Feeding the Hunting Hounds at Chateau de Cheverny

On By JR

We made the 1-hour drive over to Cheverny to check out the Chateau and gardens (more about that in a separate post) and see if we could catch the daily feeding of the hounds.  Cheverny is famous for its kennels and the approximately 100 French hounds, a cross-breed of English fox hound and the French Poitou, that occupy them. The hounds are taken out for hunts twice weekly, but the chateau is probably best known for its 11:30 daily public feeding, especially popular with tourists.

 

Dogs run around in the enclosure, greeting visitors outside the fence, wagging their tails, and playing with one another.
Dogs run around in the enclosure, greeting visitors outside the fence, wagging their tails, and interacting with one another.

 

The handlers work with the dogs in the enclosure. They isolate about 20 of the dogs, one by one, and take them by the scruff of the neck and put them back in one of the doors.
The handlers work with the dogs in the enclosure. They isolate about 20 of the dogs, one by one, and take them by the scruff of the neck and put them through the door into the building.

 

Next the handlers open the gate next to the building and the dogs all run through the gate and up the stairs onto the balcony. And they watch the handlers' every move. They are giddy with anticipation. The handers wash down the area with buckets of water while the dogs watch.
Next the handlers open the gate on the left side of the building and the dogs all run through the gate and up the stairs onto the balcony. And they watch the handlers’ every move. They are giddy with anticipation. The handers wash down the area with buckets of water while the dogs watch.

 

Next they dump a push cart filled with raw meat onto the freshly washed concrete floor.
Next they dump a push cart filled with raw meat onto the freshly washed concrete floor.

 

After raking the meat out into a line across the area, they cover it with dry dog food.
After raking the meat into a line across the area, they cover it with dry dog food.

 

And then they wait. The dogs are quiet. The handler checks his cell phone for the correct time about 3 times.
And then they wait. The dogs are quiet. The handler checks his cell phone for the correct time about 3 times.

 

When the time is right, the gate is opened and the dogs come down the stairs and flooding out.
When the time is right, the gate is opened and the dogs come rushing down the stairs and into the feeding area.

 

They know they're not allowed to eat until given the signal. They wait patiently for the signal. Well...somewhat patiently.
They know they’re not allowed to eat until given the signal. They wait patiently for the signal. Well…somewhat patiently.

 

The signal is given and they all fly into the food with enthusiasm.
The signal is given and they all fly into the food with enthusiasm.

 

The dogs are all over each other and the food. When the raw meat is mostly gone and they're down to the bagged dog food, the handlers let out the other dogs that had been cut out of the pack. We have no idea what the story is with these 20 or so special dogs. Overall, the whole ordeal was fascinating to watch.
The dogs are all over each other and the food. When the raw meat is mostly gone and they’re down to the bagged dog food, the handlers let out the other dogs that had been cut out of the pack. We have no idea what the story is with these 20 or so special dogs. Overall, the whole ordeal was fascinating to watch.

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