Hunter is being a bad dog, what else is new? This time it isn't his aggression, its him getting into EVERYTHING.

-Up on counters
-Into the garbage
-Stealing clothing
-Getting into the ferrets (He gets a bite from this so has somewhat stopped)
-Picking up EVERY little thing he can find
-Eating shoes
-Rummaging in purses (Yes, I didn't know dogs did that either)
-As I'm typing this I just took nail polish out of his mouth, where he got it is beyond me!

I say "drop it" and he runs away, if it is a toy and I say drop it he does. I don't really know how to disipline this, saying "NO" in a stearn voice doesn't help, taking it away doesn't help (He just goes and finds something else)...

Im pretty sure bordem is the cause, but It happens no matter what though, if I take him for a walk or not, as well as play with him... I don't know what else to do to help his boredom. He has one of those things you put treats in, two actually, but he just gets the treats out in seconds and moves on to the next thing that appears edible in his little eyes. He has Duke to play with, who is always up for a good chase...

Any suggestions?

Welcome to the "terrible twos".

You just need to be stern on what he can chew and what he cant. Any time he has something inappropriate, take it way, HOLD ON TO HIM, say no.. And give him a toy he can have.

Counter surfing.. Set him up to scare himself. Put pots and pans, or doggy mouse traps (yes, they do sell them) on the edge of the counter top. When he jumps up, he'll knock everything down or get snapped at. You can also teach him to stay out of the kitchen... Sneak up on him and discipline him. One time I caught my dog counter surfing.. I snuck up on her and whiped her feet right from under her. Never did it again. Counter surfing is kind of hard to break because you can't always be there when they do it.

Spray bitter yuck on your shoes or any other item he enjoys destroying. He'll learn that "your" things don't taste good.

I think I advised you to do this before.. Make him do "dumb dog tricks". Roll over, play dead, high five... there are many others that you can teach him. Its going to stress him more because you can't show him what you want like you can with obedience. He has to figure it out. Sign up for agility. I own hunting dogs. A walk around the block barely starts their engines. The dog park isn't good enough.. You have to exercise his mind and his body at once. Hounds are a type of hunting dog.. and they are very smart. You need to give him an outlet of some sort, or you are going to continue to have problems.

Yes. I plan on starting to train him this summer to go hunting! He has a great nose on him and we tested him and a gun shot doesn't faze him at all! I think he'd have a lot of fun and exercise. His retreiving instincts are great as well.

Is there a "home made" yuck I can use? I'd prefer not to go out and buy it...

Usually his walk turns into a jog, Im going to invest into a doggie back pack when he is full grown (That way I know how much he can hold and the size of bag) which I think will help.

Summer? He is being destructive now! You can't wait until summer to start anything. You need to start doing something now. Dogs don't wait for hunting seasons to start.. They are "on" 24/7.

This is the biggest concern.. Hunting dogs need to be worked in the off season as well as the on season. You can't expect him to be good until you're ready to train him to hunt or hunting season began.

I would strongly suggest that you find someplace you can allow him to run off leash... that is, if his recall is good. Someplace where he can't get into trouble.

This isn't a small lap dog. He is a hunting breed.. and he needs to get out.. We have adopted hunting dogs to people who run 100 miles a week... Marathon runners.. and avid hikers. Hunter being a hound (of some type) is right along those needs. Hunting dogs NEED TO RUN and they NEED to be tired, both mentally and physically.

Sorry, but Im not taking a short haired dog out in -40! We play inside, and I try and take him for walks but his feet freeze, and he refuses to wear boots.

I said training him for hunting in the summer, I said nothing about taking him for walks or anything now!

Anytime you have a problem, I advise you of a solution.. You always have a reaosn why you can't do something.

I'm done giving you advise.

I have to agree, if you want to train him for hunting in the summer, he needs to be worked now. That means taking him out in the woods, in yes, -40, (they make dog apparel for this reason) and work on his recall. If he has no recall he is no good for hunting.

This, obviously will help with his boredom.

No dog likes boots at first but they get used to them. Lots of bitter spray and forced walking and he'll be happily running in the snow in no time.

Emily, what happened? Last week he was so well behaved. Now he's the devil dog again?

I just said I wasn't training him for hunting until summer. I said nothing about walking/jogging/dog parks, any of that. Im just not teaching him to track anything yet, or teaching him to retrieve in water until summer. We've been working on his retrieving, but its not hunting orientated, its just retrieving and bringing it back...
The things were going to work on in the summer are:
Exposure to birds (ducks, geese, prairie chickens etc)
Remain Steady to Wing and Shot (When he sees a bird or hears a shot he sits completely still and waits)
Shake on Command (he can't shake the water off until he has dropped the bird in my hand)
And for him to get used to boats, he can't do that in 5 feet of snow.

He isn't "devil dog" again, he just has been getting into a lot of things, he isn't aggressive, he still listens to commands (The ones he knows), but if Im not watching him 100% he gets into things, I'm looking for things I can do in the cold. He hates wearing clothes and refuses to wear them, he just lays down and won't move, if I take him outside without them he wants to come home within 20 minutes (so we do go for very short walks). We play fetch outside, then if he gets cold we just go in..

Training a hound for the hunt :: Prairie State Outdoors (http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/index.php?/pso/article/training_a_hound_for_the_hunt/)

If you want a hunting dog, you need to start now. You can't wait for summer. You don't want to start trianing during hunting season. You need to make sure your dog gets it a little bit before hunting season.. But what do I know.. I only own bird dogs ;)

Emily, if you can't help yourself, how is your dog going to know right from wrong. You take him out for walks and to the dog park, yet won't exercise him or start training due to weather. You own a SPORTING BREED.. They need to get out and they need to run.. bad weather or not. My dogs love to go run.. they will run in the dead of winter.. and guess what? They don't feel cold until their done running. If you are too lazy to exercise your dog the proper way, then you need to find him a new home. He needs out, he needs exercise and he needs training. You are providing neither. You are constantly complaining about how bad he is. Well, he is bored. Lets coop you up in a house and expect you to be good when your energy levels are spiking through the roof.. when your mind is churning on what to do next. Hunter is not a lap dog. He has a purpose and he wants to find out what that purpose is. Plus, good hunting dogs will preform in any condition.

Get him a jacket if you are that concerned about the cold Dog Blankets just like Horse Blankets (http://www.horsetackinternational.com/dog-blankets-for-horse-people.html)

Either fix the issues you are having, or don't complain. We are all getting tired of your highs and lows of ownership.

Here's the thing Emily. Every week you seem to have a new issue with one of your pets.

You post about it, we give you suggestions, and none of them are things you're willing to do.

I own three dogs right now. One is a lab cross, another a border collie cross, and then my little hound dog beagle.

They're all working dogs, and they all need to be able to fulfill what they're bred for, otherwise they go nuts.

I don't have sheep to herd, so the border collie and I play games that fulfill his urge to herd. If I didn't do this he'd likely start becoming aggressive. The need to do what he's bred to do is so ingrained, if I didn't do the things I do, he'd lose his mind.

Same with Chewy, the beagle. His is a scent hound. If he's not given tasks to fulfill what he's meant to do, he gets destructive. With Chewy it's easy. We will take an old bit of clothing, hide it in our yard, and then he has to find it. In the summer we hide, and he finds us. He loves to play this game, and yes, we play it even in the winter. I live in Canada too, I know the winters are cold. Chewy is also a short haired breed, and yes, he gets cold. But, when we're outside, exercising, running around, he quickly warms up and most times I have to drag him in because I'm too cold.

Any dog can get used to wearing a jacket. You have to start slow, lots of treats, lots of praise. You can't just put it on and expect him to accept it. It takes patience. If you don't have the patience to do that, you'll never be able to train him to be a hunting dog.

There are indoor areas you can take your dog. Check into finding one in your area, a place that Hunter can socialize, and learn. There have to be hunting organizations near you. You may have to travel a bit, but finding a group with hunting dogs would be very beneficial for Hunter. Dogs learn better from other dogs then they do from humans.

