The American Beagler Forum

My running grounds now have lots of tall grass which, during the morning, is nearly always very wet from dew or rain. During the Winter and Spring my 16 month old hounds ran and circled rabbits for hours in the same area. Now with the wet grass they can't seem to move the line 20 yards without a check. Then they take forever to find the trail and move out. To make matters worse, it looks like they're developing and practicing bad habits during the long checks, i.e., pounding a hole in the ground, too wide in the checks, babbling. None of this has been of concern before the running grounds became covered with waterlogged grass. No doubt there are small rabbits in the area which could make scenting and running tough. Any thoughts on what's going on? Should I haul 'em to the dog pound now or just wait until Winter when life once again is good for beagles and beaglers?

Sounds like they could be trying to run the babies in the tall grass. I would move them on along if they kept sticking in one area looking like they had scent but couldn't find it.

just a bad time of year to run rabbits id say your hounds are fine and that your not the only one with this problem

There are lottts of young rabbits on the ground right now and they are hard for dogs to run . I would think scenting conditions are also bad due to the weather getting warm so much more quickly than in the fall/winter ?
My dad said he thought that running the older hounds and started pups on the young rabbits may hender them more than it helps them .


Hang in there ,
Buddy

I see it year after year when there are young rabbits out on the ground...they have a way of making even good hounds look like training pen rookies....dont worry though, things will improve when the rabbits grow up. Your hounds are fine...

Tony

I have had better runing in the evening this time of year

Oh yea, sounds like baby rabbits-they have been frustrating my dogs as well.

Baby bunnies for sure,I change running grounds in the summer and stay away from hay fields and tall grass,but still have busted nests inside of woods.Some of my running grounds are just known to be prime nesting in the summer.

Baby Rabbits

To all who posted a reply.... Thanks for the input! It's good to get free advice from some old hands.

Same here.
It hasn't rained since May 10 at my house.
Ground is dry, they can't run an adult rabbit well.
The baby rabbits are worse, jsut boo-hooing around and not going anywhere.

Running in bad conditions is good the dogs, it will teach them more of how to really slow down and work a line than anything.

Been having the same trouble over this way.........Baby rabbit's everwhere and also JR. rabbit's.....dog's just can't seem to run them good but they move along. I try and move them to a different area of the field. I think in a month or so their should be some better running once these young one's grow up a bit.

sounds like you are in my running grounds , i have the same problems where i run . i just move the dogs to the edges of the grass and the thickets . good luck to you .

you all must have bad dogs,i have been havin awesome running...........


yeah right,i had a guy try to tell me that the other day,everyone is having poor running,it happens every year,it will pass,we need rain.

ive been having good running all along a little short the other night because of the heat , i was soloing a double wookie bred male tonight he ran one for an hour and a couple big circles we have gotten some rain .eddy