Proper Exercise

I get lots of exercise if working a computer mouse or operating the TV remote counts as exercise.

Anyone can take one look at me and see that I never miss a meal.  However, I could use a little more exercise.  Proper diet and exercise are necessary to keep trim, fit and healthy.  We that love spending time in the woods, chasing after our hounds must work hard to stay fit and ready to hunt.  Now I may be able to jog along with one old hound and see that they get their needed exercise, but this fat old man will never be able to do the same for 10 or 12 eager hounds that are ready for a run.

During my 25 years on active duty in the US Air Force, I like all the members of the worlds greatest fighting force, had to meet established fitness standards.  In addition, to being a slim, trim fighting machines, we had to run.  Once each year we had to prove that we could run 1 ½ miles within a prescribed time.  This once a year near death experience allows me to know a little about how our hounds must fill when they are asked to run the first bunny of the season.

If our hounds like their owners spend the summer months drinking beer, eating spare ribs and watching TV then they may not be up to chasing bunnies.  Hounds and hunters must get in shape in advance of the first day of rabbit season.  Most hunters know their limitations and may spend a fair share of a hunting day sitting on a log waiting for the hounds to bring the bunny around.  This is why it is possible for an over-weight retired Chief Master Sergeant to still enjoy a good rabbit hunt.

Our hounds are the driving force that keeps the bunnies up and on the move.  They can not spend time sitting on a log it they are to get the job done.  To spend hours in hot pursuit they must be trim fit and ready to run.  Lots of routine exercise will help them to perform well on every hunt.

I have a small training pen that my hounds are allowed to spend time in.  Most of my grown dogs look forward to getting out of their kennels and romping around for a few minutes.  After they have investigated all corners of the pen, they will normally find a cool place to lie down.

 I know we need to provide some opportunity for prolonged exercise a couple of times a week.  Long walks, play session, or strenuous training sessions help keep muscles in shape and bodies functioning.  Time alone in a yard is not sufficient; although dogs will run fence lines if a person or animal happens by, they are generally as lazy as people and will not run for the sake of exercise.  Two dogs, however, will usually run, romp and play together and thus exercise each other.  I have found this to be true of young hounds and especially puppies.  Puppies will spend a day running and playing.  They will stop and rest a while and may even take a nap.  Then they are up for another play-secession.
 

PUPPY PLAY TIME

EVEN VERY ACTIVE PUPS CAN'T BEAT THE HEAT.  A LITTLE PLAY THEN A LITTLE REST

 MAYBE A NAP

Most pups do not have a problem keeping trim and fit.  They are little balls of energy that when they are not eating or sleeping they are running and playing.  Even in the confines of their small kennels they are always getting up a wrestling match.

The problem is with our hounds.  Like any athlete they must be ready for the big game.  Most hounds are not able to hit the ground running.  They are not like my bathroom scale, which can go from 0 to 200 in seconds.

I have tried with little success to help my hounds stay in shape during the dog days of summer.  I have tried long walks but could only devote time to a small number of the many hounds I keep.  I have taken some on a retractable leash and let them run along with my bike.  None of these activities have ever seemed to help.  I always would play out long before I would see any results.

I have looked into dog training equipment like the treadmills used to condition bull dogs.  It looked like it would work but the $1,500 price tag discouraged this idea.  When my hounds are out spending time in the training pen I try to keep them moving.   My granddaughter is a big help.  She runs and plays with the dogs and helps to keep them active.  When I am on one end of the pen and the hounds are all on the other end, I call them and they all come running.  I know a 200 foot run is short and may not get their heart beat up, but every bit of exercise should help.

My hounds get lots of exercise during hunting season.  Two or three hunts each week provides the kind of exercise that every sporting dog needs.  The first few hunts of the season are normally short.  The weather is a little warm in October and both the hounds and I need to build up to the demands of a longer hunt.

As the weather cools down hunts are more frequent and longer.  I have a large number of hounds and as the season progresses I find myself hunting them as teams.  I take one group one day and a different group the next.  Some of my hounds are just too good to ever leave behind.  Once hunting season is in full swing, all my hounds get more than enough exercise.  They are doing what they were born to do.  I love being a part of this great experience.