New "job" for a hound.

[SouthBoundGal]

My house seems to be the new drop off spot for everyone elses unwanted animals, so I have 'aquired' two new dogs, one of them may be a plott hound or plott hound mix. He is a very lovable dog, and seems eager to please. When I attempt to walk through the woods or to our pond, he will run in front of me baying excitedly like he thinks we are hunting. He also seems very proud of himself when he trees the cats, waiting for a pat on the head for this remarkable deed. (He has gotten better about leaving the cats alone) I feel sorry for the poor guy, because he really wants to please, but I have absolutely no use for a cat-hunting dog, or any hunting dog for that matter. Does anyone have any suggestions as to another 'task' that this dog could be trained to do that would incorporate his natural talents so that he feels 'important' and less inclined to just run and bark at nothing.
Also, I am curious to know if this dog has had any training as a hunting dog. Is there a way for me to know, without actually taking him hunting? A 'test' of some sort, lol. As you can tell, I know nothing about hounds.
Thanks

[mamahen]

I'm not sure how you could test him. Lots of trainers have their own unique way of giving commands & signals. Maybe ask someone at the local feed store if they know anyone who trains hounds?

One man down the road tells his coon hounds to "hunt 'em up". Maybe try out different commands. Take a gun with you, he may either get REALLY excited, or run for cover. If he's gunshy, that's usually one reason they get dumped. But those hounds travel, he may have just wondered away.

I know what you mean about baying!! Our new basset puppy loves to bay. NOnstop. At every thing. All the time. Did I mention he loves to do it? He does it to our older basset, to the cats, the chickens, goats, trees, leaves, pond, haybale. Yeah, he loves his voice. So far we like it too!! And in a small room, it makes the windows rattle!

[SouthBoundGal]

I think I may just try walking out with the gun and see his reaction. Thanks.

[Morning Owl]

SouthBoundGal,
Check out this post by BobFL, maybe you two could work something out.

!!@#$@! Bobcat Strikes Again

[wildhorse]

Normally coon dogs will go after cats so he may be a coon dog.

[tinknal]

My guess he is a failed coon hound. Some dogs with a lot of "hunt" in them fail because they slick tree (no animal in tree), won't stay on tree (a good hound needs to be practically drug away from the tree), run trash (chases anything), or other reasons some plotts are too agressive and fight other dogs while hunting. If you can, find a coon hunter and ask him to hunt the hound just to find out what you have. If he is by chance a good hound, he's worth a few bucks.

If you were actually interested in training and working with him, he might make a good search and rescue dog.

[Maura]

While he is in his "eager to please" mode (this may change as he becomes comfortable in his surroundings), work him on obedience. Nothing severe, reward him for walking at the heel, for sitting consistently in certain places (sit before opening the car/truck door, before going through any doors or gates, sit before food dish is put down). Work him on his recall, first just a couple of steps from you, then gradually farther and farther away. Work him on his sit and recall on every spot of your property. A well trained dog is always more valuable, and if he turns out to be a good hunter, he will be more adoptable.

[SouthBoundGal]

Tinknal, you definately described this dog. Which is probably why he ended up here. But he seems to have potential for.... something.

[TedH71]

Did the dog have a radio tracking collar? If not, he may have gotten lost and yes, hounds do get lost but keep in mind, plotts are or were considered curs at one point and being a mountain bred dog they tend to stray less than other breeds of hounds and are protective of their families. There are quite a few people that coon hunt or hog hunt in South Carolina..plotts are bred to hunt both due to their gritty nature in a battle with the said animal. Plotts are also the state dog of South Carolina. There are quite a few people that simply don't have money for a tracking collar and often lose their dogs that way. Keep in mind, we have had problems with animal right activitists taking off the collar and letting the dog loose if the dog is a cur dog, that wouldn't happen because they usually dislike strangers to the point they will bite. Try exposing the dog to a coon or a feral hog and see what the dog does then you will know.

[comfortablynumb]

train them to track and tree poachers.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by SouthBoundGal

Tinknal, you definately described this dog. Which is probably why he ended up here. But he seems to have potential for.... something.

Try tracking people with him. Start out at home. If he bonds to you, have someone hold the dog, and them have the person holding the dog say "find mom". After he understands the command go outside and do this with short distances. Increase the distances. When he gets solid, walk off out of the dogs sight. Keep making it harder. With a search dog, they usually put an item of the lost persons clothing in a bag, and then give the dog just a very slight whiff. As soon as the dog understands that he is looking for someone, have him trail different people. As the dog gets more proficient, make it more difficult. Have him track a trail that is days or hours old. I realize that this would be a lot of work, but if you were interested, it would be a way of making him an extrodinarily usefull dog.

[Paula]

Does he have an ear tatoo?

[TedH71]

Try a leg tattoo or if he has a brand on his hip then most likely it's someone's valued hunting dog. Lots of people are starting to freeze brand their dogs those days..freeze branding doesn't hurt bec it's cold not hot.