Jerry and the Hounds

Hunting hounds are not house dogs and they require the special care that Jerry Davis, Sr. can provide.   "You can't help but get attached to 'em," explains Jerry.  "They become like part of the family."

Conventional wisdom says that hunting hounds are working dogs and it is not the best idea to get too attached.  As Scooter Davis is fond of saying, "The farmer doesn't pet his cows every night."  But the relationship that is required when working with a pack animal like bear dogs pretty much guarantees that you are going to bond with the animals.  Nobody spends more time with the Rough Run hounds than Jerry Davis.

Jerry Davis Sr makes his way to the kennel while Jeff Davis drops off drops off his hounds after a day on the mountain.

Remember, these dogs hunt in December, maybe in September too, plus a bit of training time when the weather cools.  That adds up to maybe 75-100 days on the truck.  Jerry Davis sees these dogs at least twice a day, 365 days a year, plus every time he goes to his workshop or truck.  He takes them to the vet and gives them their medicine.  That's right, the Rough Run kennels sit at Jerry's house right on Rough Run road at the entrance to the forest.  The dogs stand watch at the entrance to the forest and Jerry stands watch over the dogs.

Jerry Davis Sr. tending to the dogs.

The kennels sit out back all in a row on a concrete slab, metal fencing, and a neat sloped roof.  Jerry is a metal worker by trade and the pens he built are custom made and beautiful.   The cuts and welds are precise and the entire structure is as neat and professional as anything you'll find out of a catalog.  Out of the back of each pen is a large industrial drum where the dogs spend a good deal of their sleeping time.  The blue barrels enclose the heat generated by the dogs and keeps the interior of the barrels warm.  "I went out one night when it was close to zero and stuck a thermometer in each of the barrels.  Fifty-two degrees.  I stopped worrying and went back to bed."

The routine starts early.  "I go out early in the morning to check on 'em," says Jerry.  He hoses down each kennel to clean out the mess and fills each bowl, one with water, the other with food.  He has a special brand and mix of dog food that seems to work best for the Albert hounds and their unique physical needs.  Obviously, the feed bill can get a bit steep.

At night, he repeats the procedure.  Both times he'll try to get a feel for how the dogs are doing, particularly during hunting season.  These dogs will want to go even if it isn't healthy and it's up to Jerry to have the cooler head about the soundness of the dogs, even when it comes to overruling Jeff.  On the upcoming episode "Mingo Goes Down" (January 26, 8:00pm www.roughrun.com) we'll see this back and forth play out.

At the end of the night, Jerry closes up the barrel of feed, give one final glance over his shoulder and heads back into the house.  Now it's up to the dogs to keep watch at the entrance of the forest.