The American Beagler Forum

Hello Guys,

I have a nice male that was started at 6 months old completely running his own rabbit.

Solo'd him 3 times to every 1 time with 2-3 dogs.

Now at 2 years old he is running top end and can flat smoke it.

While upfront, he gives tons of mouth and runs to beat heck.

However, when running in larger packs, whenever he's not in the front half of the pack he only gives half the mouth he normally does.

What would you all suggest i do, he gives plenty of mouth with 1-4 dogs no matter where he is, but when he is in a larger pack and falls back he only gives half mouth......

Thanks,
GTB

Live with it. Sounds normal to me. Every dog has their own way of handling A large pack.

I kinda have to agree...I have had some hounds that would hardly bark at all when not in the front. They usually arent getting a whole lot of scent when stuck in the middle or the back of the pack, therefore they dont bark nearly as much. Tony

Thanks guys, I was getting worried. I thought I was the only one that had one of those critters. I have a 16 month old Tank Female that can flat get with it, but when running behind won't hardly say a word. When running in front her voice drowns the other dogs out. Never ending, thats what beagling fun.

bluegrass wrote:I kinda have to agree...I have had some hounds that would hardly bark at all when not in the front. They usually arent getting a whole lot of scent when stuck in the middle or the back of the pack, therefore they dont bark nearly as much. Tony

Maybe these are the smart ones ;-) Let the others do the work until they are in front?

Leah

This is the very reason I like front runners, they get all the scent.

I think Tony is exactly right, the farther back in the pack a hound is, the more foiled and less rabbit scent a hound gets. Alot of the talking back in the pack by young hounds, is of the excitement. If a young hound has a very honest mouth, he will usually give less mouth back in the pack and more when he is in front getting a snoot full. They will usually get more mouth as they gain confidence in themselves and their packmates.
Older hounds are smart though and will do as you say, lay back untill they sense the end is near, then move to the front when the time is right. That is what they have learnt from experience and these kind arn't developed by short runs to the gun. It comes from being left to gain their own reward, hours of running the same rabbit till it stiffins... Generally, most cottontail chases to the gun are short(30 min., assuming you don't jumpshoot, and allow at least 2 circles to be made) and the hounds run full out.
I saw a great display of this a few years ago, a 8 dog, 13 inch pack ran for 2 hr's on the same rabbit. They were med. speed and kept the rabbit moving. When the rabbit crossed the road, his ears were penned to it's back and it was all but stiff. This rabbit didn't have another circle left in it and the boy and his grandfather took it with the gun. I ask him if they normally left their hounds so long on one rabbit and he said, with the seresa cover, it wasn't uncommon. He just liked to run his hounds and the boy was there to do the shooting...
Odd, but he was one of them fellows from Kantucky...

I prefer not to hear mine give a lot of mouth when not in the right place & the right place to be is on the front end or at least close. I sure can't stand a dog barking full bore running 20 yards behind the pack, they should hush & pull up to the right place.
My thoughts only,
Plowboy

GoodTimeBeagles,

I know what you mean, i've got one that will do it also.... Other then that he's kicking butt...... I've decided not to worry about it and i'm just going to solo him more then pack him.... For those of you who run MIDWEST, how would a situation like this be judged, would it hurt his dog if trialed and he gave more mouth up front verses when he's back in the pack?

Thanks,
Jack

I agree with the majority less scent less mouth. Its probably not only from lack of nose/scent but also from trying to keep up with the other dogs. The more you solo him the more he should worry less about the pack and run the rabbit at his own pace. Thats not always a bad thing because Ive seen several dogs run 3rd 4th or last and drive straight through the other dogs in a check and you've gotta love that period. Personally I would rather have a dog run the rabbit instead of picking his head up and going to the dogs trying to keep up till the next breakdown. Keep soloing him and dont worry about unless you think he is to slow for you're pack then something has to give.

You might want to try taking your dog to the ladies beauty parlor every now and then. Nary May was a little tight mouthed when I first met her but since she has been going to the ladies beauty parlor she ain't tight mouthed no more. This can be over done so be careful!

I think all of you have it covered. As a trial dog, less mouth or more will not hurt him. As long as he is giving some mouth when it counts.