“Is there any hope at all of civilizing Howard to the extent that he can spend a little bit of time indoors?”
I have only EVER had Walker Dogs inside when it was Winter and they were pups.
However - the current ‘Major Domo’ (Dolly) IN the house is a ‘retired from hunting’ Beagle. She had NEVER been inside of a house when I got her from a friend - always lived in an outdoor kennel when she wasn’t on the hunt. She walked in, jumped on the sofa and acted like she’d been there her whole life! (Beagles are in the ‘Hound’ class for UKC and AKC.) Dolly is asleep at my feet right now. *HEART*
And, I was also able to domesticate ‘Chief’ who was Beau’s Beagle for rabbit hunting and general hilarity. He totally adapted to ‘a luxury life lived indoors’ when offered.
So, it CAN be done. Howard may be a tad young for it now, but Hounds CAN be domesticated. I’d think your other dogs could show him the ropes?
My Best Puppy Ever was ‘Sunshine.’ After her owner passed, she ended up in MN with the owner of the Mama Dog that brought her into this world. He owns a Hair Salon and the THREE Treeing Walker Coon Hounds he currently owns hang out in the Salon all day with him!
He also hunts out of his Geo Metro or some other tiny car - and WINS BIG with his dogs in MN. Ben Brown. The Man. The Myth. The Hunting LEGEND! :)
The counter surfing thing... When #1 Marine Daughter’s Doberman was young she was a one-dog wrecking crew if there was food on the counter. Ten seconds of inattention from humans was all she needed. She’s 7yo now and will still try it every now and then if she thinks nobody is watching.
Booger the Aussie jumped on top of the kitchen counter a couple times when she was young. She’s a very tender-hearted thing and only had to be scolded a few times to break her of that behavior.
A buddy of mine has Beagles that live in the house and they do pretty well. He always gets them as young pups which makes things easier.
I’m going to attempt it with Howard. I can shut the stairway door and confine him to my office in the basement while I’m working. If it doesn’t work it doesn’t work, but there’s only one way to find out.
I’ve got roughly a month before Mrs. Augie is officially retired from the DoD to work on it. If I suddenly stop posting here you’ll know it went badly and she’s killed me and taken Howard to the pound. lol