The American Beagler Forum

Ok I have a question for all you long time beaglers. I have this almost 2 year old gyp dog #1. Her breeding looks great on paper. She hunts like she is possessed as long as the temperature stays below about 78. But, when it gets much warmer than that she hunts hard for a bout ½ an hour and then hangs around my feet. As long as it is cool she goes non-stop from the time the tail gate goes down till I put her in the dog box. Now when I am hunting her with my Sock-it-to-Me, dog #2, gyp and dog #2 gets a rabbit up she will harken to the chase, but as soon as the chase is over she is back at my feet. If she is solo she just stays at my feet after about an ½ hour of hard hunting. I really love the way she hunts in the fall and winter, but my son now has his first beagle and wants to get in to trials. I would love to trial her but know I can’t because of the heat. I guess the question is, can she be broken of this or is this a trait that is bread into her? If this can be broke how do I go about doing it? If this problem is breed into her can it be breed out?

Thanks

Fred

sounds like a smart dog to me

Too Smart.

Take your dog to the Vet and have it checked for a heart murmer. I have seen some beagles that just could not take the heat and this is what I found.

Make sire she isn't too fat. A lot of people keep their dogs too fat and then think they are in good health necause they have a shiny coat. You should be able to at least see the 2 back ribs if you are going to run in the heat. Mind you some fat dogs can take it OK but most can't. When was the last time you saw a fat long distance runner. Most are skinny as a rail and have endurance way beyond the normal athlete. Then notice that the 100 yard dash runners are bulked up and muscled up. These high fat foods are no good in the summer and I only use higher fat in the winter when I am hunting hard and when they need it to stay warm. Also never feed her within 24 hours of when you run her or she will be thirsty and that will slow some down a good bit. Make sure she is worm free and don't have heart problems like Butch said.

Make sure you have plenty of water available when she comes in. My friend has a buggy whip he carrys when training dogs if it starts hanging around after having water ETC. He will crack the whip close to the dog it will not take long untel the dog desides it would rather be some where else.
It works for him.

That's the kind of guy who's dog relocates and ends up in an HSUS shelter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crew Chief

that crack of the whip could be related to a gun shot one day. i would
think a switch or a club would work better just to let the gyp know she
doesn't belong around you. it works really well when the other dogs are
running. or just holler at her when she comes in.

I had a male out of Branko's Magnum force that overheated very easy.This hound was gritty,he wouldn't quit till he got so hot he couldn't go anymore. When it was cool he had no bottem end. The heat never bothered him as much as the Humidity.He was thick coated. I would take water for my hounds when conditions were hot and that helped. I switched feed to a lower fat content and a Chicken based food and that helped also. Some hounds are like that,so are we I know I'd rather have cool weather that hot humid conditions to walk in.

You can't punish a dog and make it hunt. You can make him stay away from you however.

very true !

Some dogs can take heat better than others. I run dogs pretty sparingly when it is over 80 degrees as the benefits don't outweigh the risks of heat injuries. Unless you live in the deep south then you probably will not be rabbit hunting when it is over 80 degrees, and Most trials kick off after the temps get a little cooler so your problems should be minimal.

Big Dog

Thanks for all the advice guys and gals. Well I know she needs to shed a pound or two, kinda like the owner. I have been feeding all my dogs Diamond yellow bag in their off season. Tonnyg your Branks dog sounds alot like Ruby. When she gets hot she will find any water and try to get as much of her body coverd as she can. Big Dog that sounds great and makes me feel a lot better.

Fred

I've had lots of problems running in the heat this year!!! Mrs Crew Chiefs backs been sore and I got to carry all the water for our 5!!!! Plus Ours!!!!! I can't wait till it cools down but here in Ole Ga thats at least 2 more months away!!!!

Crew Chief