Okay, I've now heard it from 4 or 5 people, and thought I'd ask. Anyone
heard of dogs being bred (or trained) specifically for the purpose of
chasing away/killing foxes? A couple of people who have seen Khan react
to foxes, and a couple who have heard about his reaction, have all said
the same thing - that in parts of rural VA/WVA, some people breed and
train their dogs to go after foxes that are otherwise a nuisance to
people who have fowl. One actually said that the dogs he had known were
GSD/Husky mixes (he doesn't know Khan). Sounds like a lot of hooey to
me, but you never know just what sort of weird ideas people think up.

On that front, Khan is surprising me with his eeevilness. Normally,
when he sees/smells the fox when we're in the car, he goes ballistic.
He lets me know exactly how big of a meanie I am for not letting him out
so he could chase after it (his intentions are utterly honorable, he
swears). A couple of days back, one ran right across our path, as I was
turning into the house, and he went very stiff, very interested, but not
even a bark out of him. When I let him out of the car, he acted like he
normally does, and headed for the house, then he tried to turn really
quickly, and give me the slip. Unfortunately for him, I just knew that
his wee little brane was up to no good, and asked him what the heck he
thought he was doing. Hung his head and walked back into the house like
nothing had happened. Did give me a piece of his mind, though.

Suja

"Suja" wrote in message
news:i3znd.3575$SA.2575@lakeread02...

Okay, I've now heard it from 4 or 5 people, and thought I'd ask. Anyone
heard of dogs being bred (or trained) specifically for the purpose of
chasing away/killing foxes? A couple of people who have seen Khan react
to foxes, and a couple who have heard about his reaction, have all said
the same thing - that in parts of rural VA/WVA, some people breed and
train their dogs to go after foxes that are otherwise a nuisance to people
who have fowl. One actually said that the dogs he had known were
GSD/Husky mixes (he doesn't know Khan). Sounds like a lot of hooey to me,
but you never know just what sort of weird ideas people think up.

It doesn't sound abnormal although using that breed(s) rather than hounds is
a new one to me. Until very recently (as I believe the anti-hunters won),
in England, dogs were used to hunt fox.

--
Tara

"Tee" wrote in message
...

It doesn't sound abnormal although using that breed(s) rather than hounds
is a new one to me. Until very recently (as I believe the anti-hunters
won), in England, dogs were used to hunt fox.

AFAIK, hounds aren't used to kill foxes, but rather to find and corner them,
baying to call the hunter to them. the hunter kills the fox.

-kelly

"culprit" wrote in message
...

"Tee" wrote in message
...

It doesn't sound abnormal although using that breed(s) rather than hounds
is a new one to me. Until very recently (as I believe the anti-hunters
won), in England, dogs were used to hunt fox.

AFAIK, hounds aren't used to kill foxes, but rather to find and corner
them, baying to call the hunter to them. the hunter kills the fox.

They are in England & Scotland (or were). The link Jack provided (thanks
Jack) touches on that. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find that people
here are adopting the UK's fox culling method. There's more to it across
the pond as its primarily a social engagement and is certainly a
centuries-old tradition.

--
Tara

"Tee" wrote in message
...

. Until very recently (as I believe the anti-hunters won),
in England, dogs were used to hunt fox.

--
Tara

Hi Tara,
The ban starts early next year . The Bill banned hunting with dogs
which includes stag hunting and hare coursing. The Bill was passed by
the House of Commons but the House of Lords rejected it and so the
goverment evoked a special billl to pass it through. The majority of
people in England want the ban. The Country Alliance are going to
court to see if they can get the Bill overturned. Drag hunting is
obviously still allowed.
Scotland is different , they can use packs of hounds to chase the fox
but they have to shoot it instead of letting the hounds kill it. It
should be banned outright. Bear in mind that many hounds are shot by
their keepers when they are too old to hunt or are not suitable for
any reason. It's also dangerous for the horses .
Alison

"Tee" wrote
snip
Until very recently (as I believe the anti-hunters won),
in England, dogs were used to hunt fox.

Actually, we still do it here in the US too. Or did about 15yrs ago at any
rate.