Bottom line, you have to start being an owner. That means caring for every part of your dogs needs, not just food and shelter.

It's time to stop whining about what you can't do, and find a way to do it!

I have to spread some rep to Alty, but I totally agree with her.

Your dog will adjust to the temperature changes. You just need to get out there and do it.

Obviously you didn't read my post. I TAKE HIM FOR RUNS! Im not lazy. Im just not training him, I already posted why I couldn't! He retrieves in the yard, but almost every dog plays fetch, hunter just has to wait for the command to go and get what was thrown. So I guess I am training him for hunting just not all parts. And no, there is no inside area I can take him, we have 4 dog parks, which we go to quiet often.

How am I being lazy?

-Hunter runs (He hates the cold so won't go for more than 20 minutes, but I still take him for those 20 minutes)
-We play fetch outside once he comes in and warms up
-We go to the dog park for a little bit (again he gets cold)
-We play inside A lot

Well obviously his needs aren't being met, because he's getting destructive.

That's what your thread is about. The only advice we can give you is to fulfill his needs, the needs of his breed. If you do that, he'll stop being destructive.

I didn't say I didn't want to fulfill his needs, all I said was I wasn't training him till summer and everyone blows up. It is my decision, my moms, as well as my dads, we all decided you cannot train him to be a real hunting dog unless he can get out in the field and be worked, we cannot get out into a field when the snow is 4 feet deep or it is -40!

He is not going to learn anything about water if there isn't water, that is something he needs to be trained, it is snow outside, not water, kind of hard to find water don't you think?

He's not going to learn a thing about birds until we get our hands on some, which won't be till later spring when farmers start breeding there waterfowl.

He won't learn about anything that really matters until late spring/summer! He IS learning the commands right now (Drop it, left, right, mark, sit, stay, down,get it), he is learning that a gun shot is a good thing (which he doesn't care anyways). We play fetch and use his "mark" "drop it" "stay" "get it", and we do blind retrieves where he uses "right" "left", we also use hand signals. SO NO, I am NOT lazy, I am doing what his breed needs, but obviously not enough, so I was asking what else he could do! He gets cold before he gets tired outside, so really its hard to tire him out, I was looking for suggestions that could help me tire him out.

Emily I am going to state some facts that I know:

1. The weather out west is not ALWAYS -40. It varies greatly over the winter.

2. I am sure you can find sidewalks and roads to walk on that don't have 4 feet of snow.

3. You decided to post on this website looking for advice. You have a choice what you do with this advice. a) you can ignore it and have your needs not met or b) you can decide to implement it. The choice is yours and yours alone.

I too have received advice on this site and from binx44 that I always did not like. I think of when Owen started limping the first time. Someone suggested he rest it for a week. I thought Owen was sad with no walks so I took him out for a walk. Rightly so the person got after me. That opened a dialogue where I explained what I was thinking and they gave me more advice.

I will say I struggle with walking Owen in the cold weather. I blame my asthma and depression but in honesty it is my laziness mostly. I am working on it by taking him to the off leash park when I can't get motivated. Hubby also takes him. Owen is a warm climate dog with short hair as well. I am no expert but I think he is doing good with the Calgary weather.

In conclusion: You asked for advice from the experts and you received advice. It is up to you what you do with it. Just remember if you do not take the advice over time you will find less people willing to help you.

That is my opinion only!

Moggy

In case I didn't tell you, but I own and rescue German Shorthaired Pointers... Key word in the breed is SHORTHAIRED... They have next to no fat on their bodies. However, the peak seasons for these dogs are fall into winter and winter into spring. The coldest months out of the year. They go out, and they hunt. They adjust to the cold weather. People who really want a well trained hunting dog work them Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring. There are no limitations for these people or their dogs.

You asked for help, and you got it. I can't help it that you can't help yourself and figure it out. If you don't like what anyone on here advises you, then don't ask the questions and figure it out on your own.

Your dog is destructive because he is bored.

There really isn't much else I can tell you.

No one is telling you to make your dog swim in ice cold water.. There are so many other things you can do with him. If you sent your dog to a training facility to learn how to hunt, he would be working right now.

Your dog rules the roost in your household.. That is very unfortnate that you have created such an unhappy dog.

Emily, I know you're feeling defensive now, But I have to pint out, tha I too have short haired dogs, you've seen their pic's I'm sure. I've also lived in Churchill Manitoba with said dogs, Churchill gets like -50 in the summer (lol) okay, not the summer, but when school is closed due to polar bear warnings, you know it's cold.

I really don't understand what the debate is here. Dog destructive=BORED. Yous ay he is well behaved and is doing excellent on his releasing techniques, but only with toys, when he picks up your personal belongings, he won't let go? If he is running around picking up random objects, he is looking for a little excitement. I know that winter is hard for taining, believe me I know, this winter alone we got over 250cm in one week and I live in VERY rural Nova Scotia. Talk about finding places to walk...

You don't have to take and use everything we say, but it seems like when ever we do offer solutions, you shoot them down. I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for?
You

No, the only suggestion I shot down was training him right now for hunting. He needs to be trained, in a field, with guns and dummies, I can't do that right now. The ground work is done, now he needs to go into the field!

He goes for walks until he starts whining because his feet are cold, or he is shaking because he is cold. We play until the yard until he is cold. So he gets out as much as HE wants... he just isn't being trained for hunting just yet.

Its really difficult to fix this because he refuses to walks with a jacket on or boots, treats nothing helps, I could take him out and walk him for the hour so he freezes and doesn't have fun the entire time, but I don't want to do that, he doesn't like it, Im not pushing it. I was asking for suggestions, all suggestions you guys have gave I have tried, except the hunting thing, because he needs a field/water/guns for the rest of his training.

Emily.. Hunter is never going to be a hunter. He is a wimp and you don't push him. Hunting dogs are working dogs and they will work no matter what. If he is being a wimp becaue of the cold weather, then he isn't going to work for you when the weather changes.

All you say is "I cant"... You can't train him any further because you need a field or water and a gun. I know of many people who train their dogs to retrieve and pattern.

If he is so destructive and the exercise isn't taking the edge off, then you need to push him and MAKE HIM TIRED.

But I forgot, the dogs call the shots in your household.

I agree with alty, you claim your dog is so awesome with retrieving and dropping items, yet he runs away from you in the house, won't drop when told and constantly grabs inappropriate items. That doesn't sound like a very well trained dog to me.

I agree with alty, you claim your dog is so awesome with retrieving and dropping items, yet he runs away from you in the house, won't drop when told and constantly grabs inappropriate items. That doesn't sound like a very well trained dog to me.

That was Bella that said that. :)

Emily, why don't you tell us what you want to hear? You obviously don't want advice. There is no easy fix to this, you have to put in the work, and you have every excuse in the book about why you can't do the work, so what is it you want to hear?

You asked for advice from the experts. All of the dog experts on this site have come to give you advice, but you shoot down everything we've said.

So tell me, what is it you want to hear?

That was Bella that said that. :)



Hahaha Lucky always does that to me... lol :p

How old is Hunter, now?

Emily, have you researched Foxhounds to know how they hunt? At times I get the impression that you are expecting Hunter to be a Labrador Retriever instead of a Foxhound. Think about what the dogs were bred for. They run ahead of the horses. They jump or go through hedges and fences. They do not lie peacefully by their master's side waiting for a duck to fall out of the sky.

American Foxhound Information and Pictures (http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanfoxhound.htm)


This dog is extremely energetic and tireless. It is very important that it gets daily vigorous exercise to prevent extreme indoor restlessness. This breed should not be taken on as a family pet unless they can guarantee plenty of vigorous exercise. They need to be taken on a daily, brisk, long walk, jog or run alongside you when you bicycle.

Note the word 'vigorous'.

