Bedford County Hunt's pack is comprised of Penn-Marydel Hounds, a strain of American hounds bred for hunting in the farmland and woodlands of the Pennsylvania-Maryland-Delaware Area, hence their name.

Penn-Marydels have a wonderful deep voice and excellent cold trailing ability, able to perform well in tighter, less open terrain. Although somewhat slower than the English and American Foxhounds, they possess sharp noses, great perseverance and incredible endurance, giving them the ability to find and hold a fox for hours. This makes them ideal for hunting the hills and thick woodland prevalent in Bedford County. Their voice is also a delight to hear and enables the followers to know where they are even in wooded country.

About nine years ago, I started my pack with mostly American Hounds. Their aggressive hunting style and outgoing temperaments were what attracted me. Also, it was very significant that when I asked the people I knew for hounds to start my pack with that I was given hounds from American packs, namely, Farmington Hunt, Potomac Hunt and Smith Mountain Hounds.

I usually have two litters of puppies a year. Three years ago, however, my breeding efforts did not result in success, even after breeding three different females. I started calling other hunts looking for American puppies. No one could help, as it looked like a lean year for other American packs, as well. Jim Atkins, former huntsman from Warrenton, introduced me to Billy Dodson, huntsman at Thornton Hill, who drafted me some just-weaned PMD crosses.