot wooden privacy fence as I live in town and already the pup has been looking for places to escape. Both dogs will be in the yard full time when the weather stays warm and I'll have to strategically place their houses so they can't jump over the fence.

With having a hunting breed like coon hounds they come with their own set of complications. They're not like other dogs.

Good luck with Luke.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2008
Location:
Posts: 872

Since he comes back home I don't see where it is that big of a problem, other than you don't want him to get hurt.
Put another hot wire at the bottom of the fence.
Bury some cow panel along the fence.
Build a large kennel with a concrete floor
Give him to a coon hunter.
Tie him.
I would suggest train him with an e collar, but that takes some education on the proper use.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

Get a "Dog Watch Sys". but just attch the Sig. cable to your fence thus reducing the cost of burry cable .. He will learn to respect the fence !!

__________________
Steve Morrow "Saltlick Majestic's"
"Never Have Hounds Or Kids And You Won't Get Your Heart Broke"!!

540-421-2875

PR, Saltlick's Blue Misty Linga "Bluetick Coonhound"

French X American Hounds

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2008
Location: ILLINOIS
Posts: 96

I would recomend some sort of radio fenceing like above post or have him de clawed. That will stop his digging.

__________________
SKILLET FORK KENNELS

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq132/bigdwebster/treejacker.jpg

HOME OF

GRNITECHPR SKILLET FORK TREE JACKER
GRNITECHPR SKILLET FORK BABY LEXY
PRSKILLET FORKS HIGH RIDGE RUBY

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged