Great Prospect When Can You Tell?

[mike crabtree]

Ive had a few that really looked like the real deal. I could usually tell with mine within 2 months of starting them,but I start mine a little later than some of you.

When can you guys tell what looks like your next headliner?

[House Rock Kennels]

I think my 4 month old pup named SLIM will be the real deal. This dog has speed and a cold nose. He is just a grade dog, but will be registering him up for ARHA little pack. His mother has a honest mouth and his father who I just had to put down three months ago was a bad@ss. He done it all, circled rabbits, brung them right back to the gun, kept the line in front of him and simply was a great hound. I expect nothing more than this for Slim.






Advantages: Will be built nice like his daddy and will have his mothers long legs which will give him speed. He has a cold nose, has a honest nose as well he knows how to use it. Very curious dog. Has great conframation.

Disadvantages: Heard that a puppy should get rid of its wrinkles after a few weeks of age, Slim has not yet. It does give him that houndy look. He is pure blood beagle. People might give him the cold shoulder because of the access skin he has and wrinkles.

Slim at about 4 weeks old


Slim at the age of 11-13 weeks.



Slim about 2 weeks ago.



Best looking pup that has came out of my Molly dog. His one of his littermates is starting to turn into a great hound already. She has already jumped her own rabbit and has ran it three times in and out of a thicket. I gave her to my best friend/hunting buddy.

[Tim H]

I can usually see the ones with huge potential about 2 months after they start.

Truth be told though until their 2 years old, it's just potential. A lot can change in dogs over time and there are always some that suprise you, both good and bad suprises. Until they consistantly prove it one way or the other, it's just speculation and sometimes wishful thinking.

That's why I like to get them new pups and start working. I think Forrest Gump said, "Beagles is like a box of chocolates".

[Rabbithoundjb]

I would say you guys are close on your assessment. By 2 you got what you got, some may improve but it will be minimal. I normally don't try to start my pups until around 6 months old but the better ones surface real quick. The exceptional ones are far apart (contrary to popular belief) and when you get one of those you will know as soon as they start. Those will compete with your seasoned dogs on a regular bases, right from the start in all aspects of accounting for the rabbit, jumping, check work, and being able to handle the front. As I said they don't come along everyday.

[Pike Ridge Beagles]

I can tell when they can run in a strong pack at 10 months old and outshine some veteran hounds.

[J.C. Blair]

I start most pups between 6-8 months old to let them mature a little bit and be a puppy for a while. After that its time to get serious, most pups I have messed with, I could tell in about the first 3 months after starting them whether they were worth the extra time. I had 2 I started together back last year, both were nice coming from the starting pen. But after a month, the other just started dominating the other pup, out jumping, out checking by a large majority. The one I kept has came along nice and several of my buddies that I run with, thinks he will be the one, when its time to step up for the big hunts. Time will tell.

[bradadkins]

I agree with Chad..

Seems like after a month or so one or 2 will come to the front of the pack and just stand out. the others will be good dogs but in my opinion after a year old..ya got what ya got. They will get a little better but have never seen one just turn it all around after that.

my .02

[Pike Ridge Beagles]

I don't agree that a hound doesn't get better after one or two years old. I have seen many a hound not turn it on until their third birthday. I know of other guys who have told me there hounds didn't turn it on until four or five years old. I think many a great dog have been sold way too early. Just like many girls in school that were not lookers became beautiful when they hit 25 years old and many of the lookers blew up at age 25.

[Mapel Valley Kennels LLC.]

I don't agree that a hound doesn't get better after one or two years old. I have seen many a hound not turn it on until their third birthday. I know of other guys who have told me there hounds didn't turn it on until four or five years old. I think many a great dog have been sold way too early. Just like many girls in school that were not lookers became beautiful when they hit 25 years old and many of the lookers blew up at age 25.

Ya got the looker part right.Lmao. I think good cant be great till at LEAST
2 Years and several rabbits in tow.. Speaking as a Gun hunter not trialer.
I have noticed younger and younger dogs at trials. In my honest opinion
i think its a joke. 2-5 years are my favorites.Fyi-----Primetime was not trialed till 6 years of age so i am told.

