houndlove
Posted : 7/18/2007 9:23:43 AM
While I wouldn't necissarily dissuade a first-time owner from getting a coonhound because they are in many ways delightful, friendly, awesome dogs, they are not for everyone. As someone in another thread remarked, the hounds tend to have their own special worldview and I'd add that that worldview includes them as the center of the universe, not you. If you're okay with that and are a first-time owner, by all means get a coonhound. But you have to understand what their unique hound worldview means for life with them:
1. Putting a reliable recall on a coonhound is a serious feat that takes dedication and
work. Given that this probably the most important thing you can ever teach for the safety of your dog, this is not a small issue.
2. Obedience training a coonhound involves pretty enormous stores of patience, humor and good vibes (and treats).
3. A coonhound will not listen to and respect you just for being you. You have to prove to him that you're worth liking and respecting, and that usually involves a lot of good stuff flowing the dog's way.
4. Being unpleasant and bullying is not the way to win a coonhound's heart. Unlike some dogs who have that "Thank you sir may I have another?" attitude towards being pushed around, a coonhound will simply walk away and ignore you until you can be a bit more respectful to His Coonhoundship.
5. Prey drive. A coonhound owner has to understand that their hound will always and forever be a hunter first and foremost, even if his primary job at home is holding down the couch.
On the up side, coonhounds are pack hunters and generally have no problem being around other dogs and all sorts of people. Coonies also tend to be one of the working breeds that have an "off switch". They needn't always be on duty. In your house with no fuzzy prey animals around, they can nap with the best of them. Their independence also has an up-side as they generally don't need to be attached to your hip 24/7. They can take care of themselves just fine (which of course also means that they have no problem helping themselves to things that they want, such as the sandwhich you just made and put on your counter and left alone to answer the phone).
So, not necissarily a bad dog for novice owners, but definately not a dog for everyone. Not a dog for people who want a lassie-style ever-loyal hanging-on-your-every-word slavishly-devoted kind of dog.