How To Start A Hound Off?

[young man 225]

Me and few of my hunting partners are interested in getting a few hounds. We are thinking of getting pups to train up over the summer months (hopefully ready for the season). But its first time we will have had them.

Obviously in the summer months there isn't great wheather for a scent and the cubs don't have much of a scent so I am just wondering

When's the best time to start pups.

Whats the best way to start them.

And what type of cover will be best to start them in. Thanks in advance for any reply

[stevemac 433]

just a little thing I do with all my dogs when they are pups not matter the type of dog is to get fresh skin from the game animal I want them to hunt. let them play with it while they are little then after they see it as there toy i get someone to hold the dog then drag the skin and let and hid it then let them track it and find it.

as time goes on drag it for further and further distances.

[spindolero 1,111]

do you mean full hounds or hound x's?

If you mean full hounds they're a hell of a commitment and need an experienced hand.

I know a few people who have managed to get hold of some and ended up losing them and getting into all sorts of bother.

you also need to have a lot of permission as it's nothing for a hound to go a few mile on a line.

maybe spend a few seasons with a pack and get your head around it all.?

Or get bushing type bred to flush but not run on?

[fox digger 1,086]

Spot on post above, unless you are very organised and have heaps of permission in every direction from where you draw with them you will only bring trouble on yourself, its a great sport but not somthing that can be tried half heartedly or without a good knowledge of hounds and hunting them first.

[young man 225]

Hound x spaniels. We do a bit with terriers but nothing to serious. we have plenty of permission the cover we are wanting to do isnt to big so a few men with lurchers will be able to keep an eye on them. I was thinking of getting a dead fox but then its not going to be the same smell when there looking for them? Thanks for the replys

[spindolero 1,111]

Spaniel x sounds better bet to be honest- if they are working bred they should switch on naturally at some point - but it'd help if you could get an older working dog to get the youngsters going more quickly.

[young man 225]

Yes I could get them out with working dogs. Should I show them a fox after a dig and should I walk them through cover or let go themselves? Iv heard about lamping a fox n calling it in and putting the hound onto the line??

[mushroom 12,869]

Yes I could get them out with working dogs. Should I show them a fox after a dig and should I walk them through cover or let go themselves? Iv heard about lamping a fox n calling it in and putting the hound onto the line??

aye as long as it has been despatched humanely first

[foxbolter 447]

Bolt plenty infront of them from 12 months on but some pups need to be older they all diffrent . Iet the lurcher catch them infront of them after a bit then hold the lurcher and then they probably won't catch but when they lose sight they should put their heads down and start to hunt in my opinion I wouldn't let the lurcher hunt with them he will take them off the line . Start them in august on some easy rush beds and ferny banks ull need atleast half a dozen but one old hound would be very useful to get them to speak on a line . Ull have to be very patient and dedicated good luck

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

I always aim to get them stock trained to a high standard, poultry too if you can...you will always stay on the farmers good books if he see's sensible dogs around the sheep etc

 

Edited at add: Also use opportunities to train them which game is off menu. And if I found a way to get them on fox scent that was 100% a fox, then I would cast them onto that line, and from young scent drags can work wonders as they start to recognise your commands, and casting them onto the real thing is then fairly easy when the time comes.

 

But like others have said, if you have access to hounds that work fox, you have a guaranteed way of getting them hunting the right stuff. Totally agree with that and Id take that option myself if it was available. Good luck with them, if you put the work in a small pack will be lots of fun, and good pest control service

Edited March 3, 2015 by dogs-n-natives

[fat man 4,741]

Get yourself 2-3 hounds that have slowed down a bit from someone that keeps a pack,if its only small beats your doing a couple of experienced hounds is plenty,you can always add a couple of youngsters as you go.It also pats to live in a remote sort of area as hounds can be very vocal when locked in a compound.I used to keep a few and had to get rid as they got used to the van and when i started it at 6 in the morn to go to work they started aswell,lol.

[young man 225]

They won't be kept together and any barking outa them id just scare them with the hose lol the problem is we don't bolt that many fox infact because theres so much cover around are the ares we like to hunt they very rarely be in holes. I should hopefully be able to get someone with hounds to bring me out a few times to show them the ropes. Would a terrier be any use for teaching it to search for a line?

[wilbur foxhound 480]

If you are looking to hunt fox only then you will need adult hounds that will hunt only fox if you dont use adults they will hunt everything and everything,atb wf

[foxbolter 447]

Get ur trap set young man it will save you a lot of time then the more pups you can get the better cause u will get some wastage but make sure the pups you try to enter are defo not going to be any good before you do anything drastic once u get one speaking the rest should copy it will take u along time to get some going tidy

[Bobo 135]

If you are looking to hunt fox only then you will need adult hounds that will hunt only fox if you dont use adults they will hunt everything and everything,atb wf

Wilbur,that is a load of drivel! Personally I'd never touch older hounds as you're only taking on someone else's shit. I've seen it done by one man that's always looking for a short cut and has never got a good un yet. Get pups,put the training in and reap the rewards. I started with two pups and I've had a few joint hunts with other boys and the first two I trained were by far the steadiest out of all them all.