I REFER to the article in the Daily Echo regarding the hunt oil painting.

The hounds you refer to were known as “tufters” and not “tutters”.

Although you are correct to say these particular hounds were 'coupled', this was not the primary purpose of these collars.

When new hounds were being taught, it was the practice to couple an old hound to a young novice, during the summer for the new hunting season. That way the hounds were better prepared to hunt as a pack.

Chris Anderson