Name, name of the hunt and where are you based? David Burke, senior joint-master and huntsman of the Grallagh Harriers, based in Loughrea, Co Galway.

What type of hounds do you keep at your kennels?

The pack consists of predominantly Old English Foxhounds but I also have a small number of Hill Hounds.

How many hounds do you keep?

I like to keep about 25 couple in total and I try to keep an equal number of dogs and bitches.

What exercise regime do you follow for your hounds?

Well, it varies enormously. During the hunting season, the hounds are just kept ticking over. They are walked out every morning in the fields at the kennels, they are not taken far, just enough to stretch their legs. They are allowed to potter about for a while before being taken back to the kennels.

In the summer, there is a very different exercise program for the hounds. At the beginning of the summer, they are walked out every morning in the fields at the kennels, but then they get taken out on the roads with the bikes for more intensive exercise which is usually start the beginning of July. I am not a believer in getting hounds too fit too early. I substitute my bicycle for a horse for the last two weeks before autumn hunting starts. Once hunting starts up again, I revert back to ‘winter exercise’.

We should never underestimate the importance of exercising the hounds as it plays a vital part in the discipline of the hounds, a pack that is well handled and correctly disciplined will be very effective on the hunting field. Hounds love routine so when you choose a method, you should stick to it.

When do you start hunting?

We start autumn hunting on the first Wednesday in September. By then the young hounds will have been out on exercise for several weeks. They initially will have been coupled up to an older hound so that they learn the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of being in the pack.

The younger hounds will have been out in the countryside getting introduced to see many different things from livestock and domesticated animals, to encountering many vehicles on the roads, been taken through fences and gates. One thing that really irritates huntsmen is if a young hound comes to a gate out autumn hunting and isn’t able to get through and then starts howling! They will have been introduced to the horses and they will have been taught how to load into the lorry. It is never wise to attempt to load the young hounds for the first time into the lorry in the dark on the first morning of autumn hunting! The young hounds are then taken out hunting with the older hounds where they learn a lot more about their job.

Do you separate your hounds on a day’s hunting or do you bring a mixed pack out hunting?

As we are a small private pack that hunts two mornings a week for autumn hunting and then hunts three times a fortnight from the opening meet, we hunt a mixed pack of dogs and bitches

When it comes to prepping for Stradbally or your puppy show, what is involved?

Both are two very important dates in the calendar that require a lot of preparation. On a positive note, the preparation for the two events is fundamentally the same. I like to get hounds out in public as much as possible as you will have some hounds that will go shy and more hounds then that will rise to the occasion.

As with most things in life, practice makes perfect and you can spend days and days trying to get them “on the bit”. We have a lot of “Puppy Show Practice” and “Stradbally Practice” which really helps especially if you can organise some people to come along. For Stradbally I find it is a good idea to call on a knowledgeable hound person that can spot correct conformation, good movement and balance to come and visit – he/she may see something that you missed – when choosing the hounds that you wish to exhibit. Having some tasty biscuits as treats hidden is always worthwhile!

David Burke was in conversation with Orlaith Cuddithy.