Are any of the dog lovers on here familiar with hound breeds? I'm currently fostering a hound cross, about a year and a half old.
He listens SO selectively, is highly food motivated, and seems to just want to do things on his own time. Sometimes when he's so distracted not even putting food in front of his face gets his attention. Is this pretty characteristic of the hound breeds?
and most men....
oh, lynn. you have no idea.
kenya such a scent hound. around the house, she listens beautifully, but outside, she gets on a scent, and it totally short-circuits her eyes and ears. i don't even bother trying to get her attention anymore. it would take a bomb.
from my experience, yes it is!
when i was assisting in training classes, we had an adorable 6 month old blood hound puppy. we were actually concerned that he was deaf for a time, because he paid so little attention to his owners.
turns out, he was just being a hound :p
lol, pg.
My roommate keeps trying to tell me he's deaf, and I'm like no....pretty sure he's just a hound. Because as soon as he hears the treat bag rustle...
I imagine his listening skills will improve the more I work with him, but I don't expect him to ever be perfect haha. Hopefully the potential adoptive family will understand this too.
Young Tod: Whatcha doin' that for?
Young Copper: I'm on the trail of something.
Young Tod: Trail of... of what?
Young Copper: I don't know yet.
Young Copper: Why it's... it's you. (howls)
Young Tod: Why did you do that for?
Young Copper: Us hound dogs always do that when we've found what we've been tracking.
Young Tod: I'm a fox. My name's Todd. What's your name kid?
Young Copper: Mine's Copper. I'm a hound dog.
Original Post by lynners:
I imagine his listening skills will improve the more I work with him, but I don't expect him to ever be perfect haha. Hopefully the potential adoptive family will understand this too.
if he's like kenya, he will learn that the likelihood of catching a rabbit in the house is slim, and he will become interested in more rewarding things. but honestly, i think it's mostly involuntary.
i've learned to see the signs. when the wagging of the tail hits double time, the brain has disengaged.
the really crazy thing is how often she injures herself (minor cuts and scrapes) because she crashes into things, leaps into trees, trips over branches, charges through dense underbrush, etc. once, she ran right into the forelegs of a moose.
oh - and i also tested the deafness theory more than once.
Original Post by dnrothx:
Young Tod: Whatcha doin' that for?
Young Copper: I'm on the trail of something.
Young Tod: Trail of... of what?
Young Copper: I don't know yet.
Young Copper: Why it's... it's you. (howls)
Young Tod: Why did you do that for?
Young Copper: Us hound dogs always do that when we've found what we've been tracking.
Young Tod: I'm a fox. My name's Todd. What's your name kid?
Young Copper: Mine's Copper. I'm a hound dog.
I think I'm going to watch this movie now. :D
Original Post by pgeorgian:if he's like kenya, he will learn that the likelihood of catching a rabbit in the house is slim, and he will become interested in more rewarding things. but honestly, i think it's mostly involuntary.
i've learned to see the signs. when the wagging of the tail hits double time, the brain has disengaged.
the really crazy thing is how often she injures herself (minor cuts and scrapes) because she crashes into things, leaps into trees, trips over branches, charges through dense underbrush, etc. once, she ran right into the forelegs of a moose.
oh - and i also tested the deafness theory more than once.
Sam usually just freezes and STARES. He's constantly on a leash when not in the house or backyard, which might be why he's not chasing and wagging his butt.
We went over to a house the other day that had a rat in a cage, and the rat was right up there smelling Sam back. Then when the rat lost interest and wasn't playing...Sam proceeded to bark at it.
He's pretty quiet as far as hound dogs go, thankfully. Only usually barks when he's in play mode.
My BF has had a sort of "shared custody" arrangement for a basset hound with his brother over the years. They both found it abandoned when it was a pup.
Let me just say that I've NEVER met a dog I disliked until I met her LOL. She is now about 13 years old and is the NEEDIEST, CLINGIEST, SMELLIEST, most MANIPULATIVE (VERY food motivated) dog I've ever met in my life. Her bark is also deafening. Luckily, she no longer lives with us and will be living with his brother until the end of her days.
