The American Beagler Forum

What are advantages or dis advantages to running in the dark?

Pros: The rabbits are out and about.
Cooler in the summer.

Cons: Dogs will just run down the trails looking for rabbits.
Dogs could take off on trash and you might not know it.

I run quite a bit after dark, not because of any pros or cons. Because this time of year if I am going to run any during the week after work it is going to be after dark and during the hot months it is too hot in the evenings until dark.

Only time I run after dark is in the summer when it's too hot during the day or I'm working w/ a new pup. Con is you can't see what dogs are running and where it's going. Pro: good to get them out running regardless.

LIGHTED COLLARS --SURE DO HELP IN THE DARK

I run my dogs so much at night I don't know if they can run a rabbit in the daylight.

If I only ran daylight, that would only allow me to run on Saturdays and Holidays. I won't run a young dog at night, or one that I feel is not trash broken. I run several nights a week year round.

Like everyone else has stated:

Pros
1) It is cooler in the summer
2) If you work late you can still get them dawgs run
3) Scenting is better
4) Rabbits don't hole.......they run!

Cons
1) Can't see what they are running (better have a dead broke dog out with pups)
2) Getting up to go to work the next day still drunk.........j/k

Lighted collars are the only way to go!!! Actually I enjoy running at night alot, especially when I can kick back and fish a gravel pit pond and have the dogs circle rabbits around me!!!

But like others have stated... you better know your dogs are broke, because rabbits arn't the only game that comes out at night!

Another con for me is COYOTES are more likely to attack a beagle at night! Also, poisonous snakes are very active at night in the summer here. Finally, (this one is for YOU PATCH!) the boogie man comes out at night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070126/ap_ ... ion_attack

Ok got me scared...

Dale, you are my hero...especially your "con" number 2.

We have an area of about 400 acres of state land where the local rabbit hunters get together to run at night. We have a 'gentlemen's' agreement never to kill anything in this area. As a result, we have rabbits and a relaxing, social get together. I do not eat rabbits so running at night allows me to get away from all those that gun them. I simply enjoy the chase. In the old days, it was called 'moonlight' running, or was that 'moonshine'. Maybe a little of both. (joke). There are indeed a lot more temptations in the form of trash but training the dog is the real challenge.

I have actually had pizza delivered to a spot where we were running at night and sit on the tailgate, eat pizza, and drink a tastey adult beverage(of choice) while listening to some of the best running imaginable to a Tennessean.
You never forget the grat times spent with someone when the runninfg is that good.

I started running @ night after an old timer told me that this was the best way to get my pup to run a track not the rabbit,(sight chase that is) He learned a bad habit in the starter pin.He wanted to stop and look around for the rabbit every time the scent got hot , hoping to see it bolt off. I can honestly say that running him in the wild after dark really helped out ALOT.I also run lighted collars and you can set mine to strobe, flash ,chase and just stay lit, this allows me to keep track of what dog is doing what and where.

I don't like the idea of letting my 9 month old pups actually hunt in the dark.........But I do run them at night, I go out and take a spotlight and catch one out then I take my dogs to that area and cut them loose, at least I know they start out on the rabbit, lol............Also, it is fun to hear the rabbit coming then put the light on him and see what he does. I've seen them run out of the woods and stop, turn around and stand up on their hind legs looking and listening for the dogs.

CHRIS WHITT wrote:I started running @ night after an old timer told me that this was the best way to get my pup to run a track not the rabbit,(sight chase that is) He learned a bad habit in the starter pin.He wanted to stop and look around for the rabbit every time the scent got hot , hoping to see it bolt off. I can honestly say that running him in the wild after dark really helped out ALOT.I also run lighted collars and you can set mine to strobe, flash ,chase and just stay lit, this allows me to keep track of what dog is doing what and where.

What brand and make collars are you using???

thanks