perspective of dog handling

[zacharyd37]

does the hound make the trainer or the trainer make the hound

[dwalton]

It depends on the trainer and experience of the trainer. My first dog was a good one and I learned from her, 46 years later I can get the best out of most dogs but that does not mean that they are worth the trouble to do that. A good dog is easy to train and you will get a lot of enjoyment out of them. One that you have to stay on to keep clean, has problems with other dogs,and has hard hearing are just not wroth my time anymore. Dewey

[tomtom]

If you read about or ask people that train dogs for all types of things a lot of them believe that no dog is really any smarter than another. For that matter I've read that a dogs nose isn't any stronger than any other dog. Those two statements are hard to believe, especially with a hound, but some very good dog trainers agree. The guy that started me on obedience training really opened my eyes to these ideas, and it's ridiculous to see what you can teach them once they realize you are helping them learn, and it all starts with a simple lead rope. From what I have seen and heard it is all about a dogs personal preferences that enable them to do what they do at a specific level. I know my friend could teach a bulldog to find and tree coons, but I have my work cut out for me teaching a hound to do that. So I guess in my case the dog makes the trainer, and in my friends case the trainer makes the dog. I wish he would just train my dogs already, but he's right... I'd never make the cut if he did it for me.

[South Texan]

Not all hounds make it and not all trainers make it. As Mr. Walton said, when he started he learned from a good dog, from reading his post I think he learned very well thru the years. Everything he post makes lots of sense to me. And we, as trainers, never stop learning, when we do, we're getting in trouble.

But I have also seen people that have had dogs all their lives and they just can't read what a dog is doing or thinking. It's kinda like a "God" given talent to be able to read a dog and know what the dog is thinking before he does it (good or bad).

Have you even ridden herd on cattle, and you see an old cow throw up her head and look from one cowboy to another, looking for a hole to break out of the herd. You can tell by the look in her eye what she's a think'in, so if you read her thoughts, you can shake down a loop and be ready for her, before she every makes her attempt. If you can read her thoughts (cow,dog,horse,ect.) you can be ready and stop something before it ever gets started. Same with a dog.

But we all are'nt cowboys, or dog trainers, and all hounds do'nt make the cut. Some will, others want. I'm still trying to make the cut. Just my thoughts. Happy hunting.
Robbie

[Bdog]

All dogs do things based on drives and traits with that being said a good dog trainer can manipulate these or communicate with dog on his terms to accomplish a set of goals. Genetics and enviroment have alot to do with it also. In plain english an outstanding plow horse will never be a race horse but can be a great plow horse. A good dog trainer and great genetics will make a great dog. A poor dog trainer and great genetics can offset and a great dog may never meet there potential. Poor dog trainer and poor genetics usually creates culls. However, everyone has a different opinion on the definition of what great, good and poor means. As one mans trash is another mans treasure.

Two cents
Bruce

[northwesthoundmen]

all well said, its the connection you make with any animal

[call-me-ish]

As a young man I was fortunate to hunt a few times with John Mcdonald (Mr. Black & Tan) from Alba, Tx. I bought a few pups and young dogs from him in the seventies. I

hunted with ole Rider Tom and another dog I believe they called Scorpion. They treed a lot of coon on my visits, but what really impressed me was the handle that John had on these hounds.

If you know John, you know what a story teller he is. The relative story I wish to share is about his prize female "Jackie". As the story goes, Jackie was sold at weaning age to an aging couple in New York City for a pet. At six years of age Jackie's masters passed and the attending family found papers with John's info.

John was notified and he agreed to take the dog, which had a tremendous line of dogs behind her. This dog had never seen grass, much less been hunted, but being a breeder John was interested because of heritage.

After being in the kennel a few days, John elected to take her to the woods one night because she always begged to go. He said, she went when the tailgate dropped and the next time he saw her was under the tree.

The essence of his story was this.........................she had impeccable house manners and obedience. She was trained to learn.

John told me he had been breeding successfully since the fifties, and there were three things he had learned :
1. By proper breeding he could reproduce color and comformation.
2. By proper breeding he could reproduce a powerful mouth.
3. But irregardless of breeding, top performers are a moving target.

From my own experience I know that I had to own a top hound before I really knew what I wanted. And that hound became my target for performance. Even today I will try to steer my hounds charactoristics toward that little saddleback hound named Rusty.