tough love

[jkcasey]

I was just wondering, how much affection ya'll give your dogs? I guess what I'm getting at is do you guys get positive or negitive results from treating your hunting dogs like pets every now and then? Later Kiel

[Big Mike]

One of the best lion hounds i ever hunted with was a house dog. Treating them like pets doesnt effect the hunting abilities. They either got it or they dont

[LarryBeggs]

Nothing but possitive.They still have to know your boss.But being boss with out the affection and they get timid and dont handle as good.

[bristolblue's]

My uncles dogs never really get played with and they are really timid, he's got a brother to the my ratchet dog, and ratchet will blow him out of the water everytime, but then again that dogs doesn't even know how to trail at two and a half years old, don't listen, i think if you don't treat your dogs like pets, you don't get the same results.
I consider my dogs family from the moment they start trailing and treeing.

[Brady Davis]

I concure. Your dogs ARE pets and should be treated as such. Old buggars who claim you shouldn't love on them are just grumpy and probably mad at their wives so they kick their dogs. I thin kyou should lead the pack but you can sure enough enjoy them.

[coadycurbow]

One of the best hog dogs we have ever used was a BMC that was my Dad's yard dog and pet. When he wasn't fighting boars, he rode with Daddy to feed cows or played with my young children in the yard.

I let the kids play with my dogs, I pet em every day when I feed and when we hunt. They get the job done. I also believe they are like kids and need to be corrected when they mess up. I think being consistent is the key. Praise em for good and whip (not beat) em for bad.

[Mike Leonard]

Funny stuff!

I have a country canine officier that drops by my place occasionaly. she is very nice and knows a little bit about hounds. She however gets many calls from grouchy neighbors who complain about some hound guys in the area and how there dogs are loud and bark all the time. First time she called and asked if she could come and do a kennel inspection becasue if you have over 3 dogs in the country you are suppose to buy this little chicken crap license for $25. a year and show proff your dogs have their rabies vaccination. Well Ok I buy one so she comes out and when she pulls up in the yard the fence between the house and the barn is lined with hounds string at the stranger pulling up. Well they don't bark cuz I am out there . She gets out all official and we meet still the dogs all watching her. She said I would like to take a look in your kennel. I said ok and turned around and said . Dogs all of you get to your own house! They turne run into the barn and go to their kennesl and wait for me to shut their gates. she comes in and says oh my how did you train your dogs to do that? I sai take a look at this and hanging on wooden storage rack I had about a 6 foot piece of chain. I said I beat them with theis until they obey. I said it very very slow showing no emotion. I looked at her and she looked down at the cahin in my hands and then looked back up at me and said. You really beat those dogs with that chain? I said Oh sure but sometimes I use that shovel over there if it is handy. She looks over her shoulder at all the dogs standing in their pens and then looked back at me and said. Well I guess hounds are pretty stupisd do it seems like it is working. I couldn't take it any more I cracked up! LOL! I said Connie I am just kidding these dogs obey becasue we work with them every day and they learn thru repetition and reward. trust me they are not all angels and occasionaly one of them will get a boot in his you know what but I really don't use the chain. LOL!

[Benny G]

Mike, I've had paid dang good money to witnessed the look on her face!!

[liontracker]

That's a good one there, Mike.

Had something kind of similar happen the other day. We had one of those subdivision association meetings, and since my hounds are a topic of discussion, I decided to go to one. Well I am late, because on the walk up to this house we met at, I found a lion track and I just had to walk it out some, to see if it was heading in a runable direction. When I get there, I see the good neighbors have downed about 6-7 bottles of wine already and the tea totellers had left. So I get the old lion hunting quiz...A-Z. So I tell the usual tales of valor and bravery of a biggame hound. A couple of weeks later I have a 6 yr old and an 8 yr old pair of boys tearing it up with some of my hounds in the front yard. When the kids are done they just sprawl out in the grass with the hounds. Up drives one of the tea totellers. He keeps one eye on the hounds while we do bussiness. Once done, he looks me in the eye and says, " I heard those hounds are pretty viscious?", so I say, "don't believe everything you hear and only half of what you see". He was watching his backside all the way to the car.

[BEAR HUNTER]

I say the more time spent with your dogs the better. I would rather spend the day with my dogs than most people. Sure better company. Next time you want to see what true love is lock your dogs and wife in the trunk of your car. Drive around with them all day. When you get back home open the trunk and see which one is still glad to see you.

[Emily]

When my hounds aren't bear or coon hunting, they are with me most of the time. They do the "prewash' on all our plates. They sleep in the bed with my husband and me. Aside from being blanket hogs, they're both real good at cuddling up and neither snores as loud as my spouse and I do. Give the hounds a whiff of bear, coon, or alley cat and they don't act like pets.
A lot of people laugh at me because my hounds are pets, and my husband will probably leave me if I ever get one torn up badly on a bear hunt, or even get one run over on a road. He doesn't hunt.
There's no dog more affectionate and eager to please than a happy hound. The hunt is bred into them--and if they please you when they hunt well, your pet hound will know it and be well-motivated.
JMO, but most people that need to keep their hearts hard toward their hounds do it because they can't deal with the pain of losing one when they're too close.

[leghound]

I think it makes them easier to handle when you spend more time with them and helps them get to know every pitch of your voice. I also think it makes hem more eager to please you when they know you are going to pet em up good when they deserve it.

[Coyote]

Next time you want to see what true love is lock your dogs and wife in the trunk of your car. Drive around with them all day. When you get back home open the trunk and see which one is still glad to see you.

Heck, you don't even have to do it all day. Pet the dog and say goodbye to the wife. Walk outside then walk back in because you forgot your keys. Dog will come lick your hand and the wife will say, "I thought you left."

[liontracker]

Yeh, right on Eric!LOL

[jkcasey]

Thanks for all the replies. I play with my four all the time and if nothing else, it seems to build a better bond between us. Take it easy Kiel