HOUND TRAILING

[socks 32,253]

Watched this countryfile earlier ... Seen it before and enjoyed it but there s a few questions I have if anybody out there can answer .....

 

1. Is the trail hound a recognised type? Or can you breed your own type of trail hound adding in saluki or collie etc ....

 

2. It's a well known fact that deep chested dogs suffer from bloat so how do these dogs manage to wolf down a full bowl of food the second the 10 mile race is over?

 

3. Is this well organised and participated in or is it a dying type of race? Shame if it is as it looks a real good craic ... If I lived up that way I think I would be tempted to have a go at the trail hound racing ........

[darbo 4,779]

my mate has lived in cumbria for many years and been to some trails. the hounds thereselves have to be registered. in the past there was pointer and collie blood added to foxhounds to add to these hounds . how much is done today i dont know.They are raced from april to oct at various meets throught cumbria. my mate says its well organised. how popular it is now i could not say all my information is off him second hand.i know what you mean about bloat. the bowl of food is the reward for finishing the race.

[patterdalejoel 669]

i was just shocked that they all had coats on before the race, i know they are doing what a hound should do but they would be hardier than that?

[socks 32,253]

Different looking dog to me ... Not much body fat and obviously they come individually not in a trailer where they keep each other warm .... I would think the jackets are for keeping muscle warm to reduce the chance of injury .......

[bullmastiff 615]

When I saw them running, must admit was like you say, surpised at how quick they let the dog eat, it's not like it's a small meal either!!! the dogs just runs head first into the bucket! Doesn't even get time to pull it's tongue back in!

Next thing I thought, was wonder what it would be like over a nice greyhound.....

[bird 10,014]

Different looking dog to me ... Not much body fat and obviously they come individually not in a trailer where they keep each other warm .... I would think the jackets are for keeping muscle warm to reduce the chance of injury .......

makes sence ken

[wild rover 548]

Jackets also because the hounds are often clipped out the morning of the trail, this livens them up, the food is usually light and used to encourage them to finish faster, once caught the food is often replaced with tea, trail hounds are very much lighter built than foxhounds, some are often picked up by tourists thinking they are lost and starving, as with most things nowadays trailing doesnt have the following it has enjoyed in previous years, youth of today, fuel cost, cost of keeping them, Crossing trail hounds with greyhounds has been done before but theres no great advantage over current breedings of lurchers, and some downfalls. Bookmakers are present at all trails and bets taken on finishing,

[Born Hunter 17,966]

Few bits I found that may answer some of your questions;

 

http://www.houndtrailing.org.uk/

 

http://onlineborders.org.uk/community/bhta/

 

http://www.houndtrailingnews.co.uk/What-is-Hound-Trailing-.html

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hound_trailing

 

[paulus 26]

10 miles in 30 minutes, how much training is done to get them to that level of stamina and what type of training

[hairyface 211]

my brother has been into it for 20+yrs,

they are a reconised breed, registered with the hound trailing assco

they arent given a big meal right after the race, its jus abit of incentive, usually a bit of tripe or gingerbread

still popular but as been said not nearly as popular as 20 yrs ago,

 

is it just up here in cumbria,i never gave it much thought really but just assumed it went on in different parts of country

i wouldve thought a trailhound x grey would howl like f**k when coursing summat

[FUJI 17,729]

The village I'm in is full of trail hounds infact the b*****ds howl the place down over my back fence at 6am every morning lol..still popular up and around here,my father in law has had plenty of success with them from way back in the late 60's I have some of his old pics I will delve some out and put them up..great stamina in them for sure,running the rugged Cumbrian Fells but then again so does the person who has to lay the linseed trail for them to follow lol