Welsh Hound

Overview

The Welsh Hound is a distinct type of foxhound developed for the hills of Wales, with a harsh, often wiry coat and a reputation for a deep, carrying voice. It was bred to hunt in steep, wet country, finding and holding a line without constant direction from a huntsman.

Almost all Welsh Hounds live in kennels. One that comes to a pet home may have had little experience of houses, leads or living without a pack, and that shapes everything about walking it.

Exercise and walking needs

Two hours a day is realistic. These hounds have the stamina to work all day and will not be worn out by a stroll.

Long-line walks on hill ground, where the dog can trot and sniff at length, are the practical substitute for the hunt.

On the walk

• Scent: The hound will take a line and leave your plan behind. Expect strong pulling toward hedges and hollows.
• Recall: Treat as absent unless the owner has worked hard on it. Pack hounds were never asked to return to a single person.
• Voice: Expect baying when excited or when a scent is strong. It is normal for the breed, not a sign of distress.
• Other dogs: Pack life makes most hounds relaxed and tolerant with dogs of all kinds. New dogs are rarely a worry.
• Lead manners: A kennel hound may never have walked on a lead before adoption. Be patient and treat each walk as training.

Tips for professional walkers

1. Walk on a strong, fixed lead attached to a harness the dog cannot back out of.
2. Choose quiet rural routes while the dog learns about traffic, bikes and prams.
3. Check the wiry coat for burrs and ticks after rough ground.

What to ask the owner

• Was the dog kennelled, and how long has it been living in a house?
• Has it had any exposure to livestock since leaving the pack, and how did it react?
• Is there another dog it walks with happily, and would the owner rather it was never walked alone?

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