Training
I am sure we all have our own ideas about how to train hounds to run bunnies. There is the right way, the wrong way and then there is my way. Some of us have it all figured out while others are wondering what it takes to train a well bred pup and turn it into a productive hard hunting hound. Many fine pups are born with the natural abilities needed to become the super hound that we all long for, but they too need direction, discipline and yes training.
How well I remember my time in “Boot Camp”. It was a demanding time in my life. The TI had us up early every morning and worked us hard all day, everyday. I remember someone said that they would do in a few weeks what our parents had not done in 18 years. They would make us into men. The discipline that I learned and the training I received served as the foundation for my carrier and have stayed with me throughout my life. Our hounds need lots of basic training when they are pups and even more when they are ready to start their life as rabbit runners.
While reading with my eight year old grad-daughter I learned a few facts, a little history and was reminded of some good common since rules to follow when training young pups. Her copy of “The First Book of Arf” points out that there are now over 50 million dogs in the United States. Most of these serve mankind as friend and companion.
The friendship of man and dog goes back more than 12,000 years to the Stone Age. The men of that time haunted animals using rocks and spears made from stone. Wolf packs often followed the hunters looking for scraps of meat.
Over a long period of time some of these wolves were tamed. The first wild-animal tamers might have been the children of the cave men. Perhaps they found a furry little wolf puppy and brought it home as a pet.
The dog was trained to be helpful in many ways. He learned to use his sharp sense of hearing and his keen sense of smell to guide the hunter.
Many years of change have given us today’s hunters.
Arf’s Training Tips
Click on the following training
areas to learn how it is done at Paw Paws Kennels.