The American Beagler Forum

I have a 10 month old that is doing very well. I only hunt with her, and when we hunt it is just the two of us. We never hunt with other dogs. Do you think trialing would help her hone her skills? If so what format should I run: gundog, spo, etc..... I really do not know the difference between all my options.

I would hunt with a couple of friends dogs that you can depend on. That way you might be able to gage her speed and line control.

I also want to add that the only reason I would trial is to better enhance my dogs skills. I'm not looking to compete or win trophies, I just want my pup to be the best hunter she can be.

You dont have to take her to the trials to make her better . Get with someone that has some good older rabbit smart hounds(dont want her to pick up any bad habits ) and they will teach her all that she needs to know . Not knocking you down but if you take her to a trial and she is first up she aint gonna learn nothing but how to ride in the dogbox . When you feel that she has progressed enough to compete then take her to one and see how she comes out .Trials are not good classrooms for your hounds they are just one of the ways to judge a hound .

I agree i would not trial her until at least 2 that way she is not picking up any ba habits from other dogs.

Gregg

I would go watch a couple of trials and see the type of hound that that particular format runs to see if that is the format for your hound also list the ped and I'm sure some could point you in the right direction. Dave

A trial is definitely not a training session, it is an evaluation. The rule that I try to stick by is two gun seasons before trialing, or at least one full gun season. There are a lot of dogs that luck into wins in UKC and ARHA trials at a young age, but you will do better more consistently if you take a seasoned dog that you "expect" to win, not one that you "hope" will win.

Good luck with your pup. Give him plenty of time and rabbit tracks to get him ready, and he should do some damage for you down the road.

Big Dog

Ohio, you should introduce her to other hounds very soon. I believe in solo time for hounds but I have seen some over the years that would not pack up because they were never introduced to pack hunting when young. I wouldn't trial her in any format until at least 18 months old, too much preasure on a young hound can produce bad habits. Hope this helps. Hare

I would run them with some friends first because you know what your friends dogs can and can't do and their bad habits.....If you go to a trial you never know what the other guy's hounds are like and they may pick up some very bad habit that you don't want......I don't believe in the too much pressure theory....But I do believe that they pick up alot of bad habits from other hounds. I have seen quite a few dogs champion before 1 yr old....

I would say go to the trial. I think a dog can pick up good habits as well as bad running with any dog. You may have a lot of fun as well as meet some good people. Besides what could be more fun than running your dog. You'll know where you are after that. I agree hunt alot more than trail. If you are soloing your dog alot and it is doing well puting it in a pack once in a while may help it. I ran mine in a trail young and she picked up no bad habits and you could tell she had fun. I did see a dog running off line but my dog did not follow. If you have a good dog it should stay on the track. I say go have fun. Your dog would rather be hunting than sitting at home.

I would beg to differ here. A trial is not the place for a young hound to learn you lucked up and your hound came out clean on the other end . Now suppose your dog fell in right behind the one that was wide ? What do you do ?This is the scenario as it most often happens (even sometimes to dogs with multiple wins on them ). You take dog to trial .You meet lots of people spend a little money . Go out on your first cast. Your back at the truck in 10 minutes . Now explain to meet what you learned about the hound in 10 minutes and what did the hound learn . You could have stayed home and worked your hound in a more controlled environment working with familiar dogs that you know are right .

Training at a trial is a bad idea. The dogs you will be running with are not champions and are more likely to teach your dog bad habbits. Find a good, solid, trash free, dog in your area that is a little slower than your pup so that he can get in front some and not just run behind "me-tooing". If you like running beagles go to a trial in your area and check it out. There are many different formats that promote different styles of running. Go to a few and decide what you want to hunt with. I prefer the UKC Hunting Beagle format because search and jump, Speed with the gears to acccomodate running conditions, and line control are all important to me. Great dogs to rabbit hunt with! Dan M

Trialing ""IS NOT FOR TRAINING"", IF I drive 1-2-3-4-5- hour to a trial or hunt,I draw your PUP, I am gonna get PI$$ED ,More then not I`m gonna say something to you thats going to offend you , so do me a favor and stay home, train with a friend or buy a season puppy trainer When your pups seasoned and ready to compete come on out and enjoy this wonderful sport,,JMO

i wouldnt rush it u can trial it anytime.i just carried an 11 month old pup and he did well didnt place but made a good showing for hisself.i have however ran with many different dogs before this.hey if 1 outting ruins it u didnt have much to start with.WHY would u get insulting with a new trialer that has a young dog bunnie??i would welcome u and encourage u and tell u not to be to hard on ur dog if its his 1st trial and beside as fvar as i'm concerned i'd figure thats one dog i'm gonna beat lol!but take ur time aas i stated already and just have fun!

The pup will learn more running alone that at any kind of trial.


I would be happy to cast out with as many 10 month old pups as possible.I guess Im not scared of getting beat by them.