Years ago, Iroquois would breed many bitches each year to maintain enough hounds for the pack.

In those days, they would lose puppies to Parvo and other diseases that we now can vaccinate against. Now that we can vaccinate for most fatal illnesses, and we use tracking collars on all hunting hounds in case they are injured or lost, we only breed one or maybe two bitches per year. That way we can keep all of each litter and accept responsibility for the entire life of every hound bred in our kennel.

As hounds rotate out of hunting due to illness or injury, the Hound Welfare Fund supports them until the natural process of aging ends their life. On average there are 25 retired hounds supported by the HWF each year.