The American Beagler Forum

I recently purchased a pup 6 1/2 months old and I've been taking him to the woods everyday trying to get him started. The first time out I jumped five or six rabbits and tried to put him on the track, sometimes he would act like he smelled them, tail would start wagging and he would trail it a little not much, never opened. After a couple of days of this I decided to just walk him close to where I thought a rabbit would be and let him hunt around till he jumped it himself (he does hunt pretty good) Yesterday he jumped one let out a squeal, site chased it for about ten feet then put his nose on the ground and barked once he searched around for a while and never picked up the trail. Today he jumped one and let out a squeal and by the time I got to where I could see him he was probably 20 or 30 yards away I didn't see which way the rabbit went I can only assume he chased it that far. Later I jumped one called him over to me and tried to put him on it but he really didn't seem to be able to smell it. My question for you guys is does a pups nose improve, get stronger with age? He hunts pretty good always has his nose on the ground searching just doesn't seem to have a very good nose. Sorry this is so long just trying to give you some idea what he doing so maybe you can help. Thanks in advance. Dave

sounds like everything is going well keep taking him and do exactly what you are doing now. He'll get it!!!!! best of luck enjoy him and have patience

Just keep taking him and be patient. Scenting conditions have been very poor even for experienced dogs here in Oh. Tough for a pup to learn in but the field time will pay off later as the conditions improve. Good luck and keep us posted. Dan

A pup has to learn to interpret the scents and associate them with it's quarry. Visual accuity is much easier to "understand" for a pup than is olfactory accuity.
I know this may seem a bit backward since pups can smell their dam from birth and recognize her, but that is an "innate" ability in all neonates. Interpreting other scents takes a bit more "skill" and that will only come with maturity. Some pups are able to distinguish scents earlier than others, but that does not make them better dogs. Give your pup plenty of time on the ground and the "switch" with eventually flip to the on position. There is no better feeling than watching a pup "turn on"

Bunny Runner wrote:A pup has to learn to interpret the scents and associate them with it's quarry. Visual accuity is much easier to "understand" for a pup than is olfactory accuity.
I know this may seem a bit backward since pups can smell their dam from birth and recognize her, but that is an "innate" ability in all neonates. Interpreting other scents takes a bit more "skill" and that will only come with maturity. Some pups are able to distinguish scents earlier than others, but that does not make them better dogs. Give your pup plenty of time on the ground and the "switch" with eventually flip to the on position. There is no better feeling than watching a pup "turn on"

Very good advice!

Like the others are telling you just keep putting him on rabitt tracks and he will pick up the rest. Sounds like he is progressing pretty good, just remember he is only 6 1/2 months old and you are just introducing him to running rabitts.
Patients is the key here along with putting him on fresh scent trails as much as you can.

I have just started 4, 4 month old pups here lately and now there flat out burning up them bunnies solo or packing, of course some are looser than others but they improve as time goes on and the more you run them, and this time of the year is the best time of all i think, even though i have a starting pen to get them going.