I've been told that this is pretty classic behavior for bassett hounds any way.
I have a basset cross. She is the most food motivated dog ever. She does not listen unless there is a meaty treat in it for her. She knows commands but will not do them unless she gets something in return. When we go for non leash walks I have to keep beggin strips in my pocket to motivate her to do what I need her to do. When she is on the leash her head is to the ground and she is plowing her way through to whatever she smells. She is also the neediest dog I have ever met. If she needs something and you are not giving it to her she will sit in front of you and whine until she gets it.
Original Post by emilysmi:
I have a basset cross. She is the most food motivated dog ever. She does not listen unless there is a meaty treat in it for her. She knows commands but will not do them unless she gets something in return. When we go for non leash walks I have to keep beggin strips in my pocket to motivate her to do what I need her to do. When she is on the leash her head is to the ground and she is plowing her way through to whatever she smells. She is also the neediest dog I have ever met. If she needs something and you are not giving it to her she will sit in front of you and whine until she gets it.
That is too funny lol. Sound just like this dog. If she wants anything (whether it's food, a walk or petting) she will sit at your feet and just stare at you with those droopy bloodshot eyes and grunt. If you try and ignore her, she starts the whining and barking.
Sounds like you're describing my beagle! He'll do anything for food. Anything.
My sister's beagle does not give a crap about humans. He is almost solely interested in smells, food, and escaping the confines of the house.
He is hardly affectionate, even when you are holding a treat. I used to refer to him as "The Little Bastard."
I'll just say that he's lucky he's so cute, and I'm glad he lives with our mom now, rather than with us.
Original Post by purespark:
My sister's beagle does not give a crap about humans. He is almost solely interested in smells, food, and escaping the confines of the house.
He is hardly affectionate, even when you are holding a treat. I used to refer to him as "The Little Bastard."
I'll just say that he's lucky he's so cute, and I'm glad he lives with our mom now, rather than with us.
Awww mine loves huggles and snuggles. And he'll attack any stranger with licks and kisses that come into the home. He's a good dog. I <3 beagles. :3
Beagles really are adorable, and it's my understanding that they can be amazing family dogs. Unfortunately, my sister's didn't receive the full measure of sweetness that they're supposed to get - he's just one big ball of instinct and obnoxiousness.
Glad yours is sweet though, cptbunny! :)
Lynners-
You've pretty much, spot-on (pun intended), described Hound behavior! I've been working with dogs my whole life (training, grooming, showing, vets offices) and at the root of every hound I've ever known are the characteristics you've described!
Personally, I love hounds! I think that they are fantastic dogs, BUT I would never own one. People say that terriers are a TON of work...nope. NOTHING compared to a hound!
I've had a lot of experience working with out of control hounds...feel free to send me a message if I can be of any help!
Best of luck with him!
I have a terrier, a hound, and whatever a pomeranian is (other than cute! :P)... and other than their own instincts, they weren't very difficult to train or anything.
I guess I haven't experienced a crazy dog or stereotypical behavior of said breed types.
Having had a half pure bred coon hound part unknown breed (his daddy was a travelin' man, possibly a setter) all I can tell you is that these dogs need a lot of outside stimulation and plenty of outdoor exercise with the opportunity to follow a scent trail. If they don't get it, they are very independent and will seek it themselves. He would sometimes find ways to leave our property and he'd be picked up miles away. He was a sweet tempered, well behaved dog over all but easily bored.
"He listens SO selectively, is highly food motivated, and seems to just want to do things on his own time."
Sounds like you're describing me!
I have a beagle. He has many annoying hound dog traits but he is also loving and very protective of his peeps. I often sing to him: "You ain't nuttin but a hound dog, cryin' all the time. You ain't never caught a rabbit and you ain't no friend of mine" Although he has caught a few squirrels and one woodchuck.
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