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Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum, and relatively new to coon hunting. However, I'm not new to dogs in general. I grew up with rescued racing Greyhounds and realized at a young age that I have a talent for training dogs. I have trained rescued pet dogs out of some really difficult behavior issues and made them into good, obedient dogs. I can train a dog to do just about anything, so I figured I could learn to train hunting dogs.
I've always admired working dogs, especially hunting dogs, and loved seeing them do what they were meant do to. Plus I think that dogs are happier with a job to do. Around here the mountains are too steep and the woods too dense to hunt with Sighthounds (they need open space to catch they prey), so when I decided I wanted to train hunting dogs, I figured it was best to go with Coonhounds. So after tagging along as a spectator on a season's worth of competition hunts, I bought a Bluetick puppy.
Rosemary, my Bluetick puppy, likes playing with coon skins and has learned how to bark at trees. I don't think she's quite made the connection between coons and trees yet, but she's only 7 1/2 months old, so she's got plenty of time to learn. She is very pretty, so I intend to show her as well this spring.
I've also got Dixie, the Border Collie / Australian Shepherd who's also learning to hunt. I got her from a friend who got her as a livestock dog and couldn't handle her hyper and lack of socialization and training, so I socialized and obedience trained her with the the intention of giving her back. When she started attacking the livestock and my friend became unable to take care of her due to a divorce and unstable living arrangements, we decided it would be best for me to keep Dixie permanently and teach her to hunt.
Then there's Pearl, the old Black & Tan, who was given to me as a pup trainer. She knows how to hunt, but she's crazy and her manners are horrible. I've been teaching her manners, but she's incredibly hard-headed and set in her ways so it's been a real challenge. I haven't had her for all that long, so her manners are far from perfect, but she is making progress.
I've also got Jed, the elderly pet Beagle. He's bacon-flavored senile so he gets confused easily, is afraid of the dark, and terrified of guns, so he doesn't hunt. But he's likeable.
I've also got a pet cat, a small flock of egg-laying chickens, and I'm temporarily taking care of 2 pigs.
One of my goals in coon hunting, other than bringing out the very best in my dogs, is to set a positive ethical example for other hunters. I've noticed that some hunters treat their dogs better than others, and I don't intend to preach to anyone about the treatment of the dogs, I just want to set a good example by treating my dogs well. What I mean is that I spend quality time with them away from the hunt as well as in the woods. I let them off their chains regularly to play and socialize, I built a pen in the house so they can come inside in really yucky weather, and I'll sometimes let them ride around with me even if we're not going hunting-- they love Tractor Supply. I also take a few dead coons from the local Coon Hunter's Club on most Saturday nights and cook them up and eat them and feed them to the dogs so they don't go to waste.
I've been reading the forum for quite a while, so I figured it was time to join. I hope to ask questions and learn, share my insights, and tell some of my crazy and colorful dog stories.
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