The 'foundation' might be there, but it is built on sand like it is with any other dog or breed. If you stop working on it, it will fall apart. Basic training is a daily event not just until the dog 'gets it' or until the next step can begin.

Take him outside and put the coat on him when he starts complaining. In the house and warm, he doesn't see it as a good thing, but he probably will when he is cold and it starts helping him warm up.

Hunter is 6 months,
What I was wanting to hear was something to help him tire, now if you have a suggestion how I can get him used to "the forest", without a forest? Because that what he needs, on the fround training, he can't get that in the house or the backyard, he knows what he needs to, now I just have to see if it will work when all the scents are around him and he actually needs to work.

Yes I know there for hunting rabbits, foxes, racoons, etc, but my dads friend has a... bloodhound? Im not to sure on the breed, but he is some sort of hound, and he is the best they have seen to retrieve waterfowl, why? Because he can smell them out better than a lab, they can find blind retrieves no problem. Hunter enjoys water, and he enjoys retrieving, why not throw those two together and turn him into a retriever?

What I wanted to hear?
How to get him to actually move when he has clothes on,
What are some otherr suggestions that I can "make shift" a huting experiece, like alty hiding so her beagle can find her, or playing games so her collie can "herd", that kind of thing. Since he can't get out and do the real thing, what can I use to pretend?

I did mention how to get him used to wearing a jacket. It takes time, and a lot of patience.

You have to start slowly. You can't just put the jacket or boots on and hope he'll get used to it.

You have to associate the clothing with something good. Treats work very well.

Start by just letting him sniff the clothes. If he does, give him a treat. Do that for a few days, just letting him get used to them being there. Get him to sit and stay, smell and get accustomed to the scent and feel of the clothes.

Once he does that without a struggle, try putting on a boot. Only for a few seconds, and a treat and tons of praise. Every day leave the boot on a little longer, distract him from the boot while it's on. Praise, treats, lots of positive reinforcement. Then work on two boots, then three, then four.

Same with the jacket. At first he only wears it for a few seconds, or a minute, lots of praise and treats while it's on, leave it on for longer each session, distraction, and lots of positive reinforcement.

It won't happen overnight. It can take weeks, even months for him to willingly wear the clothes.

Emily, I do have a question. You want Hunter to be a hunter, but have stated that he cannot be a hunter in the winter time. Working dogs work all year. If you're only going to work him during the summer months, he'll never be a well trained reliable hunter. Working dogs work rain, shine, sleet, snow, warm, cold. That's why we've all stressed the fact that training should begin now.

If he cannot be worked during every season, then I would forget making him into a hunting dog, and just enjoy him as a pet.

What are some otherr suggestions that I can "make shift" a huting experiece, like alty hiding so her beagle can find her, or playing games so her collie can "herd", that kind of thing. Since he can't get out and do the real thing, what can I use to pretend?

Now for this part of your post.

If you can't or won't train him outside, then you'll have to work inside. It will be a lot less fun or educational for Hunter, but if that's the only option, then so be it.

He's a hound dog. Scents are his life. Smelling things, finding things, that's a part of who and what he is. So let him do what he's born to do.

Does he have a favorite toy? How about a kong? Put a treat in it, let him sniff it. Get someone to hold him while you go hide it (where he can reach it) in another part of the house. Then let him lose. At first you may have to encourage him to find it, you may even have to lead him to it, but when he gets it, tons of praise, a treat, lots of "good boys". Use a command word while you're playing this game.

That's how we started with Chewy. Chewy isn't being trained to hunt, or even to find prey, even though it's in his blood as well. We really don't want him doing what he's bred to do, which is to flesh out rabbits, and even hunt them. With 4 rabbits in the house, training him to hunt them would be a bad idea. ;)

But, if Chewy's instincts aren't allowed to be a part of his life, he does get destructive. So, his favorite toy (we call her Slutty puppy, it's a long story) is what he's been trained to find. He'll also track down items of ours, or a kong with a treat in it (that's too easy for him, but a good way to start training).

Now I just have to tell him to find it, and he goes searching. It's fun for the whole family, and a great way to keep him from destroying things out of frustration.

It's all about finding a game that will allow Hunter to do what he's meant to do. Hunter is still very young, it will take a lot of time to wear him out, but that's part of owning a working breed. They need to work, and these dogs, when used to work beside us, will work 20 hours a day if you let them. They love to work, they love it more then anything else, which is why they make such great working companions.

This need to work has been bred in them for so long, you cannot deny them. If you do you will have a very unhappy dog, and a destroyed household. You'll also end up with a dog that can become very aggressive.

When hunter is trained he will be worked in all seasons. It's just that he just got his recall down pat, and I don't want to take him out dead of winter 4 feet of snow and let him go, what if he doesn't come back? It will be near impossible to find him in the woods, and he will freeze to death very shortly. At least in the summer he has a standing chance, and there is time to work on his recall.

We have a 20 foot leash that we use (we have a little "field" behind my house, its just an empty area waiting to be built on come spring) that's where we work on his recall, because I can stand on the street and he can run through the snow, and when he's cold we can hurry home. But the leash would easily get tangled in trees, and if he is running... well he will be choked. So Im training him in the summer as well because that gives him time to work on recall.

Also, we can go outside, but only for about 20 minutes at a time, so he goes for 3 20 minutes walks/jogs, and then outside a couple times between those, so I guess I'll track down there kong and fill it up with some peanut butter!

I would never ever take a scent hound off leash, especially if he's being trained to track and hunt.

The retractable leashes were invented for scent hounds that work. Why? Well, a scent hound catches a scent and that's it. You could scream at the top of your lungs, and even a very well trained hound won't obey. It's like they don't even hear you, they're so intent on finding their prey, following the scent.

In all my life I have ever seen one beagle that was trustworthy off leash. He was an anomaly, not the norm, and frankly, I still think they glued him to that chair. ;)

Well then, I guess I'm going to have to make a new purchase... a retractable leash and a harness...

I was doing some research, and found out you can hunt coyote's with dogs in Canada. I always thought this was illegal for some reason (Maybe because it is illegal to use them for other large game). Anyway, I was thinking, I can easily get my hands on some coyote carcasses (My dads friend hunts them), and start training hunter with those now. I don't know if I would actually let him hunt them, as he is only about 50 pounds and coyotes can be as large as him or larger it might be a bit dangerous. But that might be able to hold him off till I can get some rabbit fur or birds...

Just wondering, What would you think about hunter hunting coyotes, he wouldn't be alone, and he won't be off leash... I can get within 5 feet of a coyote myself just walking without them running away, once I was even able to get within "petting" distance (It was a complete accident, I didn't see him/her standing there and before I knew it I was face-to-face)... So if by chance hunter could track it down I, or someone I am hunting with, could shoot it. I wouldn't let hunter "go at it" and be able to actually attack the coyote, he'd just find it...

Oh, also, most places I am reading (wild life website from Canada) state most people use scent hounds to track the prey, and sight hounds to kill it.

Would it actually have to be done this way? Or could I just use Hunter? Most people around here don't use dogs (Ive never heard of it, but it defiantly interests me!), but if I needed to use a "pack" and have scent and sight hounds, maybe I could find a group of people who do use hounds and see if they would allow us to join (and maybe help me train hunter).

I also think it is cruel for the dog to kill coyote, that would be a slow death, getting shot it is a lot faster.

And before you think I'm cruel for wanting to kill the coyotes, they are over populated where I am, the municipality has even placed a bounty on there head, and many farmers have opened there land up to coyote hunting. Many farmers have lost dogs, chickens, meat rabbits, and one even lost his foal (which was in a barn) to a pack of coyotes, there not afraid of people, which is never a good sign.

Scent hounds were used to track the scent of a particular animal. Breeds like the Basset Hound have large ears to direct the scent to their nose and block out outside smells, once they caught onto a scent they would bay (howl) and the hunter would follow them. They would follow the dog until they found their prey and then the hunter would shoot it.

