Hound breeds (research for possible new book)

[Cudedog]

Good morning!

I have decided to take the kind suggestions made by several ladies on my "Christmas Jones" book thread that I should perhaps consider a "series" of books. Didn't think so at first, now I'm kind of "backing into it" a little bit at a time.

http://womenrv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17528

(if anyone would like a free download of my "Jones" ebook - via Amazon - please PM me your email address).

I have a story idea that I am now working on, starting the "research" process. It will probably be another children's book in the age range of my "Jones" book, perhaps a little older.

I am seeking information on the hound breeds of dog, of both types (sight hound and scent hound).

I need to narrow down the kind of sight hound/scent hound I will use as the "hero" character in my new story (I do know that there are many different types of hound).

Wondering if anyone has had experience with a hound breed of dog (both good and bad)?

My breed of choice has been (and continues to be, after about 40 years of owning dogs of this breed) the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, but I have been around dogs long enough to know that the hounds and the terriers are significantly different, in many ways. I want to get my hound information "just right".

Couple of initial questions (once I determine the hound breed to write about, I will contact hound breeders in my immediate area for a more "in depth" discussion):

1. Have you ever owned a hound? If yes, what was it like to live with a hound?
2. What is the smallest hound breed?
3. Do hounds "bark", or do they just primarily "bay"?
4. At what age are they considered fully mature?
5. What hound breed would you like to see featured in a children's book? (Yes, I do know that there are several children's books that feature hounds).

I would like to know anything you might care to share.

Appreciate all of your responses, even if only a word or two.

Thank you!

Anne

[BirdbyBird]

I know only random Hound information but I am willing to share.

First recommendation I might suggest is look up on the Info.dog website and find an AKC show near you. I know that you have shown before but I find visually watching the breeds move and their interactions with their people informative. The Hound Group for sure.

Smallest is the Dachshund. They come in two sizes and three coats variations: smooth, wired and long coated. The largest are the Irish Wolfhound and the Deer hound. Afgans are up near the front of the line. There are a couple of newer breeds. One looks adorable the a curly coat of hair and the cutest button ears. I think the are originally from Hungary and are very agile. I am trying to remember if they are the ones known for hunting Truffles.

Hounds are traditionally known for their "baying". Think of scent hounds following the "track" and or treeing the prey. I really don't know what the "sight" hounds do.

Borzois, greyhounds, whippets and a few other lesser known breeds are part of the sight hound section.

Depending upon the story some of the less well known breeds or breeds with smaller numbers would be unlikely to show up in a pet home unless be accident or a rescue placed/rehomed through special circumstances woven into the story.

The more popular/numerous breeds like the beagle (two sizes) and the hounds used commonly in hunting/tracking would especially fit into stories based in the south where the tradition of hunting with hounds is still alive and well. Coonhounds, Bluetick Hounds, Redbones, Basset Hounds, English Fox Hounds, American Fox Hound, Black and Tan Coonhounds, Blood hounds.

As a stereotype many hounds are known to be independent and I little harder to train. They rely on their own skill of scent or sight. They were bred to chase down varmits without us sort of. In the case of the Small Dachshund, they were bred to follow those varmits right into the ground. I always know when I watched a well trained beagle in the 4-H ring (or any other performance event) that someone had put in a bunch of consistent training. I know friends that live with and love their hounds. And as with most breeds individuals have their own personalities and levels of trainability and intelligence. (Two different things when you think about that.)

Most dog/breed books will go through the common characteristics of each breed. Your hero dog could always be exceptional with just enough "hound" trails to be real.

And as you have probably figured out watching terriers. Different breeds mature at different rates, both physically and mentally. At one extreme, if you have an Irish Wolfhound live past eight you have beaten the odds.

Done random thoughts. Lark says I have been at work all day and need to go outside and play with her...... Have fun researching!

[JudyJB]

Sounds like an interesting idea. Will it be one dog and different kids? Might be interesting to write about a different dog with different kids. Connection would be hounds, but not sure how you could connect them. That would enable you to highlight the different kinds of hounds. My niece rescues what I think was a redbone coonhound puppy. Biggest ears I ever saw on a puppy! She is reddish and the breed is related to the bloodhound. I will ask her some questions, if you would like. Puppy should be almost a year now.

Why not write about your dog's breed??? That might help give them a better reputation.

[Redetotry]

I have a friend who really loved his Beagle, he didn't hunt with it, just loved it. He had other dogs later but I think the little Beagle was his favorite. My brother and his grandson train Beagles with rather good success and compete in some type of trials. I think the dog you pick will depend on what the dogs role will be in the story, for example is it going to be a family dog that becomes a great hunter and wins monetary prizes, is it going to rescue a boy or girl and after that rescue be retired and placed with the child it rescued. I can't think of any hounds that bark, but I really haven't given the breed that much attention.

[Cudedog]

First recommendation I might suggest is look up on the Info.dog website and find an AKC show near you. I know that you have shown before but I find visually watching the breeds move and their interactions with their people informative. The Hound Group for sure.

