BigGameHoundsmen.com

So I was courious how yall kept the dogs in a hunting state of mind while the season was shut down? Drags, let them have a break? I am a newbie, but it seems to me that the dogs got a good idea what they are suppose to do even with some time off. But thats a long time and I dont want to go backwards after all my hard work. Rather do some keep up. So would like to know how you hounds men do it. Any Info would be well appiciated

I use to road mine tied to the truck on some of the forest service roads. Was just jogging them a mile or so keep them in shape. With the price of gas though I am going to buy a treadmill to jog them one about 10 to 20 minutes a piece to keep them in shape. Can find them fairly cheap on Craigslist. I was told have to use a side post model. Cannot use the ones with post in the fron that the dogs wont walk on them. For scent purposes mostly just catch a coon and pour bear scent on it for the younger dogs.

Hey has anyone thought about using a bicycle ! If you have a good handle on your dogs then I would think that you could take a couple at a time out for a run and if you were not sure then you could use a 10 to 15 foot rope. Most dogs will get the routine in a couple of outtings so getting all tangled up would not be a problem. Besides keeping the dogs in shape it might help a few of us hunters who do not perform physical labor on our jobs to live a little longer as well as keep the old legs and wind in shape for those long walks into those trees.

Justaguy wrote:Hey has anyone thought about using a bicycle ! If you have a good handle on your dogs then I would think that you could take a couple at a time out for a run and if you were not sure then you could use a 10 to 15 foot rope. Most dogs will get the routine in a couple of outtings so getting all tangled up would not be a problem. Besides keeping the dogs in shape it might help a few of us hunters who do not perform physical labor on our jobs to live a little longer as well as keep the old legs and wind in shape for those long walks into those trees.

Video coming soon on you tube!!!!!!! Lmao

Hounds will scent trail anything you allow them to. When pet hound owners are driven crazy by hounds that need to hunt something, I suggest they take up mantrailing. Depending on how seriously you take it, its a useful backup skill to have to help out your local rescue squad. I was always amazed the way, when we lived in Brooklyn, the completely untrained hounds would tell me which stores my husband had been in, which subway entrances he'd emerged from, etc. whenever I took them for a walk on lead. He had NO privacy because of the dogs.
As for keeping them in shape, I take mine in the woods with me for walks all year--just try to avoid spots that are likely to be be inhabited by out-of-season game. I road them some--mine will go 20 mph for 5-10 miles, farther at a more moderate pace.
Also, I keep mine loose in a fenced yard. When they are bored, they chase each other all over the place, and that does a real good job at keeping them in shape.

Field trials and roading them, If you keep them in good to fair shape year round they will get in good/hunting shape quicker there feet will stay tougher and they woun't be as hyper when you do get back to hunting.

Roading them is a good way to keep them in shape or if you live by water make them swim against the current only half our pack likes water but they all have to swim its a good to keep them in shape and isn't hard on there joints