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I have 2 pups that I plan on making dual purpose hounds. However, I have a little bit of a problem. First, what is the best type of ground I can put them on for their feet? We have them on just straight bare ground right now. I have heard gravel, concrete, etc... Second, here in West Virginia when these hounds run the hills their feet tend to get really flat and spread out in a hurry. Any advice for that?

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Comer, Georgia
Posts: 4724

.......mine do well on rough concrete.................can't say I agree on the WVA hills thing................one of the nicest show dogs back in the 80's........White River Rick, owned by Dale Prunty, Shinnston, WVA.........was hunted in those hills and hollers........never bothered his feet a bit............won National Grand Show Champion at Autumn Oaks, among other wins........

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Shinnston is around the fairmont area and isn't near as hilly as it is here in Southern WV. These are staight ups and downs.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Comer, Georgia
Posts: 4724

quote:

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Originally posted by HuntWalkers
Shinnston is around the fairmont area and isn't near as hilly as it is here in Southern WV. These are staight ups and downs.

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Last edited by coon dawg on 10-04-2006 at 04:11 PM

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Well, I am glad to hear that other people are having better luck around here than we are as far as the hills and the feet go. However, most people I talk to in the area are having the same trouble.

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Registered: Jun 2003
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Posts: 4312

These WV hills have nothing to do with flat feet.Flat feet are genetic,or In some cases a lack of proper nutrician(sp) when young.Period! Look at the below dog,3 years old raised, trained and hunted here.Hunted on average 3 nites a week.







This dog 2 years old bear hunted in the "hills



8 years old bear hunted


Tri color dog in front 7 years old ,bear hunted and coon hunted

Last edited by Bear on 10-04-2006 at 06:36 PM

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Webster, Fl.
Posts: 2584

Good feet are genetic. Hunting hills or mountains will not matter.
Just make sure they get good nutrition and exercise.

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Registered: Jun 2004
Location: (Richmond IN)
Posts: 967

It also helps to keep the toe nails real short..MANY DOGS FEET will get worse (Spread out)as they get older..I have dogs on gravel, dirt and cement...Gravel and cement is the best..But the dogs bloodlines means the most when it comes to there feet..But you can make most dogs at least a show ch.If you go to enough shows.......LOL

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Sylva, North Carolina (the far Western Tip of the State)
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ARE THE MAIN THING WITH A DOGS FEET STAYING TIGHT AND IN GOOD SHAPE.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS DOG'S FEET. IN THIS PICTURE HE IS 14 YEARS OLD, AND HAS HUNTED IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA ON AVERAGE 2-3 NIGHTS A WEEK UNTIL HE JUST COULDNT HUNT ANYMORE.

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Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Diamondhead, Ms
Posts: 371

Nice looking old hound. Says something good about your breeding program. I like old dogs, too many new people don't take time to look at the dogs behind the dogs being bred (what do the grandparents, great grandparents, etc. look like?, how old were they when they passed?, were they still (if ever) hunting?...)

I think show people put a little too much emphasis on "cat" feet and "straight" rear hocks! If you ever go to the zoo, go to the wolf exhibit (or, coyote) and watch them move. Allowing for the fact that they are despicable animals, the longer wolves live, the more hockey they get in the back and the flatter their feet -- oh yeah, and they run for a living. I think some of it is genetics, some is the result of performance.

Marc

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Webster, Fl.
Posts: 2584

Marc,
I believe the photo is of RR Frank. Which belonged to someone else. He sure has some great feet.
I also believe that too much emphasis is put into cat like feet. A dog does not need to have "clued together" type toes to be able to hunt.
Those wolves in the zoo do not get to exercise like they should and could be falling apart due to that.

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• "NGRCH GRCH Bolt Action Mundar Rick DNA-VIP"2005 National Grand Show Champion

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Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Diamondhead, Ms
Posts: 371

But, I've also seen (>5yrs old) racing sighthounds (greyhounds) that were getting pretty "hockey" in the rear. Please note however: unlike scenthounds, sighthounds, wolves, and chetahs are defined by running what is termed a "double suspension gallop" in other words - both hind legs are extended (behind body) or contracted (up beside body) at the same time. And, I do think that any cainine breed that runs tend to get what snobby show folks call "cow hocked". JMO I've had some dogs with show and racing titles but, most of the show (sighthounds) I've seen wouldn't have a clue coursing live game (I did say MOST).

Marc

P.S. I still show dogs but, more often than not I am more than happy to go home with the dogs I have rather than ones I see there.

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Registered: Jun 2004
Location: SC
Posts: 1762

I show dogs andn agree there are too many that are too straight in the hock. proper angles allow for maximum preformance.

Like I have said before, you may have a flat footed, straight hocked, bowlegged....an absolute conformation nightmare GRNITECH. And that dog may be a great hunter, but how would we ever know how great that dog really could have been if he werent being held back by his conformation issues. Or even if he was being held back. It may be an awsome dog but could it have been better? or gotten where it did faster?

not trying to make this a show vs hunt discussion but there are other reasons for out conformation guidelines other than shows.
Proper angles and depth of chest for heart and lung capicity allow for maximum performance.

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