Hunting with coonhounds is a sport and pastime that has been around since, before colonial times. Whether you hunt coonhounds for personal gratification or competition hunt your hounds, to test their speed and ability against other hounds, there is one thing for sure, there is nothing like owning a nice hound! Houndsmen and Houndswomen love to brag about and show off their hounds, and for good reason, coonhounds are great dogs! They are courageous, loyal, lovable, smart and sometimes a little goofy, but you just cant beat the companionship you get from a good coonhound.
Most folks associate coonhounds with hunting only, but coonhounds make great show dogs! So if you love hounds and you love hunting, but think " if I own a coonhound, then I have to hunt him", then think again!
Bench showing coonhounds is a great sport for young, old, the seasoned coonhunters or the coonhunters at heart. Bench showing your coonhound is a great opportunity for your hound to learn discipline, and not to mention build a stronger bond between you and your hound. I am a long ways from being the sharpest tool in the shed on bench showing dogs and coonhunting for that matter! But I know a good thing when I see it and bench showing your hounds is a good thing! I believe you should give your hound an opportunity to experience different things, other than just hunting, field trials , water racing, agility, conformation and bench showing. You never know, he may be a better swimmer or bench show dog than a hunter. These other areas of the sport, swim racing, field trials and benching are great for folks that can't or don't want to wade creeks, swamps, climb steep hollows and brave the elements chasing an ole hound all night! But can still get satisfaction of owning a good coonhound, compete, and possibly have great success and fun while doing it.
So whatever discipline you want to try your hand at, bench showing, water racing, field trials or an abundance of other competitions offered by Kennel clubs. Start that hound out young, acclimating him to the bench, water or whatever your wanting to try your hand at.
But, just because your hound isn't a young pup, doesn't mean he can't compete or learn, there is a few champions out there that were, as we say... Late bloomers. So check out all the Coonhound competions and titles offered by the United Kennel Club, American Kennel Club and such, dust that ole hound off and get him involved in something new and rewarding. So lets make more memories with an ole friend and till next time.... See Ya At The Tree!
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