Sight hounds as the name suggests have very keen eyesight and will immediately chase small moving objects. They were used for smaller game like rabbits that they could chase and bite.

Breeds like the Great Dane are a mixture of the 2, (more sight than scent), They grab and hold the prey down (without killing it) Until the hunter arrives to finish it off.
This is probably the hardest and most dangerous types and is why it is done with such large, powerful dogs.

Yes, but between research and watching videos, I have realized that hunter WILL NOT be killing it, and I will not praticipate with someone who lets there dogs kill it, sorry this is just to cruel. A bullet is a lot better than being torn apart. Im going to get some fur and see if hunter has an interest :)

Coyote hunting? Really? Why on earth would you want to train your dog to become aggressive towards other dogs. Dogs can't tell the difference between domesticated dogs and wild dogs (coyotes).. They're all the same. I don't think training your dog to become a coyote hunter is a smart move on your end. He already has questionable behavior, so train him to be aggressive towards other dog-like animals

I'm not apposed to controlled hunting for a overpopulated species, but most coyote hunting dogs are not pampered house pets. They are tough dogs.

I don't get what you want from this dog. He is a scent hound, not a retrieving bird dog. He was created to hunt down foxes (hense the name) in LARGE packs. They do OK on their own, but are best in a pack. He was not created to hunt birds and definitely not bred to hunt coyotes. You're training him to go against his instincts. He was not bred to water retrieve, not bred to find birds hiding in the bushes and not bred to chase down and take out a coyote. I think you need to research your breed a little bit better and maybe talk to the breeders of these dogs and ask what you can and can't do with him. You're going to ruin him otherwise.

You just remind me of the failed adopters who want one of the rescue dogs. They want the dog based on color and appearance, they don't know anything about what the dogs were bred for (upland bird hunting) and don't realize how much exercise these dogs need in order to be liveable. They don't want to take the dog out because its cold, raining or whatever the weather is like, they don't train the dog correctly and expect it to be good in the house with no outlet. Hunters breed (or mix of) is not going to sit quietly by your side while your duck hunting. He is not going to dash into the water and retrieve it for you at your command.. ITS NOT HIS BREED CHARACTERISTICS! He is going to retrieve for you now because he is a PUPPY and is chasing something that seems like fun. He has no other distractions and has nothing better to do. Hounds are not know for retrieving. They smell things, and smell things very well. Why not train him for search and rescue? That is something he would be good at.

Your dogs characteristics:


This dog is extremely energetic and tireless. It is very important that it gets daily vigorous exercise to prevent extreme indoor restlessness. This breed should not be taken on as a family pet unless they can guarantee plenty of vigorous exercise. They need to be taken on a daily, brisk, long walk, jog or run alongside you when you bicycle.

He does NOT hunt birds the way you are thinking. He will track them, sniff them.. and flush them and keep going.

The coyote hunting thing.. Big mistake. Not only are you endangering your dogs life and health, but also training him to be nasty to other dogs. Coyotes are born to survive in the wild. You will be exposing your pet to dangerous virus such as Rabies (Vaccines are not a garantee) and parasitic infections among other things. Please rethink what you are thinking. Research your breed and do what comes natural to him...

HOw would he hunt coyotes if he was on a leash? I thinks this is a horrible idea and a fast and sure way to get your dog killed or seriously hurt. Your dog weighs 50lbs, but these are WILD dogs who will tear him into couch stuffing faster then you can blink.

Im looking into a GPS color, there about $500-$600, but my dad said he would help. Fox hounds do hunt cyotes, I have done a lot of research. They can work alone, and supposivly they work fine alone.

First you scream at me because I won't do anything, and now your screaming because I found something that I already do that hunter can now do.

Also, dogs will not become aggressive to other dogs if they start hunting, I have done research!

Em, we're not screaming, but your dog (from what I have read) really shouldn't be hunting wild dogs. I'm sorry girl. I know it's confusing. We're only trying to help. You just have to understand coyote hunting is something left to dogs who have been bred and born to do so.

Leave the coyotes alone, they have enough trouble with all those "glorified" hunters out there. I would be worried for YOUR safety too. I just don't think it's a good idea hon.

Just for you information I guess I'm one of those "glorified" hunters. I have been hunting cyotes since I could legally hold a gun. Want to know something? Hunting cyotes paid for my first car, $50 per cyote...

Were not glorified hunters, the municipality came to my dad and asked him to go kill them!

Also, the cyotes around here are friendlier than most dogs, my brother has walked up to many (he's 12 and kind of dumb) and actually pet them, there not scared! Now what happens when these cyotes get hungry? They will go after humans to eat since they have no fear towards us!


--I could take hunter rabbit hunting, or even coons, but no one is going to give me permission for that, there not a pest, they do what they do and don't disturb anyone, the cyotes do, my neighbour lost her 12 year old pug to a cyote, it came into town and took her dog, they watched it happen, there was nothing they could do. My cousins dog was killed on there door step by cyotes, 6 kids watched there dog being mauled to death, they yelled and screamed but again the cyote wasn't scared of them, he just kept EATING, he didn't just attack it, he literally ate there dog right in front of them. This won't happen to hunter, there is more than 20 people in our hunting group, Hunter would be well protected.

But anyway, since you all told me he needs to do something, I found something, now your telling me not to do it. Now what? We stay what were doing? You're the ones who told me I had an unhappy dog, Im trying to do what he needs to do and I get told he'll still be unhappy? Hunter already "hunts" duke, he bays and everything, I know he'll be good at it. He never hurts Duke, just runs him down and then stops when he catches him, then duke turns around and grabs hunters ear.

I refuse to hunt foxes, why? Because in my 12 years of going hunting with my dad I've seen 2 foxes. I have seen thousands of cyotes.

I can hunt rabbits, but there not doing anything wrong, and there not overpopulated.

I could hunt coons, but again there not doing and harm to farmers, pets, livestock, etc

I could take him bear hunting, but honestly, think he has a chance then? Not at all.

I could take him to go kill cougars, but again he wouldn't survive,

Mountain lions are another option, but again he would be dead before he could tree it,

Cyotes and Hunter are the same size, and Hunter has the advantage of being the hunter not the prey, he has 20 people behind him with guns.

What would happen is, Hunter gets sent into a small brush, flushes the cyote, the brush would be surrounded. All the hunters we hunt with have there own bird dogs, they know what it is like to loose a hunting partner, many of them have lost dogs when they have fallen through ice or got tangled up and drowned, many have even been shot when another stupid hunter goes trigger happy, they wouldn't let anything happen to hunter, and either would I.

Im taking hunter into the vet, get him checked over and make sure he is healthy enough, I haven't made up my mind yet, but I might as well get him checked out and make sure everything is 100%.

Im trying to do what he needs to do
Hunting coyotes is NOT what he needs to do. As Lucky explained, that's not in his breeding to do. The world needs more search and rescue dogs. THAT is what he needs to do.

That would be Alty
Lucky too, post #35.

ITS NOT HIS BREED CHARACTERISTICS! He is going to retrieve for you now because he is a PUPPY and is chasing something that seems like fun. He has no other distractions and has nothing better to do. Hounds are not know for retrieving. They smell things, and smell things very well. Why not train him for search and rescue? That is something he would be good at.

Emily how can you not see the danger? You have all ready mentioned injuries to other dogs in this hunting party. If you all ready know a group of 20 people that you will be hunting with why are you not asking them for training tips?
I can see others point of view.. what will you do when the coyote is 100 yards away and starts fighting with Hunter? Shoot it? Umm you run the risk of killing Hunter.
I was unsure of the risks involving Hunter until your post. Once I read that post all I noticed was risks of injury and death to your dog.
I know it is your dog and your choice but think this through completely. Are you prepared financially and emotionally if he is hurt while hunting?

