Thinking about adopting a hound mix from Humane Society

[*connee*]

Hi everyone:

I'm new to this forum. My question is this: we are thinking about adopting a 1 year old female hound mix from our local Humane Society. (A picture of her is temporarily available at this link: http://ozaukeehumane.org/animals/animal.aspx?id=2044494) The workers there said she was surrendered because she ran away too much. We are in love with her but are very fearful of her running away on us. Our last dog never did this. We could have her unleashed in our unfenced yard with us while doing yard work/playing/grilling out/whatever and she never ran away. We can commit to taking her for a walk once a day for about 30-45 minutes. Does anyone know how to train hounds to not run away so much? She is a mix so maybe her scenting instincts aren't as bad as a purebred hound. Any ideas???

[fuzzdomestic]

She's a hound and hounds are very rarely off-leash reliable. If that is an important aspect for you, you might want to look into another breed. I wonder though, what their definition of "running away" was. Did they let her off-leash and she just bolted, did she wriggle out the door when they came in, or did she get bored and clear their fence? If she is shoving her way out the door, that is very easily fixed with some basic obedience. If she is getting bored in the yard, all you have to do is either stay out with her or bring her in before she gets bored. If you can get around that and buy yourself a nice long retractable leash or something similar, she seems like a nice little girl. Talk with the volunteers who have done the most work with her and see if they think she'll be a good match for you. I really can't tell you anything about her over the internet and I'm just going off the idea that she is a Beagle or Treeing Walker mix, so all of my advice is from those two breeds.

[JessMaster]

Gotta be more pessimistic than fuzzdomestic. Even basic obedience will be a challenge with this type of dog that was bred for "running away," after the first interesting scent.

You mention that you had a dog that could be in your unfenced yard "with you." Do you intend to have her inside when you are not in your yard? If you are always with her, then obedience training will help. If you intend to put up a fence and leave her in the yard, the fence better be high and continue in to the ground.

Can see why you fell in love, though.

[*connee*]

I just wanted to say thank you for your replies. To answer JessMaster, we plan on having the dog inside with us when we're inside. She will be a family pet all the way. The plan would be to let her outside on a chain a few times a day to do her bathroom business. We wouldn't let her linger out there for hours to get bored. In addition, she would have one 30-45 minute walk per day.

Also, I want to reiterate that she is a hound mix. I don't want to write her off completely as a "runner" because she isn't 100% foxhound. We want to believe that the "following her nose" instinct may not be as strong because she's not 100% hound. Are we living a fantasy here?:confused:

[fuzzdomestic]

I wouldn't write all hound crosses off as runners. It's just that she looks like a hound crossed to a different breed of hound to me, so I am working off the idea that she is as much (or nearly as much) a hound as either parent breed. I have not personally met her, so I am currently going off of a picture that looks and aweful lot like a Beagle crossed with a Foxhound.
If you think you have a JRT mix, you keep an eye on any rodent pets you have. If you have a hound mix, you keep an eye on the door. It's not that hounds are bad dogs, they are just not bred to stay close to their handler and that is not necessarily something that disappears in the first outcross. As I said before, talk to the volunteers who have done the most work with her and ask them how much of a hound she really is.
Just as a side note, I don't suggest using a chain on a hound dog. A tie-out cable should work just fine and hopefully will not add unecessary stress on her neck and back. Check PetsMart or Walmart, either should have some fairly good cables near the collars.
I don't really see the problem with adopting a "runner" if you are going to have her on a secure tie-out and keep up with basic obedience. Just watch her as new people come in and out of the door and you should be fine. If you really think that this girl might be the one for you, you can always talk to the shelter about setting up day visits. That way you can see how the dog behaves in new enviroments and it will give you a better idea of whether or not she will bolt when either distracted or nervous. Don't expect the dog that comes home with you that first day to be the one that you see in another year though. It takes about 2 months for a rescue to adjust to a new home. If you really think this girl will work, I don't see any reason not to give it a try. If you would rather have a dog who would be reliable off-leash, you might want to look into another breed. It's up to you.

[Iamme]

Hounds are good dogs, if a bit curious. Though they are bred to hunt they can be trained. I am a dog trainer and have trained many hounds. I agree though you should have them fenced or on a tie out. Just remember if you use the tie out that you need to take them to a place to run occasionally. All dogs need exercise and a walk around the block doesn't cut it. Most dog parks have separate fenced areas. 1 for small dogs and 1 for large dogs. I encourage you to take her to one. I also encourage you to seek training, it is a wonderful opportunity for you to bond with her and rescue dogs need that more than any others because it's hard to tell what they've been through in their lives. Good Luck to you and your dog.:)

[DebbyM]

Over the lasy 35 years I would say 90% of them have been hounds of one sort or another. All I can say is it takes a patience to own a hound even if only 1/2. I have never met one that is not hard headed or runs at the first chance. I'm sure there is someone who has trained one not to bolt,:) but it has to be a one in a million! But iI Love my hounds anyway. My present 2 are Sharpei/Hound and Cocker/Hound they are a mess and Sharpei just became deaf but I would not trade them for anything! Good Luck!!!

[AnnieB]

No real answers for you, but when ever some one adopts, I just want to tell you its a wonderful thing to do :D

[babyjake228]

I agree with fuzzdomestic. I recommend that you just keep an eye on her and where she is, when you have a chance.

And I also think that it is wonderful of you to adopt a dog from a shelter.

Good Luck to you and your new coming dog,
Jakey