Exercising Hounds

[Dave C]

Well the huntsman rang me yesterday and asked if i could give him a hand walking the Hounds out, its only about 2 weeks until the beginning of the season so its time to start getting them fit.
Here are a few pics -









The weather was lashing down, but my little lad loved it and someone gave him a whip, big mistake.

Dave.

[muddycreek]

Wow!!! And my wife thinks I have too many dogs! Looks like a great time and by the looks of it your son enjoyed himself a little bit.

[Ruffshooter]

That is very cool, great photos. Looks like the boy had a great time.

Thanks, for sharing.
Rick

[cody]

that is some neat looking country

[ezzy333]

Why are a few of the dogs tied to other dogs? Is this a way to keep young dogs with the pack?

Ezzy

[Rich Heaton]

That's super cool looking stuff,,,, do ya have names for those dogs or do just ear tag'em like we do our cattle?

In that one pic,,,, how do ya keep all the dogs from passing you?

[Dave C]

This is just exercising the hounds and on exercise they all walk at heal as most of it is done on roads and it is a good practise for when we are hunting and have to pass by roads, rail tracks or farms etc, it keeps them all under control which is essential when walking 50 or so hounds.

They all do have names and the huntsman knows them all, they also know there own name and respond well to it.
And the hounds that are coupled together are young hounds that are about to start there first season or have recently been drafted in from another pack, this is done so they can learn from older experienced hounds the controls from the huntsman IE walking to heal and other hunting commands.

Hope this makes sense.
Dave.

[Elroy's Bandit]

Dave C,
Awesome photo's. I really like the 1st one as you get a pretty good idea of the beautiful countryside and terrain. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Bill L.

[lvrgsp]

Beautiful pics Dave....that looks like some good country up north.......around York?


Chip

[Dave C]

Thanks guys and Chip its in Weardale about 2.5 hours north west of york, so you are not a million miles away .
cheers
Dave.

[lvrgsp]

Thanks guys and Chip its in Weardale about 2.5 hours north west of york, so you are not a million miles away .
cheers
Dave.

Thought it was some North country....I lived in England for 2 years, did not see to much of that where I was at, you had to go north to see the bigger countryside like the pics.....Good stuff Dave, nice pics.............

Chip

[Dave C]

Yeh there is some very plain country down south compaired to hear Chip, we are spoilt for choice with these northern dales, the Pennine mountains and the Lake district.
Where abouts were you based Chip ?
Dave.

[lvrgsp]

Around Thetford........90 miles north of London.....

Chip

[Dave C]

Not much big country there Chip its very flat, a few Pheasant and Partridge shoots i think but no upland birds.
Did you get any shooting done while you were over here.

Dave.

[lvrgsp]

NO I did not Dave, went out with a few fellas, but at the time for me to get a permit it was somewhat costly, and I was limited as to where I could go. Always did want to shoot one of those fine SxS you all have over there. They kept pretty tight reigns on us while we were there, was not allowed to go to Scotland or me Motherland Ireland........

Chip

[BdBHunts]

Are those English Foxhounds? The hunt where I got my terrier had English and a few Welsh too, 63 hounds in total along with a lurcher, a couple Borders and JRT. Some big hounds though with a lot of whiter dogs.

[Dave C]

Are those English Foxhounds? The hunt where I got my terrier had English and a few Welsh too, 63 hounds in total along with a lurcher, a couple Borders and JRT. Some big hounds though with a lot of whiter dogs.

They are Beagles for hunting Hare, its the start of the season tommorow, so i will put up some new pics.

Dave.

[BdBHunts]

I didn't think they were foxhounds but Harriers. Nice to hear the hounds. I have hunted behind Beagles here, smaller dogs, and Walker Foxhounds.

[luke0927]

Thanks Dave i love seeing all your pictures of your hunting and training over the pond

[twofeathers]

Wow, what dog food company does he own. Kidding. Very nice pics thank you.

[Dave C]

We were out last night getting the hounds fit and looking for a bit of pre season sport, there is also a few pups which need introducing to there quarry.

Raring to go


Look at me


Where did everyone go










In full Cry


Then in came the Weather




Bang, time for the pub


The scent was poor in the very wet conditions but the beer was cold in the pub with a roaring fire to dry us.
Hope you like them

Dave.

[CherrystoneWeims]

Beautiful country!

Your beagles have much more leg than our beagles here in the US.

[Ruffshooter]

Wish I could see that all first hand, must be a great sound when they are on.

[Casper]

Beautiful country!

Your beagles have much more leg than our beagles here in the US.

If you look at his lab, it looks different to the labs that some people call "English" labs here.

Dave, thanks for taking us along

[Dave C]

Beautiful country!

Your beagles have much more leg than our beagles here in the US.

If you look at his lab, it looks different to the labs that some people call "English" labs here.

Dave, thanks for taking us along

Thanks for all the replies Guys and they do sound excellent when hunting a line, especially when hunting through woodland.

Why they have a bit more leg is because of the high heather and old stone walls here up the dale, they need it to last a days hunting, lower land packs hunting pasture, have much shorter legs, so it depends on the land hunted.

As for my Lab, i was hoping for some responses like this on the Thread i put up of her pics, as she is not the typical Lab you find here in England (thank god), i will be interested to know what you guys class as a typical English Lab, but please post on my other topic Casper, as i don't want to hijack this one (but i am interested in knowing what you guys think of my Lab pup against the stereotype English Lab).

Dave.

[CherrystoneWeims]

Dave,

I grew up with neighbors who hunted hare with their beagles in the woods of New England. They were shorter on the leg so that they could go through the briar patches more easily. They weren't used in open pasture land.

Beautiful countryside! It makes me want to get over to England even more. I have an invite to hunt with some fellow Weimaraner breeders in Ireland and hope to someday get over there.

[Dave C]

If you get the chance you should take it Pam, there is some excellent hunting over in Ireland, i have not hunted there myself but know a few lads that have and it comes highly recommended.
I have fished for Trout over there and the Country is stunning.

Dave.