Susan

He can't go into search and rescue, they need to be trained professionally and go into training at 3 months, to late for hunter. My grandpa looked into it with his dog. Also, have any of you researched cyote hunting with hounds?

Foxhounds ARE bred for this, they ARE used for this. Also, Hunter wouldn't be 100 yards away, he wouldn't need to be, the cyotes aren't scared so he won't have to go track them down at 100 yards, he would need to flush them out. And remember he would be on a leash!

Fine, I won't hunt cyotes. Now what do I do with him? I already told you everything he can't hunt, so now, what can he? What do you guys suggest I do with a hunting hound who I can't take hunting, but you guys told me to, and then told me not to. Honestly, tell me your next suggestions, I took your advise like everyone told me to. I found something I could do with him, and again I get lectured for doing what I was told... but I get lectured if I don't.. hmm.

Well suggestions?

There are risks with anything! The coon could be rabid, the rabbit could turn around and attack, rabbits kicks could break his ribs (Yes I reasearched it), which could end up with a punctured lung, but you know this is safer than cyotes.

Why do I often read about search-and-rescue dogs that were mutts rescued from a shelter and then trained?

I don't know, but my grandpa is a firefighter, and thought that his collie/lab who was rescued could be a rescue dog. He talked to come people, and the dog needed to be trained at 3 months old and be trained by one of there certified instructurs.

I dont know, but my grandpa is a firefighter, and thought that his collie/lab who was rescued could be a rescue dog. He talked to come people, and the dog needed to be trained at 3 months old and be trained by one of there certified instructurs.
Hunter is a different breed for which search and rescue would come naturally. For a collie/lab, search and rescue doesn't come naturally. Such a mix would need far more patient and intensive training from puppyhood on.

Please make some calls during the week.

Choose a dog that is in good physical condition with an easy temperament. Most people prefer to start training with a puppy, but older dogs can also be trained.



Read more: How to Train a Search and Rescue Dog | eHow.com How to Train a Search and Rescue Dog | eHow.com (http://www.ehow.com/how_2145391_train-search-rescue-dog.html#ixzz1GVd378me)



GENERAL PREREQUISITES
Before commencing formal water search training (detecting scent from under water), it is assumed that the handler has worked and knows the principles of area search on land, because the principles are the same in water search. For instance, the handler must be able to:

Plan an appropriate search strategy (such as grid, perimeter, hasty)
Work down wind of the area to be searched
Be curious and aware of the horizontal and vertical wind patterns that might be expected in various conditions
Be clue conscious
Know his dog's body language
Know her own and her dog's limitations and
Use good handler safety practices (don't become part of the search problem!! )
It is assumed that the dog is eagerly finding people on land both in training and on search mis
HOW TO DEVELOP AND TRAIN A WATER SEARCH DOG TEAM (http://www.cee.mtu.edu/~hssantef/sar/others/Hardy/TrainWSDT.html) Didn't mention HAD to be a certain age.

This site here also has no mention of age limitations.

Rescue Dogs - Canada's Guide to Dogs (http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/dogjobs/sar3.htm)

They said all dogs.
Not just my grandfathers.
Also, me and Hunter would need to travel when they needed us, please don't forget I still have school as well as I am getting a job here shortly.

Emily, you dropped out of school for your dog. So the travel excuse is a lame one.

Dogs are being trained for search and rescue all the time. You would not sent him off to a training facility, but would be training him yourself. The dogs that are sent to a trainer for search and rescue are bred into that life. I have met many people who do search and rescue with their dogs. Hunter is not too old. He is a perfect age right now to learn how to use his nose. Search and Rescue is not a 24/7 job with your dog. They call you when they need you, and depending on how good he is, will depend on how many times you will be called.

I still suggested agility with him. Agility can be as hard as you want it to be. It doesn't require you to go outside and it doesn't require you to wait for a season to change before you can work with him. Its will keep his mind focused on something and will also exercise his body. You could join the kennel club and participate in the hound runs. He is a mix, but I'm sure you can still register him with the CKC and participate in those events. The only thing you can't do is breed shows. There would be guidance from the CKC and controlled set ups for him to learn how to use his nose.

And no, foxhounds (by themselves) were not bred to hunt coyotes. NO dog was bred to hunt coyotes.. but the bigger dogs and dogs that are a bit more aggressive by nature are the ones who hunt coyotes.. Not a 50lb foxhound mix that doesn't want to get his toes cold/wet and has aggression issues.

You have any idea how retarded you sound though? You're willing to purchase a $500-$800 tracking collar, but won't spend the money on training him to be a search and rescue dog (or any type of trianing for that matter). The only thing a tracking collar is going to do is tell you where he is, it won't bring him back if he runs off. I just don't understand what you want from this dog. He is more then what you can handle, its very obvious.. but you're also not treating him the way he needs to be treated. American Foxhounds are dogs that would rather be with a pack then with people. Yes, they can live with people, but they are high energy and need stimulation. You are giving your best for him, but you're not really thinking of him. You are taking him on walks, and maybe a jog and that is it. You claim he is well trained, but yet he is being obnoxious in the houes. You contridict yourself so much.

I don't think you can handle this dog. He is only 6 months old.. He is only going to get more energetic.

So many things to say, I hope I don't forget anything.

1. I don't know who your grandfather talked to, if anyone, but they're wrong, and they gave totally bogus information. Rescue dogs do not have to start training at 3 months of age. Many rescue dogs are shelter rescues that were already a few years old when they started their training. They are certified.

2. Yes, we told you to work Hunter. We never said that he should become a hunter, we only told you that if that's what you wanted him to become, you had to start now. I gave you many suggestions on what to do to fulfill his breed, but you choose coyote hunting? That's not even in the scope of any of the suggestions we made.

3. Hunter's breed is not used to hunt coyotes. You said you did research, I want to see it. Post the links, or the titles of the books you've researched, all in a day, because I've never heard of a foxhound being bred to hunt coyotes. They're not the right temperament, size, or skill set to do this.

Emily, in the end you're going to do what you want, that much is clear. It's also clear that you're not really here for advice, you just want to vent, or whine about Hunter, but you're not willing to do what's right by him. I'm tired of it, I know many of us are.

Why do you keep starting new threads when you're really not looking for, or willing to follow, any of the advice given by the dog experts?

Considering all of the threads you've started with all of the issues you've had, it's very clear to everyone that you don't know what you're doing when it comes to your dogs, yet you refuse to listen to those of us that do know what we're doing. :(

Emily, I am going to end my my suggestions to you with this, do what you want with Hunter, after all he's your dog right? You want to use Hunter as a coyote dog, go for it! We've suggested to you all kinds of different activities that you can do with him, but you shoot them down. First your dog starts being aggressive to other dogs, then he is only aggressive with certain dogs, and then 3 days later, he is magically cured of his aggression issues. You say you have researched your breed, but can't figure out why he is being so destructive, we give you more suggestions, but your dog won't wear a coat and it's too cold out to do any proper training. You say he has excellent recall, retrieve and release skills, but you can't seem to under stand why your HOUND is bored in the house and picking up every random object and won't give it back.

I'll save you my opinions as to why I think hunting coyotes is wrong, we will never adhere to each others opinions, but I will tell you that I am well aware that wild dogs will eat family pets, but I am also very familiar with their hunting practices. Don't leave your pets out un attended at night. Simple. I live across from a HUGE field were the dogs love to hunt deer and other small animals, my dogs have NEVER been attacked. Letting your brother pet and play with these animals is asking for trouble, because when they do attack him, and they will, it's only a matter of time, it's the dogs who are doing what their WILD INSTINCT is telling them to do, that will be hunted and slaughtered.

