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A mellow night at Chez GruntPuppy - Doggo Training was Successful!!!

A beagle is hard enough a foxhound wow good luck , I never realised there were any around as pets , untrainable I was led to understand .

Here are some I saw a county show , I was fascinated how they all watched and moved as one dog .



Untrainable - not at all! Tame-able, well you can't overcome the instincts of the breed, they're hunting dogs and massively led by their nose and there's nothing you can do to stop that but you can manage things to some extents.

We've had Saffron for about 7-8 months and you're right you don't see too many as domestic pets, they're mostly in packs. Their reputation largely comes from seeing their rowdy pack behaviour and examples when they've been let go from hunts after 8+ years and of course then find it very difficult to adapt to living in a home and can be pretty unruly as a result.

We got Saffron from Foxhoundwelfare up in Gateshead. Jackie who operates this from her own home, tries to rehome hunting dogs, and says it takes on average about 12-18 months to successfully rehome an adult Foxhound. The first 48 hours when we got her home were 'interesting' - we didn't sit down for two days. Up to this point she really hadn't had a proper home and was more used to sleeping in a yard or the garage.

I think that their reputation is a bit distorted, the way greyhounds were also not seen as ideal domestic pets about 15 years ago. She is an absolute sweetheart and loves people, other dogs and also cats (she was 'cat tested' like other working dogs before she came home). We take her to outdoor obedience training in an enclosed field and progress with her recall and other skills have surprised everyone. On Fridays we go to Scent Work classes which make the best of her biggest asset - that nose and hunt drive!

She has her own Instagram account with over 600 followers and growing #saffyfoxhound https://www.mystypic.com/saffyfoxhound/ We did this to show the breed in domestic and outdoor scenarios, off lead etc, to try to show Foxhounds in a different and hopefully realistic light so that people won't be falsely put off from rescuing one themselves.

A couple of pics -





 
Untrainable - not at all! Tame-able, well you can't overcome the instincts of the breed, they're hunting dogs and massively led by their nose and there's nothing you can do to stop that but you can manage things to some extents.

We've had Saffron for about 7-8 months and you're right you don't see too many as domestic pets, they're mostly in packs. Their reputation largely comes from seeing their rowdy pack behaviour and examples when they've been let go from hunts after 8+ years and of course then find it very difficult to adapt to living in a home and can be pretty unruly as a result.

We got Saffron from Foxhoundwelfare up in Gateshead. Jackie who operates this from her own home, tries to rehome hunting dogs, and says it takes on average about 12-18 months to successfully rehome an adult Foxhound. The first 48 hours when we got her home were 'interesting' - we didn't sit down for two days. Up to this point she really hadn't had a proper home and was more used to sleeping in a yard or the garage.

I think that their reputation is a bit distorted, the way greyhounds were also not seen as ideal domestic pets about 15 years ago. She is an absolute sweetheart and loves people, other dogs and also cats (she was 'cat tested' like other working dogs before she came home). We take her to outdoor obedience training in an enclosed field and progress with her recall and other skills have surprised everyone. On Fridays we go to Scent Work classes which make the best of her biggest asset - that nose and hunt drive!

She has her own Instagram account with over 600 followers and growing #saffyfoxhound https://www.mystypic.com/saffyfoxhound/ We did this to show the breed in domestic and outdoor scenarios, off lead etc, to try to show Foxhounds in a different and hopefully realistic light so that people won't be falsely put off from rescuing one themselves.

A couple of pics -






Superb effort! And a lovely, obviously happy pooch. We're due to start Junior classes (normally for 1-2 year old dogs, Chubbly's only going to be 11 months, bless him) in 3 weeks. I've got to get a different length lead for him to allow more comfortable control, I shall ask one of the Pets@Home staff to take a pic of him :)
 
Superb effort! And a lovely, obviously happy pooch. We're due to start Junior classes (normally for 1-2 year old dogs, Chubbly's only going to be 11 months, bless him) in 3 weeks. I've got to get a different length lead for him to allow more comfortable control, I shall ask one of the Pets@Home staff to take a pic of him :)
We have a lead with a clip at both ends and several D-rings, at intervals down the length. This means you can adjust the length, make it a double lead for extra ‘steering’ or easily secure it round railings, etc. We find them really useful and flexible. Pets@Home do them.
 
