Can you talk a bit about getting hounds fit for hunting; exercise, feeding, training etc?
JW: Bloodhounds, even cross breds, are the least hardy of pack hunting hounds and as such they need more exercise to get and keep them fit, I have always taken the view that hounds are better exercised rather than left in grass yards, both from a mental point of view as well as a physical consideration. They say of a horse, no foot no horse and the same is true of a hound. However you can shoe a horse, you can t shoe a hound! Therefore the most important consideration as you start to get hounds fit for hunting is to design your exercise to harden and strengthen the hounds feet. Roadwork is best and I start on foot but quickly get on to a bike in order to move at a pace more suited to the hounds, a lope. I like to get the young hounds used to going out with the pack as soon as I can, usually when they are about half grown. This starts getting the very young puppies used to going on collars and leads and then coupling the young hound to an older hound, until it learns and responds to its