Yes your breed CAN be used as coyote hunting, but Emily, you don't have the control over Hunter that these dogs have and need to excel and stay safe. Your dog will get eaten faster then a wild rabbit after a hard winter. But I am sure you will come back with some reply how Hunter is smarter then average dog, and knows how to stay out of trouble. A retractable leash isn't going to help him against a wild dog. Maybe if you wanted to use him as bait... I'm taped out. I'll end with this, your dog is bored, he needs to be worked more then you are willing to do. A simple walk around the block is NOT going to cut it. He needs off leash time in an appropriate area, where you can easily gain control. Like a fenced in area. And he needs to be able to run full blast for longer then 20 min. This is one of the main reasons that hounds, terriers and husky's end up in the shelter, people don't realize how high strung and how high maintenance these dogs are. It's a good 10 year commitment, and most people aren't willing to sacrifice their time.

Um..
You all told me to get Hunter out to use his nose, when I decided to do this, Im a bad owner.. honestly, you guys need to make up your mind, you find something to pick at. I am doing exactly what you told me, getting hunter out so he can use his nose, but that makes me bad? By the way, were not sure he is foxhound, we just know he is some sort of hound, either harrier/foxhound/or a mix.

Foxhounds (http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/terrace/ni12/html/foxhounds.htm)

"In France, the USA and some other countries, hounds (including some breeds related to foxhounds) are used to hunt foxes, deer, wild boar, coyote and/or several other mammals."

Here is a personal story about someone using them

Coyote keeps hounds on run | StarTribune.com (http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/84817652.html)

PLEASE Don't CLICK IF YOU Don't Want to SEE THE HOUNDS HUNTING!

Here is a video of a fox hound hunting cyotes

YouTube - Coyote #27 Hunt with Hounds (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8LNzxzVnsA)

Here is another, if you look there are foxhounds in that group.

YouTube - Beagles Chase Coyote (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL8iy2NM354)


Here it's a bear, the last one in the pack is a foxhound or harrier
YouTube - West Virginia Bear hunting with hounds (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNhg4n3ihP8)

Videos or worth more than words. PEOPLE DO HUNT WITH THESE DOGS.

When did we say getting him to use his nose was a bad idea?? NEVER did we say that. In fact Alty gave you suggestions on how to SAFELY do so! We just all agreed, your dog is probably not suited for coyote hunting. Simple as that. But in the end, do what ever you want. Just don't come cryingg to us, when he does get attacked or mauled. Make no mistakes Emily, we want Hunter to excel, all of us here know what his stats would be if he became another shelter dog, we want only the best for him. We just think you need to try obedience, agility and maybe behav mod with the $600-$800 you are willing to spend on tracking collar.

"I;ll end with this, your dog is bored, he needs to be worked more then you are willing to do. A simple walk around the block is NOT going to cut it. He needs off leash time in an appropriate area, where you can easily gain control. Like a fenced in area. And he needs to be able to run full blast for longer then 20 min"

I'm TRYING to work him! Im just getting shot down, Sorry I don't have access to a field in winter, I never knew owning a field was necessary for owning a dog. I could run him down the gravel road, his feet won't freeze there, oh wait, there's cars.You ALL told me to work him, he needs to use his nose, and now Im getting told BAD BAD BAD, agility is the way to go! How does he use his nose for agility?

It doesn't have to be a field. I thought Hunter was excellent while at the dog park?

Those links show PACKS of dogs hunting coyotes. Would that be the case if you do so with Hunter? I got the impression from this thread that he would be the only dog trained to track coyotes, and you would hunt alone with him.

Also bella,

I am not the only one paying for that tracking collar, my dad is offering to pay. Why? Because he wants a hunting hound.

My dad isn't going to pay for Hunter to go to classes when he knows it, it's a waste of money. He is bored, I agree, that's why I want to take him hunting, because HE WAS BRED TO HUNT!

And we're saying BAD BAD BAD to the coyote hunting idea, if you want to use him as a bird dog, give 'er! Just make sure you find out the proper way to use his breed for hunting.

Do what you do Emily.

Yes, people do, but these people know what they're doing. You don't.

Emily, you're not experienced enough to do this. You can't even figure out how to keep your dog from going through your purse, and you want to use him to hunt coyotes?

Not once did I tell you that hunting with Hunter was what was needed. I told you to fulfill his breed. I never said to take him out after live game. I am sticking by what I say. He needs to be worked. That doesn't mean that he has to become a hunting dog. You have a dog with ingrained instincts. That doesn't mean that you have to make him what he's bred to be. You're not qualified to do that!

I have 3 dogs, all working breeds. None of them do what they were bred to do. All of them are happy dogs because I work with them, expend their energy, their breed instinct, in other ways. I gave you tips on how to do that. Did you even listen?

Chewy is a beagle. Read up on them. Beagles are scent hounds, used to track rabbits, even kill them. Chewy is a fine example of his breed. His instincts are dead on. He plays with our rabbits. He doesn't hunt them.

Why? Because I fulfill his instincts in other ways. I expel his energy, allow him to do what he's bred to do, without him going after my rabbits.

Chewy is 2 1/2 year old. He's not destructive, he's not aggressive, he's a wonderful pet, and a wonderful addition to our family. If I didn't do the things I do, I'd have Hunter on my hands.

Think about it.

I'm 2 seconds away from closing this thread. I'm done with your excuses, and I'm done with you twisting our words.

If you want to use Hunter to hunt coyotes, even though you can't even figure out how to stop his issues, then do it. Don't you dare come crying to us when he's killed because you didn't listen. :(

Lucky just told me Hunter can't be used for a bird dog. "He wasnt bred for that", Im trying to do WHAT HE WAS BRED FOR and I get blacked on!

Emily, what about my suggestions?

I actually own a scent hound! I own a retriever! I own a herding dog!

Did you even take any of my suggestions into consideration?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Lucky only say they were used for flushing and not retrieving?

Emily, you are sounding like a petulant child instead of a responsible pet owner.

When are you planning to teach him to hunt coyotes? Tomorrow? Or are you waiting for Summer like you keep saying you want to do? How do you plan to train him to hunt coyotes and flush them out instead of chasing them down like he does Duke? What are you planning to do if Hunter decides Duke is 'prey' instead of playmate?

You don't seem to think about taking toys and treats outside and putting them in the snow for him to seek out.

Where do you think those of us who live in urban areas have to walk our dogs? Chloe gets walked on the road. It is part of her training to stay on the side of the road. It is our duty to make certain she doesn't get in trouble.

Get up and get your dog moving. Inside, outside, on the moon. Teach him to 'dance'. Teach him 'get' and 'give' games. Work his mind and his body. Have him pick things up for you.

There are people who train Beagles to hunt termites. Other hounds are trained to sniff out bedbugs or disease in beehives. There are a lot of things he can be trained to 'hunt' that can make money and aren't weather dependent.

Your father wants a hunting dog and doesn't see the value of a generally well trained animal. That is his problem. Yours is explaining to him that a well trained animal makes a better hunting companion.

First off, I was going to start training as soon as I got a cyote hide (which would be sometime this week).

Second, since Alty's post (which I DID listen to), I have been hiding his toys and what not in the yard. But he is still destructive, so obviously that is not enough work for him.

I did listen to the post's, but they don't appear to be enough, I was looking to do more. Hunter out walking or jogging gets cold, but if he had a job I don't think he would, but walking or jogging him doesn't get his mind off it enough.

I do live in an urban area, I do walk him on the streets, but do you run for 2 hours with your dog? No, I doubt it, so don't explect me to. So he gets 2 hours of walking/jogging a day broken up into 20 minute periods. That is something you guys are not reading, HE GETS OUT, HE DOES THINGS! He just doesn't go hunting... so what am I doing wrong then?

We play in the yard, we walk, we jog, we go to the dog park, BUT it is in 20 minute periods.

This obviously isn't good enough, but hunting isn't good enough either...

You guys think I don't do ANYTHING with him, I do!