We have a lead with a clip at both ends and several D-rings, at intervals down the length. This means you can adjust the length, make it a double lead for extra ‘steering’ or easily secure it round railings, etc. We find them really useful and flexible. Pets@Home do them.

Yep we have a Halti double ended lead (the longer thicker one) which is an adaptable training lead which can be worn long or attached in two places to a harness or head collar so that you have more control. Depending on your dog a Halti head collar can be really good for teaching close lead walking without either dog or owner resorting to pulling one another which is not training it is correction which dogs don't really get.
 
We lost our Labrador cross last July. We may end up looking after our daughters dog if she can’t take him with her but if that doesn’t happen I’m tempted to look out for a beagle type mutt.
 
We lost our Labrador cross last July. We may end up looking after our daughters dog if she can’t take him with her but if that doesn’t happen I’m tempted to look out for a beagle type mutt.

Sorry to hear about your Lab :(

If you're thinking of a beagle they are lovely dogs, but like the Foxhound you need to know what you're taking on and have plenty of time and energy to invest in them. They are not like Labs!
 
We have a lead with a clip at both ends and several D-rings, at intervals down the length. This means you can adjust the length, make it a double lead for extra ‘steering’ or easily secure it round railings, etc. We find them really useful and flexible. Pets@Home do them.

Yep we have a Halti double ended lead (the longer thicker one) which is an adaptable training lead which can be worn long or attached in two places to a harness or head collar so that you have more control. Depending on your dog a Halti head collar can be really good for teaching close lead walking without either dog or owner resorting to pulling one another which is not training it is correction which dogs don't really get.

We did try a halti-type head collar, but Chubbley went full buckaroo with it... I've got a fordogtrainers.com harness on loan, it's similar to the K9 by Julian harnesses but of better quality - and also has a chest d-ring fitted. Using this d-ring to attach a lead, Chubbly responds beautifully to control without fuss or stress. I've got various long and short leads that came with Chubbly, I just need a "slightly longer than that one" lead and handle.

I must get a set of velcro-backed patches ordered... I ordered the harness with plain black patches (since he's not police/military/service dog/support dog, none of the standard options fitted), but want to either get his name put on patches or buy a "friendly" patch. Something that'll reflect light for night walking (although I do have some walking lights ordered anyway).
 
@crimsondonkey Saffron is absolutely stunning , like a tall beagle , our beagle passed last year , a love-able rogue . Yes Greyhounds make fabulous pets I had two racing dogs 30 odd years ago which I trained myself and kept after they finished racing , laziest pooches going :)
 
The people that own the house over the road from us got a german shepherd puppy about 2 years ago. An unusual choice of breed for a family that are away from home for 8-11 hours every single day. It appears to have received zero training, they very,very seldom exercise it outside the garden and, until I went round and had a go at them last week, they were leaving it outside, shut in a pen on the rear patio all day, every day, where, unsurprisingly, it spent up to 5 hours daily barking extremely loudly. I suggested, as politely as possible, that it's barking because it's distressed through lack of socialisation and exercise and they went mental, telling me it was fine and that they walk it every day - which I knew to be bollocks. Some people should be banned from keeping dogs. I suspect it would be more humane to shoot it than to keep it in this manner.
 
I suspect it would be more humane to shoot it than to keep it in this manner.

It would be more humane to have somebody else care for and treat the dog properly.

I hate dog owners who don't put the hours in and then wonder why their dog is bored and acting out. I would report them to the RSPCA. I'd also get the local neighbourhood to write them a joint letter explaining quite clearly that they are irresponsible and suggest that they give the dog up for someone who can give it a proper home and live the life dogs are supposed to.

We have done exactly the same here with a woman who despite being home all day keeps a 10st Rottweiler in the garden all hours and never walked it or paid any attention to it. Exactly the same when confronted "Oh I take her for walks all the time" but it didn't wash with me so I asked where's her lead then and why haven't I ever seen you out with the dog, not once. Poor big dog was thrashing about in the garden and really unhappy. She has now agreed to give the dog up and we are finding some-one who is experienced enough to take it on.
 
It would be more humane to have somebody else care for and treat the dog properly.

I hate dog owners who don't put the hours in and then wonder why their dog is bored and acting out. I would report them to the RSPCA. I'd also get the local neighbourhood to write them a joint letter explaining quite clearly that they are irresponsible and suggest that they give the dog up for someone who can give it a proper home and live the life dogs are supposed to.

