Exactly what I was thinking, if I run 15 to 18 dogs on a rabbit I don't think the rabbit has much of a chance.Chris Powers wrote:Beagle Huntsman I have really enjoyed reading all your post. At times the big males have been way too rough will agree. But I have been to serval trials in past few years where the judges have done there job and the big males putting on a show in the winners pack catching 3-5 rabbits before the trial is over almost running check free. I would hate to think 15 dogs couldn't catch a rabbit and run check free with that many hounds on the ground the game doesn't have a chance
If they couldn't catch the rabbit after pursing it for 45 minutes or more, I would be looking for different dogs.
Some of the pens up North are bigger than a lot of the hunting grounds that are hunted every season by many.
I like a good looking dog with good conformation, but ability comes over a pretty dog any day in my book.
I don't think hunters years ago that were using their beagles to feed their family were thinking of a pretty show dog.
It is clear that these pretty show dogs are not hunted hard at least not where conditions are tough.
I have run dogs in the Midwest were it was just open fields, no briars at all.
I have been to trials and run with guys that refused to run their pretty show bred dogs, due to the thick briars
we have here in Maryland.
They were too concerned with the briars cutting up their pretty hounds, and them not looking good for the bench.
The show dogs that have been pictured in this post were too pretty to be hard hunters, not a scratch on them.
More emphasis is placed on looks then actual ability.
To each his own!