Russian Hound: History and Features of Training

Dogs have long been faithful assistants in hunting. Some attacked the animals, others drove them under the guns of hunters. So there were breeds of hunting dogs, each of which had its own "specialization". One of these breeds is the Russian hound.

A bit of history

To use dogs for penning hunting in Russia began a long time ago. On the frescoes of St. Sophia Cathedral (XI century) you can already see scenes of such hunting. At the same time, the first mention of beagle dogs in the annals appears. There was no specific breed standard for a long time, it was only in the 19th century that was engaged in this. It is then that the Russian dog hounds begin to participate not only in hunting, but also in exhibitions. The first such exhibition was held in Moscow in 1874. Judge on her was the editor of the magazine "Hunting" AE Korsh. In 1895, AB Bibikov and PN Belousov developed a standard of the breed, which was periodically refined during the Soviet period. This made it possible to develop a sustainable breed and develop an approach to assess dogs at exhibitions.

How were the Russian hounds used in the hunt of that time? The dogs worked in a pack and drove the beast out into the field, where hunters with greyhounds waited for them. Hounds needed not only anger towards the beast, but also strong voices. If hunting was a rifle with the use of one dog, then the dog was required not only to quickly find the beast, but also persistently pursue it. She had to give a voice only on the trail of the pursued beast.

Features of care and training

Despite the growing urbanization, hunting continues to be popular. Therefore, hunting dogs, including the Russian hound, enjoy success even now. What do you need to know if you decided to have such a dog?

First of all, ask yourself if you are ready to go hunting. This question may seem strange at first glance, but often people get dogs for hanging out at home or walking outside, not paying attention to the characteristics of the breed. A vivid example is the rates, which for many have become room dogs, although their real purpose is hunting. This applies to the hounds. The Russian hound is a dog that is absolutely not suitable for urban conditions. She is mobile, and the best place for her is an enclosure. About hunting, she can remember and during an ordinary walk, so it's best not to let her off the leash.

Puppies are usually taken at the age of one month. They should be fed 6 times a day. Gradually with each month the number of feedings should be reduced, and already with half a year it is possible to establish a diet for them, as for an adult dog. In the diet should include meat, cottage cheese, fish, vegetables, vitamins. Since the puppy age, the hounds need to be accustomed to the signal of the pipe, which will be fed further on the hunt. While these callsign should begin feeding. In order to develop a stable relationship between the sound signal and the feeding of the puppy, the feeding place should be moved one month after he gets used to the sound of the pipe. After that, the place of feeding can no longer be changed.

In addition to responding to the sound of the horn, the hounds need to work out and stand over the bowl with food. She should not touch food without the permission of the owner. There is no such thing in such teams. Such a dog will behave disciplined on the hunt and allow the hunter to take the whole beast.

When walking, the hound should get used to the forest area, then not to break off during the hunt. Since this breed of dogs is highly mobile, the load should be gradually increased. Long-term imprisonment in open-air cages is inadmissible - a hound gaining excess weight, loses his breathing and then weakly shows himself at exhibitions and hunting. Try to walk the dog more at any time of the year.

When training, it should be borne in mind that the Russian hound is a dog with an independent character. Never use force against her - you just lose the trust of your pet. Obligatory teams for the hound should be "Stand", "To me", "Otryshch", "Place", "Behind". Exercise teams persistently and patiently. Command in a calm tone, as the dog very well feels imbalance. If you feel that you can not stop worrying, it's better to postpone training.

Another important point in dog training is the development of concentration on a particular animal. It is necessary to forbid her communication with "alien" beasts - that is, those animals on which you are not going to hunt. Also it is necessary to accustom her to the presence of domestic animals - chickens, sheep, geese. The dog must understand who can be, and who should not be hunted.