Dogs have long been faithful helpers 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
Use dogs for driven hunting in Russia began a long time ago. In the frescoes of St. Sophia Cathedral (11th century) one can already see scenes of such a hunt. At the same time, the first references in the annals of the hounds appear. For a long time there was no any specific breed standard; this was dealt with only in the 19th century. It was then that the Russian hounds began to participate not only in hunting, but also in exhibitions. The first such exhibition was held in Moscow in 1874. The judge on it was the editor of the magazine "Hunting" A. E. Korsh. In 1895, A. B. Bibikov and P. N. Belousov developed the breed standard, which was periodically updated in Soviet times. This allowed us to develop a stable breed and develop an approach to the evaluation of dogs at exhibitions.
How were the Russian hounds used in the hunt of that time? Dogs worked in a pack and drove the beast into the field, where greyhound hunters were waiting for them. The hounds needed not only anger towards the beast, but also strong voices. If hunting was rifle using one dog, then the dog was required not only to quickly find the beast, but also to persecute him persistently. She should have cast her voice only in the wake of the pursued beast.
Features of care and training
Despite the growing urbanization, hunting still does not lose its popularity. Therefore, hunting dogs, including the Russian hound, are successful now. What you need to know if you decide to get 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 on the street, not paying attention to the peculiarities of the breed. A vivid example is dachshunds, which for many have become doggies, although their real purpose is hunting. This also applies to hounds. Russian hound - a dog that is absolutely not suitable for urban conditions. She is mobile, and the best place for keeping her is an aviary. She can remember about hunting during a normal walk, so it is best not to let her go 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 from six months you can set the diet for them, as for an adult dog. The diet should include meat, cottage cheese, fish, vegetables, vitamins. Already from puppyhood, hounds need to be accustomed to the signal of the pipe, which will subsequently be fed on the hunt. In the meantime, these callsigns should begin feeding. In order to develop a stable connection between the sound signal and the feed, the puppy should move the feeding place a month after he gets used to the sound of the pipe. After this, the feeding place can no longer be changed.
In addition to the reaction to the sound of the horn, the hound must also develop a stand over a bowl of food. She should not touch food without the permission of the owner. There is no whim in such teams. Such a dog will behave disciplined while hunting and will allow the hunter to take the beast whole.
When walking, the hound should get used to the forest area, so that later it does not break during the hunt. Since this breed of dog is highly mobile, loads should be gradually increased. Prolonged imprisonment in open-air cages is unacceptable - the hound gains excess weight, loses its working breath and then poorly shows itself 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. Mandatory commands for the hound should be “Stand”, “To me”, “Otrych”, “Place”, “Behind”. Practice your teams persistently and patiently. Command in a calm tone, as the dog feels imbalance very well. If you feel that you can’t stop worrying, it’s better to postpone the workout.
Another important point when training a dog is the development of focus on a particular animal. It is necessary to forbid her to communicate with "alien" animals - that is, those animals that you are not going to hunt. It is also worth accustoming her to the presence of pets - chickens, sheep, geese. The dog must understand who can and should not be hunted.