The American Beagler Forum

After watching some of the video clips that have been taken with large numbers of hounds running I have some questions. First, I mainly hunt by myself and have never been to a field trial so my experience with a large number of hounds is small. Second, although these clips are short, it appears that some of the dogs to the rear of the pack are just following along, not even scenting. Do your better dogs seem to lead most of the races? If you have dogs of equal caliber will each race change leaders? Are some just there perhaps because they are better jump dogs? I'm sure with more dogs the checks are probably recovered quicker. Should each dog not contribute to the pack in some way? So once again, how many is enough?

Two to three I think is about perfect. However, that being said, I have seen some good packs as many as 6 dogs. I guess it just depends on how well they work together.

JMO,
Emery

4 seem to have some of our best runs with just 4 dogs We have 8 runnin hounds and when we drop em all down Seems like we have faster races and less checks but more of a pain when conditions are rough hard senting or whatever seems to also be a big hassle when there are lots of rabbits as sometimes you will have 2 or 3 races goin at the same time!!!
In Our pack we have 2 that will usually Dominate the rest as far as jump and runs but dont do as well in the checks we also have 2 that are real good line control or check dogs so we always try and mix it up a little just seems we have alot more fun and harvest more with just 4 dogs....

I generally run 12-18 hounds every time I go. It makes it much easier to start a rabbit, and the runs are exciting, especially in the springtime when rabbits are really running. Mine are all bred alike, so they run at about the same speed. The leading hounds change constantly. When scenting is good, there are few checks, and the runs are relatively short because of the pressure the pack puts on the rabbit. Under tough scenting conditions, fewer hounds might be better, but I'd miss the thrill of hunting a big pack!

out of those 12-18 dogs how many of them are actually smelling the rabbit? it just seems to me that it would be tough on the last 5-8 dogs. maybe its not but i would think it would be tough with that many dogs trampling over the line...keith

3 to 4 good dogs ia all you will ever need more than that and the rest run along barking me to me to lol

donnie thats kinda what i was thinkin. but heck what do i know i mean im not the one with the nose lol...keith

If you mean to say that the hounds not smelling the rabbit are not contributing, you would be wrong. In a good pack, the leading hounds change constantly, so a hound in the back one minute may be leading the next. Sure, you don't need that many hounds to run a rabbit, but it surely adds to the fun!

I have seen the Beagle Huntsman's big pack run and it was very impressive. I was skeptical at first, like some of you , about running that many at a time but I have to say that they were all working together as a pack and ran extremely well.

When I hunt I like 4 dogs or no less than 2. When I out running with friends 6 is enough.

as many as you want to drop on the ground, I have hunted with 1 and as high as 14, I want all of my dogs to run under all circumstances no excuses, I also think if you run a big pack all of the time it causes some dogs to pick up bad habits and I've noticed it seems like the more dogs you hunt the less they actually have to grind on it to get a rabbit up.

I like to run around 4 dogs at a time, unless Iam hunting with other people then around 6 dogs is what we most of the time hunt together.

I was involved in a 9 hound winners pack once, and would have loved to own all 9............They worked GREAT together.