How to Make a Fox & Hound Tracker

Beginning in the 1500s in England, fox hunting challenges even the most experienced hunters and dog trainers by bridging the gap between each discipline. Deploying the tracking, running and baying instincts of large hunting dogs known as a foxhounds, proper fox hunting requires the tracking hounds or trackers to be extremely disciplined and responsive to the commands of the master of foxhounds. Making a tracker requires vigilant attention and structured daily exercises.

Things You'll Need

  • Chewable dog toys
  • Fox scent
  • Drag bag
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Instructions

    • 1

      Introduce various chewable toys to the foxhound pups, immediately after they are weaned. Scent these toys with fox scent, if possible.

    • 2

      Identify the toy favored by the foxhound pup you wish to make into a tracker.

    • 3

      Play various "keep away" games with the pup and his or her favorite toy. These games include things like tug-of-war and basic fetch.

    • 4

      Transition from different "keep away" games to playing fetch exclusively. Reinforce the pup's fetching instincts with verbal commands. For example; when tossing the toy, use the traditional fox hunting term "hoick," pronounced "ike," which is the command for hounds to track and chase the fox. Alternatively, develop your own terms, such as "go" or "away." Additionally, the toy should certainly be scented with fox scent, and you should refer to the toy as "fox" or "prey."

    • 5

      Introduce other fetch elements and train these up in the tracker pup. These include skills such as sitting down prior to being released to retrieve the scented toy, indicated by the command "hold." Additionally, trackers should be trained to retrieve the toy without damaging it, often ordered with the command "hold it."

    • 6

      Hide the toy when playing fetch and drag the toy to a hidden location. By dragging a scented toy, you create a "line" or scent trail, which the foxhound tracker must sniff out and follow to fetch the toy.

    • 7

      Take your newly trained tracker hound on a drag hunt. Drag hunts establish and challenge the hound's tracking skills by providing a line produced by dragging a fox scented bag behind a horse or person who runs throughout a hunting area.