Exercising Trailhounds?
Trailhounds are big, well muscled, athletic, active dogs and benefit from having regular exercise. A ‘quick walk around the block’ is in our opinion not suited, other than to the very older dogs. The Trailhounds have been used to running free across the fells and fields, being confined to flats and small houses or kennel runs is not ideal. They do enjoy curling up and snoozing in a warm spot as well but benefit from this on return from a good ‘walkies’.
Most Trailhounds, in general, are strong willed and stubborn but are very trainable. In order for them to get the best out of life (i.e. lots of freedom), you must be prepared to put in time to train them. The words 'selectively deaf' were probably thought up by someone with a Trailhound! A number of Trailhounds go to dog training classes and are doing very well. Many adopted Trailhounds settle easily into their new homes from the start, but please only consider adopting if you are committed to taking time to train and exercise them.
Exercising Our Own Trailhounds?
The principal reason we chose a Trailhound to rehome was for the exercise, as we were fast becoming unfit ourselves and the usual excuses of ‘something on the TV’ was all too easy to make. When looking at the rehoming centre's for a suitable dog we were introduced to a Trailhound called Fred, who immediately won us over, until that time we had never heard of the breed. (Unfortunately for us whilst we were checking out the facts and figures and considering if a Trailhound was for us, Fred was rehomed to someone else). Our own dogs Max and Lady are walked at least twice daily, often three times daily for a distance of circa 3-5 miles a day. This is then increased on weekends when the longer walks over 5 miles per walk are a feature of our new daily health regime, so on average the dogs are getting 15-25 miles walking and off lead exercise per week, as are the owners. Please note, do not let this put you off owning a Trailhound as not all the dogs need this amount of exercise, your rehoming centre will advise you on the dogs history and needs.