[J.C. Blair]

Jimmie, I think they started trialing Time at 5 and he finished when he turned 6. I remember watching him run at South KY, I think it was his second win. Time looked very impressive, strong all day dog, he worked over the 2-4 yr olds he was runnin against. And there was some nice dogs that day. That was the first AKC trial I had been to, and he showed me why he was FC.

[Rabbithoundjb]

I didn't say the dog didn't get better, I said the improvement would be minimal. I don't trial so I can only speak from a persons view who loves to run dogs and if a hound at 2 years old is not broke from off game and consistently contributing to the pack their gone. I expect at 2 to be able to run started pups with that dog and the dog be able to handle it. How much time on the ground makes a lot of difference too, I run my young dogs 2or3 times a week year around, Sat, Sun and sometimes 2or3 nights a week just according to what I have going on. This weekend for example I will run Sat. morn 4or5 hours then I have 3 pups at the rabbit pen to pick up Sat. evening I will carry my 2 year old and 3 14month olds and run those 4 with the 3 there until 10or 11:00 Sat. night and again Sun. morning for a few hours. I believe if the dog is put on the ground at 2 the dog should be solid if not I'm not going to keep him or her because I wouldn't want to breed them (IMO) their lacking something. Thats just my opinion and I may get rid of a good dog now and again but so be it.

[Mapel Valley Kennels LLC.]

I didn't say the dog didn't get better, I said the improvement would be minimal. I don't trial so I can only speak from a persons view who loves to run dogs and if a hound at 2 years old is not broke from off game and consistently contributing to the pack their gone. I expect at 2 to be able to run started pups with that dog and the dog be able to handle it. How much time on the ground makes a lot of difference too, I run my young dogs 2or3 times a week year around, Sat, Sun and sometimes 2or3 nights a week just according to what I have going on. This weekend for example I will run Sat. morn 4or5 hours then I have 3 pups at the rabbit pen to pick up Sat. evening I will carry my 2 year old and 3 14month olds and run those 4 with the 3 there until 10or 11:00 Sat. night and again Sun. morning for a few hours. I believe if the dog is put on the ground at 2 the dog should be solid if not I'm not going to keep him or her because I wouldn't want to breed them (IMO) their lacking something. Thats just my opinion and I may get rid of a good dog now and again but so be it.

I agree with ya on broke, and handling at 2. But at 2 i believe they are teenagers with lots too learn, they may be glittering but still will continue to shine later on. I also agree that ground time outwieghs most comments and or observations. So guess if you are culling at 2 maybe its a little quick only if they are showing promise.Guess we cant keep em all though.

[Joeyman]

I agree on the 2 year old thing.......You should pretty well know what you got at that age.

It also depends on how often you run dogs........A 2 year old that gets little ground time is a different story

[TomMN]

Most hounds grow and change throughout their lives. It seems like most peak somewhere around 6 years old. After that they keep getting better mentaly but their body starts to go the other way.

Here's an example...
One night a couple weeks ago I put down about 5 young dogs and one 8 year old dog in a spot that holds a few hare, but not many. They have to work to get one jumped here and if they loose it there won't be another one waiting close by.

The young dogs could not jump a rabbit. The old dog drifted out there a couple hundred yards to a place he has found rabbits before and started cold trailing. Young dogs joined in but could not help much. The old dog worked it up quickly and got up close to the hare.

Now the young dogs took over and it turned into a long, hard, screaming hot race. The old dog was falling farther and farther behind so when they crossed the trail I waited there to catch the old dog when he came. The young dogs made a bad loss right after they crossed the trail.

When the old dog made it to the trail I caught him and waited for the young dogs to recover the rabbit, but they never did. After a good 10 minutes I turned the old dog loose. He hunted a while, found where the rabbit had doubled back and got the race going again.

"When can you guys tell what looks like your next headliner?"
I would say when they ARE the headliner and not before. Potential just means they haven't done it yet.

[bradadkins]

Rabbithoundjb -Joeyman...agreed

They may get more "rabbit smart" however the speed..nose..etc is as good as it gets. Never known of a dog just magically developing extreme foot or developing a big nose. It is like he said..if they haven't had the groundtime then that is a different story. I put alot of time into dogs before they are a year old.

If I put in the time..they gotta show me something.

Brad