The American Beagler Forum

I have a 10 month old pup that has a ton of raw talent, excellent nose, good search and jumping ability, very nice speed. Here's the problem... She's noted for running the first rabbit with the dogs, then after that coming out and sitting at my feet. Sometimes she goes back in later, other times she doesn't. She'll run and control the front most of the time when she stays in, I can't figure her out. She doesn't do this every time out, I'd say it's about 50/50. Anybody else ever run into this?

Run her solo or with only one other dog that she gets along with. She should grow out of this. I have an 11 month old male who runs with his packmates flawlessly and looks very strong but with strange dogs or too many in the pack he runs only too half of his talent. Once you gun hunt her and she gets a little blood in her mouth she should also turn the corner. Any dog under a year and a half old is still in the development stage.

Good luck.

i have a 14 mo old female that does the same thing, she will run the hair off when i run here with my pack, but when there are other dogs she will run a little then come out , thanks for the insite

Pine Ridge,
I have gun hunted her, have shot 2 or 3 rabbits over her, and another 1 or 2 when she was at my feet, although she couldn't see the rabbit. She's tasted blood, that's what really concerns me. Yesterday when she was at my feet and wouldn't run, I shot one and let the two that ran it have a taste, she got none. She was pouty about it, but still didn't go back in. I haven't given up on her yet, well actually, I can't give up on her, she is the kids' pet and in the house. It sure is frustrating though to see so much raw talent in the dog and she won't use it half the time.

You may have just revealed your problem and solution. She is bonded more with you than with the other dogs. She is in the house with people more than in the kennel with the other dogs. Kennel her with the other dogs for awhile and see if that helps. After she bonds with the other dogs she may prefer running with them to standing with you.

By the way, you can let the kids know that she will be able to come back in the house after a little while. Once she bonds with the pack and realizes it's more fun to run rabbits than to spend time with you, she'll chose her friends based on that and it won't matter if she's in the house or in the kennel, but she has to build a bond with the other dogs first.

Hope this helps.

The bonding issue also has a bearing on kennel barking. If you are going to keep your hounds in a kennel, I believe they should see you as more of an authority figure or pack leader than as a best buddy. That's a hard thing to do, adopt somewhat of a stern demeanor with your young dogs, but I believe it will pay dividends down the road. The other dogs can be their buddies.

Obviously, if she's sitting at your feet, she's had enough. She has to learn, if she's in the field, it's time to hunt.
Put her up in the truck, only take her every-other time you go. The desire has to be strong to hunt. A house dog knows true comfort, and the frequent companionship from the human. A little hunting to satisfy the urge and I'm happy to be with my human friend again...
Also being a young hound comes the trust factor, (are you going to leave me now you have the rabbit? I'd rather sit here with you and the rabbit, are we done yet, can we go home to my warm crate now)
This is not to say she's a failure, only that she has not decided chasing rabbits is the best thing in the world to do...
Best of luck...

This is where it get confusing for me. When I let this dog out to go pee in the morning, she goes and runs rabbits for 3 hours. Today, she has begged all day to go running. I did put her back in the box yesterday when she wouldn't run. I've stopped letting her run when it's time to go do her business, she goes on the rope now. I stopped letting her do that a week or so ago. As of yesterday she's no longer going with me hunting unless I'm going to a spot where it will be somewhat convenient to crate her if she doesn't run.

So, the problem is only when running with packmates. Hounds when started solo or only with a single hound sometimes do have trouble when one becomes a group/pack. Maybe adding only one more hound at a time as she progresses will ease her into it.
Some fellows that field trial swap pups with each other once they've started so the pups care little who their packmates are, and they will be used to runnning with strange hounds...the hounds their mixed with must be true/honest hounds tho...

10 months old... Has she had a heat yet? If not, I'd say she's about to. I've seen them act just as your female, sometimes like total fruitcakes right before they come in, and for 8 weeks after they go out, until the hormone levels smooth out.

Her first heat has came and went, probably about a month or so ago.

Its time to change her hold world. Get A friend to take her to his kennel and place her with the dog she is to run with. Let them stay in same run ETC. Only take her when her kennel mate is going. YOU STAY AWAY FOR A MONTH. Now after she is consistently running with kennel mate take both with 2 or 3 other dogs If she performs OK then its time for you to come back into picture.

I got one does the same. When she was little just a pup, i lost her for a few days during a bad storm. It scared her so that she wont leave me now although she can burn a rabbit up.
I got another that was raised and still keep in the house, she is rabbit crazy !! She will lay her head on my lap wanting the shock collar, if she hears the collars jingling she comes running. hasnt hurt her a bit by being inside.
Hope yours does better.

I have one that rathered hunting on her own but she was just a wee pup at the time and it didn't really matter. Now she's 9 months old. To change that I would "walk" her on the lead as the other were running, once I seen where the rabbit crossed on the road, I would walk to it so she'd hit the track and she'd automatically open (as she should), then put her in the truck once our walk was over and I had enough of her yanking on the lead. She got some exercise and desperately wanted to go with the pack. I did this for about a month, as I am in no rush with the pup, I know she's got talent. Now when we go, she only goes once in a while but as soon as she comes out of the crate with the other... packs away! You have to make her want it. If you have to set the crate on the ground close to where the rest of the pack are going and let her listen and fuss, the more she should want to be part of it.

huntinfool, it seems to me you have 2 basic problems with your pup. 1st the dog is somewhat confused of what your asking from it. it cant figure out which is more fun, being your buddy or running a rabbit. also too much pressure from the other dogs being as young if she is running with older dogs. 2 things you could try. 1st put her outside with your other dogs that your running her with. take her out ONLY to go running. this will condition her mind to understanding that this is the funnest thing to do in her life. secondly run her solo 2-3 times a week only for an hour at most. make it fun for her. if she loses interest take her home. period... btw, she should outgrow this when she gets old enough to realize how much fun running rabbit actually is. JMO, pay attention to what the others have said, all good thoughts.