A Fan of the Beagle

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A Fan of the Breed, not just the sport.

First I thought of the Beagle as strictly a pet. Is there one better? Not to me. A durable, honorable, loving, caring, devoted animal that truly becomes a part of the family and are just great with kids.
So I thought yes, I am a fan of the beagle as a pet.

Then I thought about the Hunting Beagle. You know the one. The ones that a guy or gal works way too much and only gets out when he can in between career and family. Does it have faults, you bet, but a hunting companion that will always be there to go when WE are ready, jump it's own rabbit and circle it back around so we can take the shot. Lowering the barrel down seeing ole Mr. Rabbit and letting out life’s frustration with the squeeze of the trigger. Hit or miss, feeling just a little bit better. And when we miss (I do more than most) he doesn't judge us, he just keeps on running and if he looses it, he just finds another one to run. Now are there days when we may run him more than he runs a rabbit, you bet. Is he swinging to wide on the checks, days when he's running sloppy, you bet. But to sit back and think about it, and if you had a choice, would you rather have him or nothing at all, I think we all no the answer to this one. After thinking about that for a nanosecond he just became the greatest hunting partner in the world.
So yes, I am a fan of the Hunting Beagle.

Then came brace beagles;. This one took a little more true thought since I am from a hunting background. But I must admit, seeing how intense their tracking ability is, no matter how slow, they work their tales off to stay right on the line, come to a check and they don't miss a step, not 1 step. A few inches on a check but holy crap, that is intense. The line control they work like a surgeon. So when it comes to brace Beagle I would have to admit that I am a fan of them also.

Next I thought about the Small Pack Option type Beagles. Beagles that get drug to trials trying to live up to its master’s pride (which is hard to do in most cases...lol) and are dropped with a group of a few other dogs that it may very well have never run with but most don't mind at all, they just go to work looking for Mr. rabbit. And even if they don't find the rabbit one of the others in the pack will and it stops what it is doing and honors up and runs as fast and as hard as it can to get to where the one opening is. Then it jumps in and starts running it. Opening all along the way letting us know he is working and us just enjoying it. Comes upon a check and most will hit the check and make the turn within a few feet and bam, right back to moving that rabbit. Then if the rabbit holes, he just starts all over again, all while being judged and scrutinized by us.
So after all of that, am I a fan of the SPO type beagle, you bet!

Then I came to the hare running Beagles. Fast moving like it was Bunny NASCAR. Running and knowing that keeping the pursuit going it may very well catch the rabbit. A tasty treat and payoff for all the hard work I would think. They come upon a check and with that speed do they over run the check, you bet, but at a full all out run to over run a check by even a few yards is an accomplishment all in its own. Hares can be tricky, being they don't go underground. They'll use downed trees to jump up on and then back under it than circle around it than flat out fly for a hundred yards and make a whole new set of obstacles for the beagles to over come. Now when you place in the Larger packs are there cutting and swinging? You bet! But do they give up? Not most, they just get right back in and can drive a rabbit for hours, literally hours on the same rabbit covering anywhere from a hundred yard circle to a few mile one and they just keep on going.
So am I a fan of the Hare Running Beagles? yes I am.

Heck there are drug sniffing beagles, search and rescue beagles, beagles science labs, some even used as an income. Now I understand there are different types of each but respectfully enough they all do what we ask of them with all sorts of obstacles such as moves or additions to the family in the pets case. Weather from Hot humid dry days to well below freezing with snow and sleet in the hunting and trialing beagles. With everything we demand of them they just keep on doing what they do best, which is please us even when we may think other wise on certain days. There are days when they pick us when we're down and yes, even days they bring us down when we're are up.

Now I'm not going to get into how we treat them as a whole and yes there have been days when I have been ashamed of my actions towards them by introducing them to my boot or treating them harshly.

But as a breed in the BIG picture, I ask you this, is there a better friend? A better hunting partner? A better breed? I say not a chance!

I am a fan of the Beagle and all there wonders.

Thanks for reading

I thank God for creating such an animal.

[crewchf]

Well said goes1,, Gottta Love These Little Beagles For Sure!!!

Rich Piacentine

[TC]

Couldnt have said it better myself Bud!!! thanks Good Job
ours Even Enjoy Being Shown!!! Struttin around the Ring all perked up Lookit Me!!! lookit Me!!! I have had many Breeds But the Beagle Will be my last!!!!!

[crewchf]

TC,, how do you train em for the show ring??? My pups won't sit still for anything!!! Me and Donna want to give this a try but I don't know about them!!!

Rich Piacentine

PS They will sit still to EAT!!!!!

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HOLY CRAP TC, how could i forget the show dogs. The admiration I have of your dogs explains it all on what I think of them. Even though I'm jealous that they are better looking than me.

Thanks Rich, I appreciate it

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[TC]

TC,, how do you train em for the show ring??? My pups won't sit still for anything!!! Me and Donna want to give this a try but I don't know about them!!!

Rich Piacentine

PS They will sit still to EAT!!!!!

Rich Sorry I have not answered you Sooner As far as how to train Em for the Show Ring We usually Start em out Young at 4 to 6 weeks Standing on the table and Such to get em used to it It just takes Work On the Leads And Such to get them Trained. Alot of it is training the handler on how to best show off the Dog !!!! Some of the best advise I ever Got was go to a Show and Ask!!!!!!Find a beagler at the Shows and just ask! You will know in a few If they are willin to show ya or just hopin to Sell ya a dog LOL
I Always recomend Folks go to a UKC show the Folks are much more laid back and more willin to help out a newbee Just go to the UKC website and look for a show in your area. OR better yet look for a Conformation Or all breed Club in the area And Ask if they have any beagle Owners in thier Club and if you could maybe attend a meeting.
My Wife JC Wrote a Pretty Good Atrticle and placed it on our Website that Will give ya an Idea anyways whats Involved just follow the Link LOL
http://home.earthlink.net/~tjcrewse/

PS heck Goes They wernt so Prety Sunday After runnin Along the Canal out at E. E. Wilson They was Mud All up and Over em!!!!!!!
Wife wouldnt even let em in the house
Had to give em all baths
Ya think that will hurt em Any????? I told her she was gonna Ruin Em maken em think they had to have a bath every time they run!!! Heck they just Might Quit Huntin

[gamekeeper]

It is always nice to read such a POSITIVE letter!

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Won't hurt 'em a bit, it'll just make and my mutts look worse Sounds like you had some fun. Hopefully see ya next weekend.

Gamekeeper. Thanks.

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