Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Hounds Make GREAT Family Pets

Today I set out to write a post on how hounds are sorely overlooked as family pets.  I like to be thorough with my posts like this and include sources and data to back up my personal opinion.  Guess what?  I couldn't find a single piece of information about hounds in shelters.  Pit bull statistics, however, were readily available.  While I love pit bulls and feel that they are discriminated against unjustly, hounds are so very near and dear to my heart.  I feel that the lack of statistics about hounds is my first piece of evidence that they are overlooked and passed by as family pets.

When Ben & I went to adopt June, our first hound, the shelter staff thanked us for considering a hound for a family pet.  We didn't see why we wouldn't.  I mean, June was absolutely adorable!  (And she still is!)  After they made that comment, I realized that the shelter had several dogs that looked very similar to June.  The lady at the shelter told us that after sick and aggressive dogs, hounds are usually the first to be euthanized when the shelter gets overcrowded.  (Granted, this is specific to the shelter in Elizabeth City, NC, but as I look at adoptable dogs across the state and even in other states, I see a ton of hounds waiting to be adopted.)

June was lucky enough to avoid euthanasia for nine whole months.  Willa didn't have time on her side.  She was in a rural shelter with limited resources.  After her 72 hour stray hold was up, she was number one on the euthanasia list.  It literally breaks my heart that my sweet Willa might have been put down because of overcrowding.  And why was she first in line???  I can not be 100% sure, but I believe it was due to her breed and the region we live in.  Here, hounds are mostly seen as hunting dogs, not family pets.  I just don't understand. 
 
I grew up with labs, and they are great dogs.  My first adoptee, Cooper, was a chocolate lab.  I love him with all of my heart.  He is perfect.  Our second and third dogs, however, were both foxhounds.  We love them very much.  They are so wonderful!  I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.  After owning hounds, I just can't fathom why people don't see them as family pets.  Why must people think they are outside dogs or hunting dogs?  My girls are the biggest babies in the world and love to cuddle and sleep in the bed with us.  Outside dogs?  Ha!  Willa won't even go outside if it is raining. 

Hounds make fabulous family pets.  Here are a ten reasons why hounds are the best:

1.  They love to snuggle with people.





2.  They love to snuggle with each other.




3.  They are playful and love toys.





4.  Hounds are very comfortable as inside dogs.



5.  They are very loyal and loving.



 
6.  They have adorable quirks that will melt your heart.  For example, Miss Willa is a toy hoarder :)





7.  Hounds are just plain cute! 




8.  Like all breeds, hounds require training, but they are trainable!




9.  While they do need exercise and interaction like all breeds,  hounds love to snooze and lounge, too.


10.  Hounds come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.  There is one for everyone!  (Although it may be hard to choose just one!)





In conclusion, hounds really are amazing!  If hounds are not popular where you live, look on Petfinder at shelters in the south where hounds are most prevalent.  Many rescues will transport dogs north at no cost to the adopter.  They are very much worth a look when you adopt your next family member!

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Do you have a hound or know someone who does?  What is your favorite hound quality?  I have too many to pick just one! 

16 comments:

  1. Great post, Laura! I must admit that prior to knowing your June and pulling your Willa, I had not had much experience with hounds, but you are so right - they are WONDERFUL indoor family companions. I applaud your advocacy on behalf of hounds and as always, appreciate your devotion to rescue. Keep spreading the word on this lovely group of dogs (the hound group) and thank you for all you do for shelter dogs in general and Sea Dog Rescue in particular!

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    1. Thank you, Paula! I will most definitely keep being an advocate for hounds! They are wonderful and deserve a loving home just like other breeds. Thank you for letting me be a part of the rescue. I love it!

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  2. nice defense of the foxhounds. yours looks smart and mischievous, hehehe. :-D
    have an awesome Wednesday

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    1. Thank you! And you hit the nail on the head! They are very smart, sweet, and can definitely be mischievous, but it is all part of their charm :) I love my girls!

      Have a great day, too!

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  3. I have a fox hound rescue from NC and he is all of the things you mention - plus he is very smart. Bo does tend to 'talk' back when asked to do something he doesn't want to. Hence he was the loudest in the training class! Because of Bo I have been fostering for over a year and love it! He welcomes all of our new fosters and loves each one.

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    1. Oh I LOVE when hounds "talk"! I think it is so adorable. Sometimes it scares the crap out of me if I am not expecting it, but it is adorable just the same :) It is usually Willa that does the random sound off in my house. Sometimes she really wants something haha!

      Thank you for all that you do to save dogs! You are awesome for fostering and I love that you love hounds :) Have a great day!

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  4. We also have a hound/golden mix, aside of her color, you would think she is pure hound.. I was looking for a puppy, and certainly not a 4 year old hound, when someone contacted me asking if I would take her in.. That was two years ago, and it was the best decision we have ever made.. I could not imagine our lives without our "Tully Bear" She is the best dog you could ask for..

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    1. Tully Bear sounds wonderful!! That was so wonderful of you to take in an older stray. Adults need love, too! Willa was seven when we took her in, and she is simply wonderful!

      Have a wonderful day and thank you for adopting!

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  5. Awesome post! I can totally tell you put alot of heart to it!

    I believe hounds are amazing, and they can be great family pets in the arms of the right owners. What is important that they have their daily mental, and physical exercise to meet the breed's needs.

    hugs!



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    1. Thank you, Francesca! Hounds are very much in my heart! I love them and want to showcase what great pets they can be.

      My girls are active but not too high energy. Short walks and play time with toys and enrichment games keep them quite happy. And they of course love to play with each other :)

      Thanks for your kind words and I hope your driver's test went well! Hugs to you!

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  6. Laura, thank you for finding my page; this is a WONDERFUL post and I agree, hounds are SO over-looked and not championed in the media. We do make a difference for them, though!

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    1. Thank you, Roberta! I love your blog and Facebook page! What you do for hounds is truly amazing. Down the road, I want to have a hound rescue and maybe even a sanctuary like you! I love the breed so much and want to share my love with others.

      Thank you for all that you do for hounds! You are awesome :)

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  7. Thanks for stopping by our blog so we could get to meet you. Love that Willa hoards her toys like our Tino did - so funny. Kudos to you for speaking up for the hounds!

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    1. You are welcome! I love your blog and you are helping motivate me to exercise more with my pups :)

      Toy hoarders are quite adorable, aren't they?? :) I am glad you liked my hound advocacy post. They are awesome!

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  8. These are such good photos. The 4th pic is our fav!
    Hmmm...it was depressing to read that hounds are usually the first ones to be euthanized. That is just so wrong and unfair! Thanks for sharing this knowledge and being their voice. You certainly have got us thinking about adopting a hound as our second pet. :)

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    1. Thank you, Roy and Shefali!!! I am glad you liked the pictures :). It is very sad indeed that hounds are the first to be put down where I live. My girls are snuggled in bed with me as I type. They are so precious! And you simply made my day when you said you might think of a hound for your next dog! They are certainly worth a look :). Hounds are awesome! Have a great weekend, guys!!!

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Thanks for your comments!
-Laura

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