I own three German Shorthaired Pointers.. Two of them are 12 years old and the 3rd is only 4 months. This breed is the breed to have if you want to do hunting sports. I don't hunt, therefore, my dogs get exercised in a different way. This breed is a machine when it comes to work. They don't stop until its done... I have an AKC title on my old girl for obedience... She went to work with my almost every day, she got to run out in Public land as fast and as hard as she wanted.. She retrieved water toys from the lake, I took her for walks that lasted up to 5 hours.. When I went for a ride with my horse, she was there with me.. She got to hunt, and snoop, and point and do everything that her bird dog brain wanted to do.. But did I shoot a bird? NO! She is 12 years old now and still runs 6 miles.. its 4 times a month now, but when she was young it was daily. If she did not get out, she was horrible.

I was your age when I got her, actually, I was younger than you when I got her.

When I was 16, I did so much with my dog.. And this was long before I knew any proper training techniques, behavior problems and so on..

So the fact that you are sitting here saying that you can't do certain things with your dog because of your age, weather and so on just makes me mad. There is no difference between my bird dogs and your hound mix.. They both need exercise, and lots of it, they both have drives to hunt...

I would think that you, being the owner, would have enough common sense to find a way to make your dog happy, to not allow your dog to walk all over you and discipline him enough to know better then to destroy items in your house.

I don't think you are a good dog owner, Emily. You are constantly having problems with all of your pets. You constantly are battling your parents over the rights of your animals and supposibly let other people abuse your animals. There is aways a new story and a new idea... And your ideas are always so off the wall. One single dog DOES NOT hunt coyotes. Do you have any idea how mean they are? You said your dog isn't even a purebred.. So how do you know he would even hunt? Just because he shows some instincts of hunting, doesn't mean he'd actually hunt.

Your dad sounds like an idiot. If he wants a hunting dog, then he should save the money on the tracking collar, and spend it on the training. A good hunting dog is a VERY well trained dog all around. Not just in the field. Your dog is too illmannered and you are to soft with him? Do you even know how to train a hunting dog? Does your dad? Or are you two going to take hunter out one summer afternoon with an electronic collar attached to him and zap him for everything he does? Because that is what it seems like.

No one here is trying to prevent you from making Hunter happy, but the things you are choosing for him to do are crazy. I would never have my dogs hunt coyotes.. not even my pit bulls who could probably handle that type of sport. I would never allow my dogs to treat me the way you allow Hunter to treat you... I would never allow my parents to dictate on what my dogs job is going to be or not going to be...

Hunter is just a puppy and already you are having a 1001 problems with him. He is only going to get worse because you are going to allow it. This dog is too much for you to handle. He requires too much exercise that you are not willing to do. He requires more training then what you want to do.

You need to quite fighting all of the advise given and take what you want. There is more then enough experience talking to you and giving you ideas.. Something is bound to work for you and Hunter.

I think you should join agility. I think you would really enjoy it. Its 1 on 1 with your dog. I think Hunter would enjoy it as well.. It would be an outlet for him to expel all of his energy. Why not check and see if there is an agility club in your area?

Second, since Alty's post (which I DID listen to), I have been hiding his toys and what not in the yard. But he is still destructive, so obviously that is not enough work for him.

OMG! I posted that yesterday! You expect all his issues, with the minimal work you've put in, to be fixed in a day? Are you serious?


I did listen to the post's, but they don't appear to be enough, I was looking to do more. Hunter out walking or jogging gets cold, but if he had a job I don't think he would, but walking or jogging him doesn't get his mind off it enough.

Not once did any of us say that one days worth of work was going to solve the issues. Not once! One day, that's what you've put into it! One day! I'm so upset right now I could scream! :mad:


I do live in an urban area, I do walk him on the streets, but do you run for 2 hours with your dog? No, I doubt it, so don't explect me to.

I live in the burbs. You're right, I don't run my dogs 2 hours a day, it's more like 4, and I also live in Canada, in more then 4 feet of snow, and very cold temps, and my short haired breed, which is 1/2 the size of yours, and a purebred scent hound, goes out for those 4 hours every day!


You guys think I don't do ANYTHING with him, I do!

I used to think you were trying, but after your last post, you're right, I don't think you do anything with him. I think you do everything half a$$ed, you don't put in the work, you expect instant solutions, less then one day of trying our methods and you're ready to say it doesn't work. So no, you don't give it your all, you don't even give 10%. :mad:

I have 2 poodles, bred to retrieve ducks out of water, hence why they are in such funny trims.
Both of mine DESPISE water... they would make lousy retrievers because they would run to the edge of the water and stop, plus would probably rip a duck to shreds rather than bring it back.

However, because they like chasing and bringing things back I just use a tennis ball at the park.
We go down there for a couple of hours a day and just throw the ball around.
They are pooped by the time we get home and sleep the rest of the day.

My Chinese Cresteds breed purpose was to sit around and look pretty... he is content with a frolic in the back yard and doesn't need hours of exercise a day.

It's important to pick a breed that will suit your lifestyle, not what is convenient at the time.
If you have a high energy breed you better be prepared to expel that energy somehow.
If you have a dog with a high prey drive, you need to find an outlet for it and so on...

The poodles are a little too high maintenance for me, I don't always feel like taking them to the park every day, but I do it, because I would rather them be fulfilled and sleepy than destructive and bored.

Training Hunter is going to take a lot of work, and no, we are not skimming over your posts, it really does sound like you are not prepared to put the work into him.
Yes you walk him daily but you are expecting far too much of him too quickly... it can take years to train a dog to be a reliable hunting dog... you are having trouble putting in a single days effort because you haven't got results yet.

I have a Labrador retriever. He actually has webbed toes because they're bred to retrieve from water. Shazzy, I feel your pain. Indy can't, or won't, swim. We put him in a pool once, and you would have thought we were trying to drown him.

He loves water, as long as it doesn't go past his chest. We have other friends with labs. We used to all go camping together. We'd go to the lake, toss balls, frisbies, you name it, into the water for the dogs to retrieve. All the other labs would run in, swim to their target. Indy would wait on the shore for the waves to bring his ball back. Sigh.

But, in every other way, he's a lab. He's too old to care now (he'll be 16 in May) but in his young days we would spend 5 hours or more a day outdoors with him, tiring him out, throwing things for him to retrieve, going for walks in the hills, in the bush. All of our energy was put into him.

Now we have a border collie cross (if I put him in a field of sheep tomorrow I doubt I'd even have to train him to herd. It's in his blood), and a beagle (he could track down my underwear 3 towns away, and no, my underwear isn't nasty ;)), and they both have very different needs. Both of them have their needs met, along with my 4 rabbits, my bird, even the useless fish. Don't forget that I also have two kids to take care of, a home to care for, meals to cook, laundry to clean, snow to shovel, you name it.

If I can do it, then a 16 year old that doesn't go to school, doesn't have a job, doesn't have kids, a home to care for, and less pets then I do, and only one dog, not 3, to train, should definitely be able to do it

No, I'm sorry you misunderstood my post. I am not giving up, I'm just saying those suggestions didn't even make hunter break a sweat. I'll still do them, but today I went out for twenty, in for 10, I did this 3 time playing, plus I did it three times for his walk. It just seems hunter wants to do more. I'll look into agility, I know there is a place here who offers 10 classes for $60, which is super cheap.
And sorry alty, I have to correct you, I have 2 dogs, not one. Yes actually I do go to school, but only in the morning, I also do have to keep the house clean, part of the agreement to me doing corrispondanse (vaccum, dishes, sweep, mop, and dust everyday, bathrooms once a week)also I need to find time to do my courses, I don't just sit at home and do nothing. I do what would be done in class but at home.

And sorry alty, I have to correct you, I have 2 dogs, not one. Yes actually I do go to school, but only in the morning, I also do have to keep the house clean, part of the agreement to me doing corrispondanse (vaccum, dishes, sweep, mop, and dust everyday, bathrooms once a week)also I need to find time to do my courses, I don't just sit at home and do nothing. I do what would be done in class but at home.

Emily, I have 3 dogs, one very elderly, which means he's 10 times more work then the other two combined.

