Great topic and some great responses

First I want to say putting 100% into providing a quality life for your hounds should be an effort based on your love for the breed and your livelihood for the lifestyle.

I do not believe that the best housing, the best food, and optimal time spent with a individual hound will change the fact it could be a cur.

I do believe the best housing, the best food, and optimal time spent with a individual hound influences it's overall health, physical ability's and intelligence on a day to day basis. Personally I keep my hounds active so they stay familiar with the tools I use to work them and what I expect of them when I use them also familiarizes them with things that can spook a hound who has never left its chain spot for 18 months. Developing this understanding saves critical time when it's time to hunt so they benefit as much as they can when in a keep not waisting time trying to figure out how to get them to work them or them being distracted on the date by unfamiliar surroundings and sounds . The obvious bond that develops IMO can help pull a hound through a tuff spot NOT STOP HIM FROM QUITTING but when behind and opportunity shows itself to gain some ground a encouraging 'WORK' from its master can move mountains.

RoughNeck