Emily
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: West Kill, NY
Posts: 2045 |
I have two inside hounds that hunt just fine, but I got them each as started dogs. I did have one awhile back that I got as a pup. He was a decent bear dog even when he lived in an apartment in Brooklyn NY for most of the week. He only went out on leash in the city.
These days, I live way out in the sticks. I have a fenced area out the back door where I let them out to do their business or just hang out. They do escape once a week or so, usually when I am going in and out another door., usually one hound or the other, not both. A more disciplined approach to "STAY" is convenient.
I will bribe them with treats to get them back, but they will take themselves hunting if there's a coon or bear hanging around. That's ok with me. They will open if the game is outside the fence and they are inside, and I've been known to let them out to hunt if I'm not in bed already. They don't open on off game, but they do follow rabbits and woodchucks under the porch, and they occasionally kill one. Occasionally when they escape they go visit other neighborhood dogs or just stretch their legs for ten or twenty minutes. Eventually, they get treed or come back.
They are more prone to trying to run off if you don't take them hunting enough. My old dog rarely goes far for long, but the one in his prime is desperate to go hunting as often as possible.
My biggest annoyances with them are indoors---they will help themselves to any food left within reach, even for a couple of minutes. For instance, one of mine got a pie I made this morning when I went outside briefly. Ate an entire key lime pie! It was covered, on the counter. More often it's something like a stick of butter that I've turned my back on for a minute when I'm cooking. Others I've had raided the laundry hamper for stinky socks to chew on. A friend had one that stole his dentures (left on a bedside table). They are way worse about this kind of thing when less than two years old or so.
Mine are allowed on the furniture, but you should be forewarned that all indoor hounds love to nest obsessively. If you share your bed, they will rearrange the blankets and pillows obsessively, whether you are in it or not. They rearrange the couch cushions. They drag blankets from their dog box on the porch into the house. They put the bathroom shower mat in the kitchen. They move these things back and forth whimpering all the time until their nest is just right., then decide they can make it better ten minutes later. It's not the worst of faults, and can be charming, but there are times it gets annoying!
Hounds are headstrong dogs . You either have to be relaxed about housekeeping or very disciplined about teaching them house manners. They make great pets for people who can deal with their hunting instincts, but you don't want to deal with the consequences of one "treeing" human meals like one of mine did in his old age. Made dinner table conversation impossible!
They are eager to please. Consistent discipline with a squirt bottle is enough to curb routine bad habits.
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07-30-2018 10:38 PM
