Foxhounds On Vacation – The Free-Range, Summer Program
By Tommy Brannon, MFH
Oak Grove Hunt Club walked out their Penn-Marydel hounds to several members for the summer, and I provided bed and breakfast accommodations for two: Updee and Venus. I live in a rural area, “where the blacktop ends,” roughly one mile or more from any paved, back-country road in any direction. My nearest neighbors are about half a mile away.
I worked particularly hard preparing their pen so they would be comfy and confined. Our newly adopted dog Charlie, a red Setter mix, was happy to have “buddies” come to his home, and quickly made friends, as well as establish his home rule. When Venus came in season in late spring, he was especially HAPPY to have a new girlfriend! Even though he is a neutered male, he tried his best to get some satisfaction.
But it was immediately apparent that my preparations were not going to hold the three canines. Their first night in, they escaped. Every day I had to do some additional repairs to places where they had dug out, jumped out, or squeezed through. I found that they were quite adept at finding any space not secured, and feared I would soon have to resort to the measures taken at security prisons to keep them penned.
After several daily “escapes,” I realized it was Charlie who was the instigator, les culprit. He has a keen “nose” for finding escape routes and was soon showing his new friends where they were. I think the hounds were not bright enough to figure it out on their own.
If there was a digging job to be done, Charlie would show the others the spot, start the dig, then call in Updee for the “heavy digging.” Soon there would be room for Charlie to escape, and if the others could fit through, so be it. On some occasions Charlie and Venus, the smaller hound, were the only two who could fit through the slot, leaving Updee all by his lonesome in the pen, even though he had done all the work!
My work at securing the pen continued, so much so that it became extremely difficult for the humans to enter to feed them! Eventually, though, I have given up trying to keep them confined, as they keep finding new ways to work their way out.
When out, they mainly slept all day. I know that because the contractor doing some repairs to my house “tattled” on them. He told me that he had observed the hounds sleeping all day long, only once or twice moving to turn over during the entire day. He did say that once they heard a distant dog barking and raised their heads, but only for a minute or two. Then it was back to sleep.
The hounds started to “settle in” and develop a routine. In the mornings, they would go off for an hour or two to see what scent they find, with Charlie excited to join them. But his excitement and stamina were short-lived, as he came back in about twenty minutes to start his nap under the chaise lounge on the front porch. The hounds have such long legs and long strides that Charlie can’t keep up the pace for long, plus his long, thick hair quickly gets him heated and he has to cool off. That’s what ponds are for!
When the hounds returned, it was time for breakfast, and afterwards, time to start their day-long naps, usually in a sunny spot near the garden. About 5 or 6 pm, it was time for another scenting journey, and off they went. Upon their return, it was time for dinner and then time to retire for the night. Oh – if they only would!
About 3 or 4 am, or anytime during the wee hours of the morning, they would start a barking spree. Any dog barking remotely in the distance, or any unusual sound, will start the barking, encouraged and supported by Charlie. Then just before dawn, as the birds were starting their daily chattering, they finally went to sleep.
Thus began another day – sleeping until 8 or 9 am, having a little breakfast, then off on a scenting journey. Back in an hour or two, then all-day nap time, until time for their evening jaunt. They didn’t leave home for very long and were happy to hang around the farm. They just didn’t want to be penned.
Ah – the joys of summer vacation for free range hounds!
By Tommy Brannon, MFH
Oak Grove Hunt Club walked out their Penn-Marydel hounds to several members for the summer, and I provided bed and breakfast accommodations for two: Updee and Venus. I live in a rural area, “where the blacktop ends,” roughly one mile or more from any paved, back-country road in any direction. My nearest neighbors are about half a mile away.
I worked particularly hard preparing their pen so they would be comfy and confined. Our newly adopted dog Charlie, a red Setter mix, was happy to have “buddies” come to his home, and quickly made friends, as well as establish his home rule. When Venus came in season in late spring, he was especially HAPPY to have a new girlfriend! Even though he is a neutered male, he tried his best to get some satisfaction.
But it was immediately apparent that my preparations were not going to hold the three canines. Their first night in, they escaped. Every day I had to do some additional repairs to places where they had dug out, jumped out, or squeezed through. I found that they were quite adept at finding any space not secured, and feared I would soon have to resort to the measures taken at security prisons to keep them penned.
After several daily “escapes,” I realized it was Charlie who was the instigator, les culprit. He has a keen “nose” for finding escape routes and was soon showing his new friends where they were. I think the hounds were not bright enough to figure it out on their own.
If there was a digging job to be done, Charlie would show the others the spot, start the dig, then call in Updee for the “heavy digging.” Soon there would be room for Charlie to escape, and if the others could fit through, so be it. On some occasions Charlie and Venus, the smaller hound, were the only two who could fit through the slot, leaving Updee all by his lonesome in the pen, even though he had done all the work!
My work at securing the pen continued, so much so that it became extremely difficult for the humans to enter to feed them! Eventually, though, I have given up trying to keep them confined, as they keep finding new ways to work their way out.
When out, they mainly slept all day. I know that because the contractor doing some repairs to my house “tattled” on them. He told me that he had observed the hounds sleeping all day long, only once or twice moving to turn over during the entire day. He did say that once they heard a distant dog barking and raised their heads, but only for a minute or two. Then it was back to sleep.
The hounds started to “settle in” and develop a routine. In the mornings, they would go off for an hour or two to see what scent they find, with Charlie excited to join them. But his excitement and stamina were short-lived, as he came back in about twenty minutes to start his nap under the chaise lounge on the front porch. The hounds have such long legs and long strides that Charlie can’t keep up the pace for long, plus his long, thick hair quickly gets him heated and he has to cool off. That’s what ponds are for!
When the hounds returned, it was time for breakfast, and afterwards, time to start their day-long naps, usually in a sunny spot near the garden. About 5 or 6 pm, it was time for another scenting journey, and off they went. Upon their return, it was time for dinner and then time to retire for the night. Oh – if they only would!
About 3 or 4 am, or anytime during the wee hours of the morning, they would start a barking spree. Any dog barking remotely in the distance, or any unusual sound, will start the barking, encouraged and supported by Charlie. Then just before dawn, as the birds were starting their daily chattering, they finally went to sleep.
Thus began another day – sleeping until 8 or 9 am, having a little breakfast, then off on a scenting journey. Back in an hour or two, then all-day nap time, until time for their evening jaunt. They didn’t leave home for very long and were happy to hang around the farm. They just didn’t want to be penned.
Ah – the joys of summer vacation for free range hounds!
