Early on, I thought being a houndsman meant being the boss. I’d demand my hounds obey every command, expecting a pup to know a bear trail from a deer’s right off. If they didn’t, I’d correct hard, sometimes zapping that e-collar too much, thinking it’d make ‘em learn. Years of mistakes showed me I was wrong. Building trust and bonding with a hound isn’t about forcing the outcome—it’s about earning their loyalty with the right touch, patience, and time in the field, especially with young dogs. Here’s what I’ve learned, with a hound that’s your partner, not just your dog.
My Early Mistakes
I used to have alot more expectations from young dogs, more like a machine. The problem was I would sometime Overcorrect a young pup chasing a deer instead of a bobcat with harsh correction—too often with an e-collar that shut ‘em down, Reducing my chance to continue with Positive re-enforcement to train that day. I’d bark orders, missing their signals, and walk away frustrated and disappointed in them, I now understand now that nin reality I should have been disappointed with myself as a trainer. I wasn’t training in a manner that built trust. Trust takes time, and consistency, not a heavy hand. I had to unlearn my ways and start building a real bond, Luckily Dogs are some of the best and most forgiving animals who overlook so many of man’s faults. But when you don’t need your dog over looking your faults as a trainer, you’ll be much quicker to watch and see the true blessing of watching these dogs work with us.
Daily Work to Build Trust
Trust comes from the everyday. Feeding time’s my moment to check my hounds, feeling for sores or burrs, letting ‘em know I’m the one who provides. They don’t snatch food—I expect manners, waiting calm ‘til I say go, setting me as their leader. Grooming after a chase, brushing out mud, feels like a pact, their muscles easing under my hands. Playing in the yard, rough and tumble, makes me part of the pack when not hunting. These routines ain’t chores; they’re how I earn their faith. Feed with purpose, groom with care, and play like you belong—and when it’s time to work put on your working hat. Owning Hounds isn’t a weekend hunt, it’s a full time job that needs attention everyday.
Reading Tails and Eyes
It took years to hear what my hounds were saying without a sound. Tails and eyes tell alot of stories, but every dog’s different. Watch the tales especially when the dog smells a scent. I’m surprised how many times my dogs are watching me and my body language.
Discipline with Patience
Force doesn’t always work, but neither does letting a hound run wild. It’s about the right pressure at the right time. If a pup bolts after a deer, I leave the pup, Me and my older dogs will continue on without it, and force it to come back to the road and notice “his/Her” pack left and had no interest in the deer. Young dogs often don’t want to be alone, so I’m essentially Teaching that young dog will have to “find” us because we left. In this situation, We used non-verbal language to teach the young dog that we aren’t interested. IN the past? I used to overdo e-collar corrections, shutting ‘em down and scolding them getting upset and throwing a fit on the road, Today I still use GPS Training Collars like the Garmin TT25, however now I issue a small correction just enough to stop the bad behavior and guide ‘em right often with non-verbal body language. Hopefully later we find a “good” track and they are in the right mindset to follow the desired scent. In the past the only thing the young dog knew was if it followed a scent it was corrected, Now it has the opportunity to understand there are certain scents we follow, and other others we don’t. It takes time, repetition, to shape ‘em. Correct clear, reward good, and give ‘em years to become the hunter you need. I’m learning that it take consistency and time to shape dogs.
Keep the Bond Strong
Trust and bonding are what make a houndsman’s life—every hunt a partnership, every trail a pact. I stumbled plenty, misusing e-collars, missing cues, but those years of feeding, watching tails, and running with my pack made my hounds my family. Young or old, keep at it, stay patient, and join local hound groups to share the trail with houndsmen who live this life. Head to the BigGameHoundsmen.com forum and share your bonding stories or tips in the “Houndsmen Bonding Stories” thread. Let’s keep our hounds tight and our tradition alive!
