The American Beagler Forum

Whats up with all of the oversized fox hounds allowed in rabbit trials, I thought the rules said your dog can't measure over 15 inches!!! Yea I know the saying (my dog won't stand) when most of them will but the master of hounds just lets his buddys dog slide you know (THE BUDDY SYSTEM)!!!! I think NKC needs to take some action on these clubs, master of hounds and dog owners for allowing these dogs to be trialed, championed and grand championed because this should be considered CHEATING or a major rule violation. Your all going to say its only a half inch or a inch, but its still against the rules and if we keep going at this rate we will be trialing 17 inch dogs and thats not fair to true houndsmen trying to follow the rules. So lets measure them out and send these fox hounds home!!!!! HAVE A GOOD DAY

Hey Huck,

Don't hold anything back. Tell us how you really feel.

could you be more specific: names of dogs & dog owners. Dave

here we go again............................ but i do agree

Honestly - can a dog be ACCURATELY measured. I have fairly limited experience but seems like it would be impossible to accurately measure many dogs b/c of their posture during measuring. I understand that rules are rules and are there be be followed - but if you get beat by a 15 1/4" dog you still got beat, and I doubt that 1/4" had much to do w/ it.
Just my thoughts,
Pete

Briarhoppers wrote: if you get beat by a 15 1/4" dog you still got beat, and I doubt that 1/4" had much to do w/ it.
Just my thoughts,
Pete

I agree Briar.

I also agree that rules are rules and should be followed and from what I've read and heard in recent months, it don't surprise me but........like Briar said, if you got beat by a dog that was 1/4" taller, the size had nothing to do with it.

rules are rules! if you get beat by a dog that is 15 1/8 u got cheated. huck as a good point send them home. if nkc has rules then we should have to go by them.i always said id never measure a dog befor a cast my dog should be able to run with anything for an hour. but is it fair to me to get beat by a dog that shouldnt even be aloud to be in trial.

In one hour(at best) of running the size of the dog is NOT gonna matter. Some dogs can NOT be measured out, they just will not stand for an ACCURATE measurment. It's just the way it is, right or wrong. Bob Dawes

dawgydawg must have some big dogs, but not here to just make people mad or to out any names if i am outing anyone its NKC for allowing these dogs to be trialed, and i dont care if a cast ends with 5 minutes of running a dog over 15 DOES NOT BELONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ive seen guys kick their dogs jerk their lead straps and even raise their voice just to scare the dog so they wont stand. to me those guys should be sent home with their fox hound.granted not all dogs will stand but ive seen dogs get registerd without even being checked. this i think is part of the buddy system

Let me add a little just to clarify - if someone is cheating and intentially letting big dogs through for a buddy that is definately wrong. But, there are many dogs that are just too close and too hard to measure. You ask 3 different judges to measure him and get everything from 14 1/2" to 15 1/4" - I say let him run. It's in the spirit of law if its not the letter.

-Pete

once he measures 15 1/4 the he is over no matter how many times he measures under

lets just have a beer and think about it

maybe thats how these big dogs get measured in bob but its friday so lets have one anyway

In the show ring our judges use an AKC certified wicket. Your dog is put on the table and the wicket (which is set at either 13" or 15") is put to his withers. If that wicket does not rest its feet on the table your dog is out. If your dog refuses to stand still enough to be measured your dog is excused from the ring. No if, ands, or buts.

There are a few tricks to get your dog to drop his shoulders a little but if he is really oversize there's not much you can do.

I once saw three professional handlers in the 13" class get wicketed out in a row with three champions. The only other 13" entry was a 6-9 mo. old puppy dog. He won 13" WD/BW/BOV that day.

Of course, whenever anyone is wicketed out they usually blame the judges method of wicketing (and some DO measure way too far up on the neck)...I suppose this issue has been, and will be, going on as long as there are Beagles.