PUPPY walkers are a crucial element of any hunt. They play a vital part in the lives of the single most significant and historic element of any hunt – the hounds.

Hounds have been carefully bred for hundreds of years, and walking puppies gives people a more shared interest in a pack and puts a completely different perspective on hunting for many once they have spent time with a hound pup.

Going out to walk acts as a puppy’s primary school years. During the time a pup spends with their walker, the walker’s responsibilities include feeding, exercising, educating and socialising the pups. Hounds are affectionate creatures who provide their walkers with great fun and entertainment.

Here are some stories puppy walkers from around the country shared with The Irish Field.

Fran Stone

Fran Stone has walked hound pups for hunt clubs over the last 35 years, in both the UK and Ireland. Based in Ardpatrick, she now walks pups for the Co Limerick Foxhounds.

“I am based in the Ballyhoura Mountains, so I am very much in the countryside. I have neighbours about quarter of a mile away, who live in Jersey so only visit Ireland a few times a year. On one occasion whilst visiting home they had organised a barbeque and while unloading their car, Lavender (the hunt pup) took off across the field to call for a visit to help bring in the food!

“My neighbour Jen had bought a lovely gateau/cream cake for dessert which took Lavender’s fancy. A couple of minutes later she landed home to me, with an Eton mess! The cake didn’t quite look what it did when it left the bakery. Thankfully, my neighbours saw the funny side of Lavender’s mischief who was proud as punch bringing me home supper!

“Grapefruit and Grackle are two pups I walked a couple of years ago for the Co Limerick Foxhounds. One day they arrived home with two bath towels. To this day, I have no idea where the towels came from! I have 11 neighbouring houses and after checking with every one of them, I still had no answer. One was a white bath towel, the other a blue with yellow embroidery (the latter in perfect condition) – coupled with two sheepish pups!

“Sampson (aka Sampy) was a hound I walked as a pup who was a very talented foxhound. He went on to hunt, work as a stud dog, work with a foot pack and at 10 years of age retired back with me as I had requested could I have him when his career was finished. Thus he lived out the rest of his happy his life with me.

“He also still had mischief written all over his golden years. One beautiful summer’s evening, I was out hacking with Sampy alongside, when he spotted a random car parked up in the middle of our very remote countryside hacking grounds, which to Sampy meant he needed to investigate. He galloped up to it and threw his two front paws up on the bonnet to frighten the life out of a young, very happy couple!

“He was so sweet and after all the years away he remembered me, my homestead and slot right back in with the family, which goes to show the great relationship a puppy walker can have with their pups. I loved him very much – and wrote a song in honour of this beautiful hound called ‘Sampson Step’ – take a look on YouTube!”

Kate Jarvey

An avid hunting enthusiast, Mrs Jarvey is well known in the hunting world and has walked puppies for many years. Now based in the Duhallow countryside, she tells a story or two about some loveable rogue pups.

“Loveable, enjoyable and destructive. My current pups love to watch me spend hours doing the garden. Working hard, planting my new plants into their pots and soil, I can see the pups watch me intently with great attention. When the job is complete, I left for the shops. To return a few hours later to my garden ‘redone and remodelled’ by the puppies who felt I didn’t do the job to their standard of gardening!

“I love the joy the hunt pups bring. I usually take them from the hunt in May/June and try and keep them until the following Easter – although some pups are ready to return to the hunt before then.

“I always find it is a bittersweet moment watching your loveable pup bound down the field and grow into a grown-up hound ready to start their career on the hunting field ,as if they get an electric shock and their job becomes clear to them as a foxhound. It is a very rewarding job as a puppy walker to see your hound pups learn their trade and understand what they are bred to do.”

Eddie and Amy Burke

“I have worked as the Terrier man for the Grallagh Harriers who are a private hunt based in Galway for the last 10 years, alongside huntsman David Burke.

“My daughter Amy and I have been taking pups in to walk since 2011. We usually take the pups for six to eight months to give the best start and help to socialise them for the hunt club.

“Rambo is a special hound that we had. He won so many classes at different dog and agricultural shows, he was always in the ribbons and brought us so much joy! One of my favourite memories is watching him help out with the laundry, aka volunteer to help take the clothes from the clothes line!”