I also have 4 rabbits, a bird, and fish.

Don't forget my two kids, and my husband.

Don't even try to compare work loads. The point is, I not only clean my house, cook meals, care for my children, do all the shopping for the household, take care of our yard, our cars, laundry, homework, and do my woodworking etc. etc. etc. I also take care of all of our animals, and none of them are deprived.

The dogs (excluding Indy because he's too old) get at least 4 hours of run around time every day. At least 2 hours of that is walking, the rest is in the yard, in the house, whatever weather permits. Most times it's more the 4 hours a day.

The rabbits get around 4 hours of run round time (supervised) each day.

The bird get's 2 hours out each day, again supervised.

I drive my kids to school everyday, and pick them up. I make all three meals a day and keep our home clean. I help them with homework, bath time, play with them, and read to them, every day!

My dogs are all fulfilled, and none of them are lazy, easygoing breeds. They're all working dogs. Ask me how many shoes I have eaten up in my house? Ask me how many things my dogs have destroyed.

You may think you're busy, but trust me, a day in your life would be like a vacation to me.

My schedule:

I help my mom run a rescue with 20 adults and 7 puppies. And no, we don't adopt out dogs every day. I have to clean kennels, feed, make sure that no one is injured or sick, basic grooming needs (toenail trims and with summer around the corner, monthly baths), clean the outdoor kennels, probably fill in some holes, give medications and if needbe take someone to the vet... not to mention the Spay/Neuter care when someone just had surgery. I have to fill waters and make sure everyone is in with someone they like.

I have 3 horses to care for. They're pretty easy pleasers, but its getting warm out and they are shedding... Every 6 months or so, they have to have their feet cared for and the fence line as to be walked to make sure there are no holes in the fence, and of coarse, no injuries.

I go to school full time. I have to study.. I will being going to my internship in a bit, so my workload is going to double (ugh).

I have friends, a boyfriend and my parents...

In amongst all of this, I still play with my dogs, I still make sure they get out (even if its just a trip to the grocery store) and I still make sure they are happy. This pup is going to be going to obedience class with me here in a bit, so then I get to add working with him to my list.

Emily, you can't honestly think you can outdo any one of us with a busy schedule. You are never too busy to set aside time for your dogs. And if they are that much of a burden to you, then you need to rehome him.

So many things have been wrecked by my dogs.. Miley decided one day that books tasted pretty good and completely destroyed some books and my dvds. How she got them? No clue. A rescue puppy just chewed my $80 shoes and my $60 Ipod car port... My black pit when she was young, slowly destroyed my down comforter and chewed a hole in my wall. When my old dogs were young, I can't even tell you how many remote controls we went through. My mom's dog stole the Easter ham and many other things off the counter throughout her years. Things happen... and you just need to take them with a grain of salt and move on.

I hope you do sign up for agility. Like I said, I think you and Hunter will enjoy it. I just hope you actually go through with it.

Okay, I have to admit, my dogs have gotten into things.

When Indy was a puppy we left him alone for the first time. We didn't crate him because it wasn't something either of our families had ever done, and we never had issues.

Well, we came home to 5 chewed up remote controls, the blown out painted easter egg decorations all eaten, and a puddle on the floor.

Hubby wasn't pleased. He put Indy outside to "think about what he'd done". I let Indy inside while we were cleaning, he went to my room, onto my bed, head held in shame, looking like he'd lost his best friend.

When we were done cleaning I went upstairs to see what he was doing. There's my little stinker, 3 months old, cute as can be, on my bed, eating my phone!

That was the last straw. I raised my voice. He got scared and peed, on my bed!

Hubby came up, saw what Indy had done, was about to yell. I stopped him "He's scared. He peed in the bed. No yelling, we have to teach him that this isn't acceptable. I want to yell too, trust me I do, but it won't help".

That was the last time he every chewed any remotes or phones, but balls, a work glove, and some sort of stuffed toy that to this day hasn't been identified, those were all fair game until he was older. Oh, there was also the buck wheat husk pillow. What a mess!

The fact is, we spent time teaching him that this was wrong. We spent time tiring him out so he wouldn't get into things. We learned to work with his breed.

Chewy is well named. He's a chewer. He gets food from the table when he's not supposed to (our fault), but chewing shoes, purses, things like that, not for a long time. Not since he was a puppy. Why? He's too busy doing things, having fun, being a beagle. He doesn't have time to destroy my house.

Emily, I have two dogs, usually 3 because I foster, I am a single mom, I used to work full time, but now I am in school full time. I have an am staff which is a terrier breed, bred to hunt small game, and a BOXER mix, possibly one of the highest strung dogs out there. I need to work my dogs daily, or they will become restless. So I have to wake up at 5:30am, take the dogs out side, play catch, go for a short walk, and get them to run around the yard, back in to shower, get dressed, wake up my daughter, feed her, get her dressed, drop her off at daycare, go to school, come home on my lunch hour, take the dogs out, back to school, then I have to pick E up from daycare, go home, cook supper, then take the dogs out again. Come home do homework, get E ready for bed, and then it's bed time for me too. Oh plus I volunteer at a shelter, and am there almost every week end, and some times I am there until midnight on school nights!

My point? Life is hard! That's the joys of owning pets! Oh plus I do have 2 large fish tanks, that need constant care and cleaning. I was your age when I got Max, and was introduced into the rescue life. I spent EVERY waking moment in shelters in Winnipeg, and when I moved, to NB I spent every waking moment in their shelters, same with when I moved to NS. I have no life what so ever. I spend all my free time with my child and stray dogs. My dogs are rescues, they are sometimes some of the hardest dogs to housebreak and to re- train. If you go back to when I first joined, I was at my whits end with Lady. Her separation anxiety and aggression had be in tears daily. But as you can see by the pics she is no longer aggressive to other dogs, and her anxiety is slowing being curbed. I know I have to keep her crated, that's why it is so important for her to get her "free" time.

No, when I come home on Friday's and it's raining or snowing I DO NOT want to go out and go for a 4km walk. But I suck it up and do it, because I know my dog has been crated all day, and if I let her out and try and do homework, she will be bugging the heck out of me. It's just all apart of responsible pet ownsership and the duties that go along with it.

Again, you misread it.

I know my life is pretty easy going, but you were implying I have all the time in the world to do things with the dogs, I don't. I have other things that need to get done. All in all Hunter gets about 3 hours of exercise, about an hour of that is jogging, and an hour is playing in the yard (fetch, tag, etc), and then an hour is walking. That doesn't include what he does inside (Chasing Duke, ripping around the couch in the living room, playing with his toys, etc).

He is destructive even after that, so I don't think hiding things in the snow is going to change it... I guess agility or being a flushing dog (for hunting birds) is the only thing he can do.

I really want to make him a hunting dog, I have plenty of people to help me train him if he is a bird dog. If you have ever been hunting with a bird dog you'd know why, watching them do what they love to do, even if they suck at it, there always happy to be out there, no matter what you throw in front of them. My dads friend has a rescue, they think he is rottie/shepard (he looks like a rottie but with long hair), he is a bird dog, he LOVES it, he retrieves, he flushes, he even goes and catches his own birds! They don't even need to shoot anymore. That's why I want Hunter to try it, and why I had all those posts at the beginning, because I know dogs who are not bred for a specific job could still love that job. Then some of you started to imply he needs to do what he was bred for, by using his nose. That's why I changed my post to cyote hunting, I hunt cyotes, so it would easy to bring Hunter along and see if he liked it, but then that idea got shot down pretty quick. So now I am going to look into him become a flushing dog, and maybe if he seems to enjoy it I will see if he likes retrieving, who knows, maybe it will be the funnest thing he has ever done in his life!

BUT, I am still looking into agility.

Please don't scream at this post, I am explaining why I said what I did.

Ok I hope you do look into the agility. I'm going to close this thread because we are now on page 8 and not closer to a solution.