The American Beagler Forum

Do you think the compitition today is better than say ten years ago.I run little pack and I think it is much harder today to win a hunt than it has been in the past.Do you think the big name dogs of yesterday could do as well today?

Lamarr
I quit trialing(ARHA) in 1997, I came back in 2003 to see what I was missing. I'm here to tell you, most of the dogs today couldn't hold a candle to the ones 10 years ago. There is so much babbling, ghost trailing, no control, and lack of hunt in the little pack division that it's become shameful. I couldn't believe the dogs that were being brought back as cast winners. I judged the finals and was amazed at the 2 other dogs in there. I regularly run with a dog that just finished into a GRCH and hear people talk about how great this dog is. I run with him and I have to laugh, if they only knew the truth about him. Don't get me wrong there are great dogs running but as far as ARHA trials most of the grands today couldn't run with dogs like...Larsen's Native Girl and Suzy, Bruner's Lucky and Ben, Ron Eades old blood, Crains HH War Bonnet, and Spicers Blue Back. These are just a few of the good ones. It's just an observation from the past. Dawgy

hey that grch your talkin about isnt from a little farther south is it?

You've seen him here in our beloved state

hopeing to hear from some thats been in the business for awhile

I have to agree with Dawgy on this one. I think most have put to much emphasis on being the front dog and not caring about constant pressure on the rabbit which is creating in my own opinion way to many checks. A few years ago I could go to the world hunt and judge several casts were there would be 5-10 checks in a full hour of running but now it's more like 15-30 checks and the main reason is because dogs aren't being picked up for backtracking and pulling dogs out of the check area. The dogs Dawgy are referring to could run a rabbit with alot of foot speed but now many are running dogs with little speed but alot of cutting and swinging.

Let me add I think most of the big name dogs of years past could mop up the competion of today easier because they didn't get rattled they just run the rabbit.

thought for sure i could get more conversation than this

ARE YOU SURE YOUR DOGS CAN HANDLE WHAT BIG WILLY's GOT FOR YA

Ive been told on more than one occassion by houndsmen that ran years ago that the hounds of yesteryear are gone due to everyone breeding for foot speed with little regard to anything else. If I am not mistaken that is why the Proggressive Pack division split from LP. I think for the most part that there are some super good hounds out there competing. A truer dog will consistently do better than a trial specialist. I say feed what you want. But people that know what a good dog is and should be and compete the wild, swinging babbling fools they loose my respect in the long run. Even though they get trophies and breeding fees those people are not bettering the breed in my opinion.

Raisin. We have young impressionable people that view this board, EX. Swing. We dont need that kind of language on here.

From what ive seen of progressive pack there not doing a very good job either.I think theres good ones in every format,as well as bad

LaMarr
I didn't get a chance to tell you about some boldstrokes hounds before it was locked. I handled some of Gills dogs in the mid '90's. Dead-Eye Sally was one of the best dogs I had ever been around, trialing or gunning. She had an unbelieveable nose(once struck a track carrying her over to be cast out), had extreme hunt, was dead straight(as far as off game) and ran with what I would say med- med- fast speed. She would swing in the check but ran with her nose off the ground. She was a show champion even with a bad eye. I would recommend something with alot of her in the pedigree if that's the line your looking at. I believe she only lacked about 3 points from going in the HOF when I quit trialing her. She did all this in about 10 months of trialing. Dawgy

I am not a trialer I have been involved in LP clubs in the past held an office or two and judged I really cannot make an honest reply to your question but would like to add to it. Do you think that it would be out of the question for each format to add something to the scoring system that allows the judge(s) to award points for line control? Also I would like to add that I was a club officer in The ARHA when the rules for the so called Hare Hound division were written the club I was involved with was one of three that at that time ran Hare exclusively so the group as a whole were given the responsibility of putting the format together I wanted one of the requirements of a trial to be that it must take place on snow as to show snow running ability well anyone who has ran one of these or has read the rule book for it knows that it is nothing more than a foot and endurance race, this in no way makes the best Hare hound stand out or maybe it does and I am and have always been way off base.

The dogs in PP that are consistantly placing are better than the dogs I seen 10 years ago.

Dawgy and Lamar What dogs do you consider being in top 15 or 20 dogs (arha) you've seen? Then I'll tell you mine and I think you'll be surprised that nearly all have not been trialed in a few years.