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<p class=MsoNormal>We enjoyed Frank’s howling session also. In
fact, Grady, my Bell Hound, was on my lap as I played it and he about went
nuts! Had to go check the *<b>perimeter</b>* to be sure we weren’t
being invaded. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Baying is typically a pack activity. This is why it is
not uncommon for single hounds to <b><u>not</u></b> bay. Ever wonder how
the dogs know when to start and stop howling? For those who may not know,
every pack of basset hounds has a bell hound. This dog is the one who *<b>always</b>*
starts and finishes a baying session. A true baying session, vs just
making noise, lasts about 45 seconds. The bell hound starts the session,
sometimes with some *<b>warm-up</b>* vocalizations, sometimes without the *<b>warm-up</b>*.
At the designated moment, the other hounds join in. When the session is
over, the bell hound’s voice will be the last one heard. The
position of bell hound is one that is designated within the pack and is not
challenged, unlike the alpha position. Our pack is rather complex since
the females live with Pat and the males live with me. The females have a
bell hound and my boys have a bell hound. However, when all of them are
together, there is only one bell hound. At this point, Grady (age 9) is
the bell hound of the boys and also of the entire pack. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>In my 20 years of observing our pack of bassets, I have had
the pleasure and honor of watching a current bell hound select and train the
next bell hound. The first time Pat and I observed this, we could hardly
believe what we were witnessing. But very clearly Flash, who was about 12
years old, selected Abby who was about 4 at the time, to be the next bell
hound. One weekend at a dog show, he taught her how to begin and end the
baying sessions. At first, he would begin the sessions and allow her to
be the last voice heard. Then over the next few days, he would help her
get the session going but would kind of *<b>fade out</b>* as soon as another
hound or two joined in. By the end of the weekend, Abby was assuming the
position of the bell hound. Since we were in the summer dog show mode, we
watched carefully all summer as Flash continued to monitor Abby’s
progress. If she had difficulty getting a session started, he would help
out by lending his voice. If another hound tried to be the last voice
heard, he would prevent that by making his and Abby’s voices last.
By the end of the summer, Abby was clearly the bell hound. Flash
deteriorated over the next few months and left us that winter. We have
watched this transfer of duties four or five more times and it never ceases to
amaze us. But we also recognize that with the wonder of this process
comes the sadness that the current bell hound is aging and is passing this job
on to a younger hound.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>So, watch your pack carefully and enjoy their beautiful
voices. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Sandi Wittenberg - Red Bay Bassets<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>sandi@redbaybassets.com<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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