Great idea! It's been so long since I showed dogs, I forgot about InfoDog. Just checked, there is an All-Breed show in my area at the beginning of May! Just a couple of weeks! The entries aren't listed yet, but I will watch for the Hound entries.

Depending upon the story some of the less well known breeds or breeds with smaller numbers would be unlikely to show up in a pet home unless be accident or a rescue placed/rehomed through special circumstances woven into the story.

I will be researching the origin of the breed I eventually choose, including where they come from and the area of the country where they are most common.

The more popular/numerous breeds like the beagle (two sizes) and the hounds used commonly in hunting/tracking would especially fit into stories based in the south where the tradition of hunting with hounds is still alive and well. Coonhounds, Bluetick Hounds, Redbones, Basset Hounds, English Fox Hounds, American Fox Hound, Black and Tan Coonhounds, Blood hounds.

Spent the morning looking up email addresses for Plott Hounds, Blue Tick Coonhounds and Black and Tan Coonhounds. Scent hounds, all. The Black and Tan looks particularly lovely. Sent out a batch of emails, will let everyone know what I come up with!

I think I am leaning towards a scent hound.

As a stereotype many hounds are known to be independent and I little harder to train. They rely on their own skill of scent or sight. They were bred to chase down varmits without us sort of.

Interesting! This could just as easily apply to many of the Terrier breeds.

Most dog/breed books will go through the common characteristics of each breed. Your hero dog could always be exceptional with just enough "hound" trails to be real.

Once I select a breed, I hope to be able to go to "meet" one, either at a show or (hopefully) in a home setting.

And as you have probably figured out watching terriers. Different breeds mature at different rates, both physically and mentally.

Very true! Thanks!!

[Cudedog]

Sounds like an interesting idea. Will it be one dog and different kids? Might be interesting to write about a different dog with different kids. Connection would be hounds, but not sure how you could connect them.

Good idea! Thanks! I'll think about working that into the story.

That would enable you to highlight the different kinds of hounds. My niece rescues what I think was a redbone coonhound puppy. Biggest ears I ever saw on a puppy! She is reddish and the breed is related to the bloodhound. I will ask her some questions, if you would like. Puppy should be almost a year now.

Oh yes, Please! I would appreciate that!

Why not write about your dog's breed??? That might help give them a better reputation.

That's a really interesting question, Judy. I'm glad you asked it. I may yet do that, but there are already a great many children's books written about the bull-and-terrier breeds (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier and the Miniature Bull Terrier), where there are relatively few books - particularly children's books - written about the hounds.

Also, people are so misinformed about the bull-and-terrier breeds that when such books are published it usually causes a groundswell of online negativity, primarily posted by those who have never owned a bull-and-terrier, and probably wouldn't recognize a bull-and-terrier if they passed one on the street.

Unfortunately, particularly in the recent past, authors of such books have been subjected to vast amounts of anonymous online threats, these threats posing as extremely negative book reviews. Reviews of this type don't necessarily criticize the writing itself, but totally and completely condemn the subject matter, and blast the temerity of the author for even considering to write about it.

I'm not quite sure I have the courage to go there. Yet.

Interestingly, the "bull dog" featured in the "Little House" books was very likely a bull-and-terrier breed, before these breeds were recognized by kennel clubs (kennel clubs were not organized until the early 1900's). The bull-and-terriers have been around for several hundred years. The rotund English Bulldog of today didn't yet exist at the time of the "Little House" books. At that time the term "bull dog" referred to a bull-and-terrier. The English Bulldog of today definitely could not have survived the rigors of overland migration.

Thanks for your input!

Anne

[Cudedog]

I have a friend who really loved his Beagle, he didn't hunt with it, just loved it. He had other dogs later but I think the little Beagle was his favorite. My brother and his grandson train Beagles with rather good success and compete in some type of trials. I think the dog you pick will depend on what the dogs role will be in the story, for example is it going to be a family dog that becomes a great hunter and wins monetary prizes, is it going to rescue a boy or girl and after that rescue be retired and placed with the child it rescued. I can't think of any hounds that bark, but I really haven't given the breed that much attention.

Thank you, BJ!

A Beagle is definitely on my list of hero dogs to research!

Lots of good suggestions and food for thought here. When I lived in the Sierra foothills, in a rural area, a neighbor had a dog that I am pretty sure was a mixed-breed hound of some type.

I never once heard it bark, but it could be heard running through my neighbor's pasture baying at all hours of the day and night! The baying didn't bother me at all, but some of the other neighbors got a bit tired of it.

Thanks again!

Anne

[snowball]

tried to post the other day but had issues ... wrote a long post and it vanished not something that happens to me but found out I was out of time on my jet pack too much pandora am thinking and what is oh yep Pandora !!!
My dog Shadow is a mix a long haired dachshund and something else probably more than one something else. Kerry thinks it is this breed Schipperke might be fun to take an unknown (not to say this breed is unknown but I'd never heard of it) and make it more known... Now I never think of doxy's being hound dogs even though it says it in the name... Shadow barks never bays
sheila