I know there are (were) hunt clubs in NJ and VA. Other states as well, I'm
sure. The Fox Hounds (there is actually more than one breed of Fox Hound to
boot) do the killing, if there is any to be done. No fire arms are used. The
club of which I was a member caught one fox in 4 years. They are wild fox,
though a lot of clubs now use drag lines instead. Whether it is out of
sympathy for the fox or lack of foxes, I don't know.
--
-Andrea Stone
Saorsa Basenjis
http://home1.gte.net/res0s12z/
The Trolls Nest - greenmen, goblins & gargoyle wall art
www.trollsnest.com

AndreaS wrote:

Actually, we still do it here in the US too. Or did about 15yrs ago at any
rate.

I know there are (were) hunt clubs in NJ and VA. Other states as well, I'm
sure. The Fox Hounds (there is actually more than one breed of Fox Hound to
boot) do the killing, if there is any to be done. No fire arms are used. The
club of which I was a member caught one fox in 4 years. They are wild fox,
though a lot of clubs now use drag lines instead. Whether it is out of
sympathy for the fox or lack of foxes, I don't know.

If I might hazard a guess (and it *is* just a guess),
in most places in the US you can't kill predators
unless they're threatening your livestock. A fox would
qualify as protected by this.

flick 100785

"flick" wrote
If I might hazard a guess (and it *is* just a guess), in most places in
the US you can't kill predators unless they're threatening your livestock

Honestly I have no idea. When I was involved in fox hunting I was a
teenager. The land was owned by people other than those in the club, and we
weren't exactly sly about it. Hard to miss a huge field of mounted and
formally dressed riders and a pack of Fox Hounds in the middle of Homdel,
New Jersey. It was mostly soy farms on which we rode - no real live stock.
But even if that wasn't the case then, it could be now. For all I know the
club is long since disbanded.

--
-Andrea Stone
Saorsa Basenjis
http://home1.gte.net/res0s12z/
The Trolls Nest - greenmen, goblins & gargoyle wall art
www.trollsnest.com

flick wrote:
AndreaS wrote:

Actually, we still do it here in the US too. Or did about 15yrs ago at
any rate.

I know there are (were) hunt clubs in NJ and VA. Other states as well,
I'm sure. The Fox Hounds (there is actually more than one breed of Fox
Hound to boot) do the killing, if there is any to be done. No fire
arms are used. The club of which I was a member caught one fox in 4
years. They are wild fox, though a lot of clubs now use drag lines
instead. Whether it is out of sympathy for the fox or lack of foxes, I
don't know.


If I might hazard a guess (and it *is* just a guess), in most places in
the US you can't kill predators unless they're threatening your
livestock. A fox would qualify as protected by this.

There are quite a few hunt clubs in the U.S. and they do hunt fox.
However, the fox is chased, not killed--or at least every effort is made
to prevent a kill.

For some really good insight into the hunt life and hunt traditions
there are several Rita May Brown novels that are fun mysteries centering
in the hunt country in Virginia. Full Cry, Hotspur, and Outfoxed are the
books in the series.

And for the person who said horses "often" get injured--bull hockey. Not
any more often than any animal athlete gets hurt. All precautions are
made to ensure safety. These are extremely valuable animals and it takes
many years to train one to a high level. They aren't expendable goods by
any means. My bet is more horses are injured in the cross-country
portion of a 3-day than ever get injured on a real hunt which isn't
against the clock.

"Robin Nuttall" wrote in message
news:WLSnd.433228$D%.69655@attbi_s51...

And for the person who said horses "often" get injured--bull hockey. Not
any more often than any animal athlete gets hurt. All precautions are made
to ensure safety. These are extremely valuable animals and it takes many
years to train one to a high level. They aren't expendable goods by any
means. My bet is more horses are injured in the cross-country portion of a
3-day than ever get injured on a real hunt which isn't against the clock.

I don't have a cite but in Alison's defense, I have read in at least one
report over the last year that horses & dogs do sometimes get injured in the
UK (I'm guessing Scotland in particular) when riders are shooting from
horseback. Stray shot from the shell maybe?

--
Tara