Has anyone ever had any luck with making a retired one into a decent house dog.

The problem is they don’t retire…you just tell them they did. You can’t take the hunt out of a hound. If you’re able to house break them, don’t ever turn them loose to go to the bathroom. I’ve had dogs on death’s door that thought they were going hunting on the last walk.

That said, my very best hound I ever had spent her last week in my house sleeping on my hunting jacket by the fireplace. She had spent a fair amount of time in doors before that when having/raising pups. She knew enough to ask to go outside when needed.

My last old hound lived most of his life outside, we moved him inside when he was about 10 or so, it literally took to days to house break him, after the second punishment of yelling and shouting with lots of stomping he never had an accident in the house again till he was around 17/18 and then it was rare

And yes if he was let outside he needed to be on a chain or he w as off hunting, he was also the best dog I have ever had he lived till he was 22 and every day he wanted to go hunting and I bet if he had had the chance he would have gotten out of his death bed to go hunting


God I still miss him

Hounds don't make good house dogs. I got an english setter now. He lives in the house. Best natured dog I ever had. His only bad habit is sneaking into bed with my wife and me. I wake up in the morning with me and the wife having half the bed and the dog the other half. He has figured out how to get on the bed without waking us up.

If you want hounds you need a kennel. If you want a house dog get something else.

It really depends on the dog. A friend has field trial beagles that are actually smart. Several end up in the house or hunting cabin for periods of time. They are just like house dogs. If you let a dog out to take care of business and it does not listen.....that is a dog that is not trained. Just don't bring in one until you give it a good bath.

One of this guys dogs will even take a leg injury to avoid jumping in the truck or if it thinks it can get away with something. Cost the guy $400 in vet bills to find out it was faking it. Now it pulls the act on people with food. Plays it up really convincing.

Hounds aren’t stupid they just were never bread for obedience..

Just like any other dog I've had she listens fine great companion for the wife and I. She loves to go in the truck with me she's my ride or die. The wheels come off when she sees a rabbit then the hound kicks in.

Got her at a year old she got accustomed rather quickly lives like a princess now.

Not much of a fox dog she pretends its not there. LOL

I've had several curs and half hounds as house dogs. They've been great. They're laid back and well mannered in the house. I have an 8 month old full hound that doesn't live inside but I've been doing some obedience stuff with her and she's been as good as any dog I've ever worked with. I don't know where the idea that they're dumb or hard headed comes from. They're not border Collies but they're really not hard to train. Most of the other dogs I've had were short hairs and German shepherds. I feel like mine are as easy to train as the short hairs and easier to live with in the house than either of those two. Id say the hardest part is letting them loose in the yard. I have Garmin collars and they learn pretty quick that they're supposed to stay home. I'm not sure about an old retiree but I've started to prefer letting them grow up outside and then bringing them inside. They're so much easier to housebreak and teach the rules. I don't know if I'll ever start a puppy of any breed in the house. It's just so much easier after a year old. You just need to test them the same as a puppy for a few days.

Thanks for all the input guys. I know a hunting dog isn't ideal but unfortunately with it being the end of hunting season someone left one to starve at the boat landing.its got the club marks and no collar.couldnt leave him there so I guess we will give it a shot and see how it goes.

You're a good person yellowbelly.

A dog that beat down might appreciate at rug to sleep on.

Every dog is diff. There is no one answer for every dog. Id say its not the most common but yeah it can be done. The best coonhound I knew was a guys buddy and road shotgun where ever they went and was a house dog but if you cut him into the woods look out.

I wish you luck.I have never had a problem with my Beagles in the house.

YB
A dog is never to old to learn, you can teach an old dog just as easy or easier than a pup, are blackouth cut ( hound) is in door out door dog one of the hardest hunting dogs I've had you only have to tell her a couple times and she get the message loud and clear, it depends on how smart they are and how affective you are, cuz a smart dog will know what he can get away with and a dumydog , well good luck!!!

Honestly seems about every abandoned dog I've taken in becomes a pretty good dog. Like they wanna repay the kindness you did to them. If they have a lot of hunt in them I've had difficulties at times but generally it's not horrible. Then again I don't ask for too much

Well he made it through the night so that's good. The biggest concern I have is the chickens but rite now he is so weak he can barely stand so we will cross the chicken bridge once we get there. Thanks for all the input guys.

I disagree with ya there Danny. My last two hounds lived in the house and they loved being house dogs. Easy to housebreak, slept on the couch, would have slept in the bed but we didn't allow that. Didn't do anything wrong like getting in the garbage or stealing food off the counter... I could leave steaks on the counter and leave the dog in the house and steaks would be there when I got home. I believe it's all in how you raise them. Didn't seem to hurt her hunting any either. The last one I had, Dixie, was a great hunter (the one before her was just mediocre). As soon as you let her out of the truck she was all business. Gone in a flash and would go as deep as it took to get treed. I would argue that hounds can make great housedogs.

As for the OPs comment about the chickens, do you have a shock collar? I had to zap my last hound twice to get her to quit going after chickens. Some dogs only take one time. I've never had one that took more than 3 times. But don't just tickle em, light em up.

My beagle won’t look at a bird pheasant or chicken she’s focused on bunnies and the neighbors cats our cats she gets along with no problem.

No shock collar yet. I'm still not sure he is even going to make it. He was out there for a while before I found him. Ribs hips and even backbone are visible and he can barely walk. I was more or less brining him home so he could pass in comfort but he is hanging in there. We've been giving home eggs witch worked miracles when my puppy got parvovirus. And of course regular dog food. I'm going to get a shock collar if he starts getting active I was looking at them today at tractor supply.

I found a dog this past fall. Actually, it found me. Showed up hiding under the porch of one of our cabins. I didn't think it would live. Like you said, every rib and every knob of the spine sticking out. Covered head to toe with mange, NO hair other than a small strip on its tail. To see if now you'd never know it was almost dead. Took it to the vet once, and asked what he was giving it for the mange. Then ordered the same med online and treated it myself. Took about 8 weeks but then she was as good as new. He might surprise ya.