Originally posted by Twisterdog
I agree with Wolf Q. A hunting dog can certainly be a pet, also. Being a pet does not ruin a dog's instincts to hunt! Just ask my dogs, who sleep in our bed with us ... and hunt MUCH more than we would like them to!

Any dog that has a job to do - just like any human that has a job to do - does it better if they are happy.
Your dogs may hunt when they see something or smell something close by. but to pick up a scent a couple miles away and then lead you to it by his barking is not the same as your dogs chaseing sometime. Alfie was trained to stay at teh tree or bush till they got there. Most dogs who "hunt" will get to the tree look up it and thne get bored. Its like a huskie. It will pull you if you tie it to a leash but if you shout out comands to it won't know them. You ahev to train them and sometimes teachign them other comands will mess up there train of thought. Also, most house dogs will bark at the tree then return to you who has not yet made it to the tree, he wants to be with you, not catch racoons. Your dogs hunting and Alfie's hunting are diffrent.

Ashley

PS: I would have to agree, a happy dog does do his job much better but to Alfie his happiness was his job. So doing his job he was happy.