The American Beagler Forum

Just wondering what "parts" of a rabbit dog are genetic and which are learned. Example- I think that size, color, build etc. are inherited I dont think ( and may be completely wrong ) that things like jump ability, and line control are. I guess in some round about way you could attach anything to genetics but where do they stop and time on the ground start? Just to clarify- I like and try and breed to a small handful of different bloodlines because of the consistent traits that are passed on to each litter size, color, personality I consider these pups something to work with to let them learn how to become rabbit dogs.

I believe that genetics has alot more to do with than just size, shape, color, etc. For example, you mentioned jump ability. I believe this is passed down from the parents in the form of how hard the dog hunts, intelligence, etc. Time on the ground will allow the dog to learn and practice these traits to its full potential. I believe that it is a combination of both, genetics and time on the ground! You wrote:

"Just to clarify- I like and try and breed to a small handful of different bloodlines because of the consistent traits that are passed on to each litter size, color, personality I consider these pups something to work with to let them learn how to become rabbit dogs."

How do these lines hunt, are they fast, medium or slow? How do they run the line? How are their voices? Are they smart dogs? etc. Now how do the pups you raise turn out? Do you see any of these traights from these lines you breed to in your pups, besides size shape and color?

I think if you look at the whole package you will see that there are a whole lot more traits passed down to your pups that you like from these lines! I think the traits passed down from these lines that you like to breed to give you the kind of dawgs that give you something to work with! It's up to you now to let them learn how to become rabbit dawgs!

The only thing thats gonna make em better is rabbits!

I would say my most important quality in pups/dogs is intelligence and or personality if they have these they have the ability to become something if they do not have these (in my opinion) you are starting off with a negative, personality will allow them and you to bond, and intelligence will allow them to learn.

In my opinion, as for color, mouth and confirmation, that is strictly genetic and you get whatever the combination of the Sire and Dams genetics gives you. Genetics play a huge roll in everything BUT learned traits can easily override the genetics no matter what bloodline you have. Certain bloodlines are said to be known to pass on certain traits but depending on what those dogs are ran with can change those traits. For instance, if you buy a pup out of a cross that the Sire and Dam are out of bloodlines that are known to have very good line control and you raise the pup and run it everyday with some of the wildest, craziest, cheaters out there, more times than not your pup will end up being the same way even though thats not what that bloodline is known for. Alot of times a cross is a crapshoot but I believe we as beaglers can play a huge roll in deciding what learned traits a dog can have.

When we start talking about animal behavior (and that's what rabbit running is), we HAVE to consider all of the following:
Genetics - predispositions passed on from their bloodline.
Enviroment - their exposures in living/working conditions.
Experience - how they are raised/trained.

My professor explained it very well by putting it in the form of an equation.

Behavior = Genetics + Environment + Experience

ALL behaviors are a combination of these three things. Even with the "best" bloodline, the success of a hounds ability to perform in the field is affected by ALL three.