Piscataqua hounds

F.A.Q.'s

Are you really seeking out foxes and harming them in anyway?

We are what is called a drag hunt. We have a fox team packing a bottle of fluid that goes out before us and lays down a scent line. This way we can avoid property we are not allowed on and steer clear of various hazards like highways. No fox is harmed. Our foxhounds are rewarded for their accuracy and speed by biscuits. They have a special aunt who feeds the strike hounds liver. To the canines it is real. They use their scenting abilities in the same way.

What happens if you cross paths with the real McCoy? There are certainly many foxes around in this area?

Well that does occur upon occasion. Male foxes are known to freshen the line of something they believe to be a challenger to their territory. Our specifically bred

drag hounds are into the chase; not the kill. We happily mingle with 4-Hers and Pony Club children and pass through farmyards without incident. They are handled and exposed to many situations constantly from birth.

Can you give an example of your breeding program?

We have a multi-generational pack. It's called a nicked pack because they all hark back to a common ancestor. This theoretically makes a cohesive group that thinks alike and is more cooperative. We have primarily American Foxhounds with Winnimussett Hoover '82 as their ancestor in common. Norfolk's Kerry Glass and Rennie Roberts worked diligently for years to derive this Piedmont based lineage. We are reaping the benefits.

In this economy how do you keep all the balls in the air?

We are new so we know we have to offer the public value for their membership with us. We have several different categories of membership. The most taken out form is the single adult for $250. You can see what we offer for the spring on our fixture page; around 30 more events will be added as the year goes on. The cost per opportunity is very reasonable.

Do you have any events that do not involve riding?

We have a Christmas party every year to honor our landowners. We hold a Hunt Ball in March to award our volunteers and riders and recap all the adventures we experience.

We also speak to local groups, hold clinics and demonstrate upon request.