We have done exactly the same here with a woman who despite being home all day keeps a 10st Rottweiler in the garden all hours and never walked it or paid any attention to it. Exactly the same when confronted "Oh I take her for walks all the time" but it didn't wash with me so I asked where's her lead then and why haven't I ever seen you out with the dog, not once. Poor big dog was thrashing about in the garden and really unhappy. She has now agreed to give the dog up and we are finding some-one who is experienced enough to take it on.

I concur completely. This owner is in massive denial, though. The dog is, frankly, bored and uncontrollable, and she insists to us it's fine and happy. She would most likely stop engaging with us over the noise issue were I to, quite sensibly, suggest rehoming as an option. They have agreed to keep the dog indoors whilst they're out, which, so far, has removed the nuisance element, but I have major concerns for it's welfare. They also have two small children. Combined with a very lively, untrained, contained German Shepherd, what could possibly go wrong?

No need for the neighbourhood to write her a letter, our family own all the properties adjoining theirs and any formal representations will be presented as such, should it be required.
 
This. Or should I say "these" opinions.

Although Chubbly has a training cage, it's used for training. We're out and about for up to 4 and a half hours a day for exercise/training, he gets massive amounts of fuss and attention in the house too. A professional trainer was involved asap in his behaviour, too. He's booked to start dog classes with the same trainer soon as well.

It's been hard, taking on a dog knowing it's a problem dog, but already worthwhile. He's a lovable little bugger. Well... a lovable bugger anyway.

9iBp6F.jpg


Those amps behind him on the bottom shelf are full-width adcom power amps.

gu1rH2.jpg
 
It's been hard, taking on a dog knowing it's a problem dog, but already worthwhile. He's a lovable little bugger. Well... a lovable bugger anyway.

9iBp6F.jpg


Those amps behind him on the bottom shelf are full-width adcom power amps.

gu1rH2.jpg
He looks like a fab dog, and that rug really ties the room together GP.
 
Saffron is a lovely looking dog.

Our rescue dog (a Labrador cross) is generally very well trained but is very strong on the lead and can be a handful when he gets curious. We were using a Julius K-9 for several months (and it's a very good harness) but are currently trying a Halti - the harness, not the one that goes round the mouth (we have a cannycollar as well but while it works he really doesn't like it). The Halti seems pretty good so far.

This is my lovely Ludo with my wife Fiona, in the hills above Loch Katrine in the Trossachs:
168977946.CD0dcgsY.lk106.jpg
 
He looks like a fab dog, and that rug really ties the room together GP.

Thank you, for the kind words re interior decor... When we get a little more settled and I can get more stuff on ebay, then the clutter will be gone. Plans are afoot for a significant reshuffle of stuff throughout the flat, but having to balance training and exercise with dogproofing leaves little spare time for ANYTHING!
 
This. Or should I say "these" opinions.

Although Chubbly has a training cage, it's used for training. We're out and about for up to 4 and a half hours a day for exercise/training, he gets massive amounts of fuss and attention in the house too. A professional trainer was involved asap in his behaviour, too. He's booked to start dog classes with the same trainer soon as well.

It's been hard, taking on a dog knowing it's a problem dog, but already worthwhile. He's a lovable little bugger. Well... a lovable bugger anyway.

9iBp6F.jpg


Those amps behind him on the bottom shelf are full-width adcom power amps.

gu1rH2.jpg
Tyson Snoop Doggy Dog Gilbert (all pronounced with a French accent) actually likes his cage. He comes to work with me all day but when I bring him home he gets really excited at the door and then just legs it into his cage as soon as the front door opens. We never even close the cage door, he just likes it in there.

49086151298_2478c1dd12_m.jpg
 
Sorry to hear about your Lab :(

If you're thinking of a beagle they are lovely dogs, but like the Foxhound you need to know what you're taking on and have plenty of time and energy to invest in them. They are not like Labs!

Thanks. I’ve never been so upset to lose a dog. She was a solid 40kg mastiff lab cross, jet black and she was an absolute handful, but she was our handful. I’d give my right arm to have her back.
 
Thank you, for the kind words re interior decor... When we get a little more settled and I can get more stuff on ebay, then the clutter will be gone. Plans are afoot for a significant reshuffle of stuff throughout the flat, but having to balance training and exercise with dogproofing leaves little spare time for ANYTHING!
:D in case you’re not aware, it’s a quote from The Big Lebowski (the film, not the lil’ fishie) which has become a bit of a ‘thing’ on here.
 


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