Kenneling as a Group

[michael.magorian]

I do like this topic and it is very interesting to hear the different points. I have thought about this several times, but I have one big question. How is it possible to keep the hounds from escaping? It would be very expensive to put a roof over a kennel, or concrete a kennel of the size you guys are talking about. The hound that I have is an escape artist and I'm not sure I would ever feel comfortable putting her in a kennel that she could dig under or crawl over. However, I do realize that most dogs dig because they are bored and keeping them kennelled together would eliminate a lot of the boredom, but they are still going to think up ways to get out, even if it is a really nice large kennel. Hope to hear some more ideas from you guys that are already doing this.

[Big Mike]

I dont think i would kennel my dogs together. Growing up my dad always had 2-3 bird dogs. They were always kenneled together, all spayed females. One day we came home and two dogs had killed the other dog. These dogs had lived together for years.

I would very hesitant to kennel my adult hounds together. I kennel pups together with older dogs or other pups with pups until about 8 months to a year then separate them.

To me there is just too much chance of coming home and finding your best hound stretched out. A cat will walk by, one will find something to chew the others will get jealous, just to much can happen to risk it for me. Plus mine bark worse when they have a patner in crime they just fuel the fire. Anyways JMO

[Mike Leonard]

Big Mike,

I agree with your analysis on some dogs. I have seen this in bird dogs quite often whn you try to kennel them together over a long period of time and they do not get adequate excercise. I have also seen hound grudges grow and if you are not there to nip it in the bud they can grow and as the escalate they may gather part of the pack on their side and you will see a revoltution take place. Funny dogs are a lot like people kept in close quarters togehter they have to have very good leadership or you will see problems.

I agree with this concept and for those of you who have been to my facility you know that out dogs get to run together daily for long periods of time. The interact and gain social skills and order. I do however make sure even if they are kenneled together that each dog has his or her own private bed area. They are fed near this area and they go to this area on command. Dogs just like people need order and routine in their lives to become solid productive individuals.

So kennel them together if you like but make darn sure they have a sense that you the alpha pack leader are watching them closely and will not tolerate BS. But don't kennel them together as a means of convenience or being lazy and just think everything will turn out rosey because it won't

[BEAR HUNTER]

Like I said before I am a big fan of having everyone together during the day. At night they go up to their own kennel, bed, and feed dish. A pack leader has been established. Dogs are strange. I wont have a dog that fights. That being said I had a dog once that for some reason everyone picked on. To this day I have no idea what the problem was but every single dog hated her. The whole pack would gang up on her and would have killed her if I hadnt gotten rid of her. I have never had this problem again.
Another problem that can develope with young dogs. It seems that dogs will buddy up. Your two worst hounds will buddy up. When you go hunting the two chowder heads seem to want to do their own thing and cause problems. I solved the problem by hunting them seperately or not turning them both out at the same time. Im not sure if this was unique to those two dogs or if it is something to watch for.
As far as keeping them in. I bought a livestock electric fence. I put two wires around the bottem and two wires about chest high where the wires come across the dogs chest if they stand on their feet to climb over. The dogs learn real quick (and so do the kids ]:} hehe) to stay away from the fence.

[liontracker]

Something to consider is that different strains can have vastly different temperments. Some can be kenneled together and some can't. I agree with Mike - this is no shortcut.
Actually, when it comes to hounds I can't think of one shortcut that is long lasting.