The American Beagler Forum

I was going to post this on the "dog color" thead but things were too intense there. Anybody else seen this connection? The strange thing is that once they really impress us with their running, looks don't matter anymore!

I agree that looks do not run a rabbit, but I have seen some good looking dogs that that can really good.

Gary

i disagree my red male is the best dog alround dog i like so far that i;ve seen in handle hunt clean and everything and he is also the prettiest by fat that i've seen of course i could be a little predjudise!

Pretty is as pretty does!

Seems like some people breed strickly for ability w/ little regard to looks. Guess that is why there are some great beagles that are not that attractive. I've heard in breeding animals "form follows function" but their form certainly shouldn't be neglected all together. I also have seen some very attractive beagles run a rabbit very well.

I think confirmation does get overlooked. Everone I talk to has a different definition of confirmation. Everyone selling a dog says "well built". Im sorry but these loooooong bodied beagles do Not meet any confirmation standard. I dont care if they take fewer strides than a short coupled dog, or have more tits to raise pups. They look too much like bassets and their confirmation is awful. It seems to me if it was so adventageous to be long bodied, then the registries would not require that there bodies be square to make the grade????

Sure there are some great running, long bodied beagles, just dont advertise well built or good confirmation!

The longer the backline, the more prone to spinal and vertrebral injuries. There's a reason for a proper body length for the job beagles do and the terrain they must negotiate. Sight hounds can run all day and night with their long bodies........on flat, wide-open ground. Limos are sleek, but they can't corner like a Porsche.

In reading the messages on ugly dogs .How many of you have seen these ugly dogs finsh to champions in the field . Then all at once they start to win on the bench. My self if A dogs looks after he is grown doe`s not please me or his voice I will not keep it.Who wonts to feed an animal that doe`s not please them in the field or on the box . Just my thoughts on ugly dogs. One other thought to be considered .The old saying beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Just look at all the beautiful women we marry.

Several years ago i worked with a fellow who had show beagles that is Akc shows. He was always very interesting to talk to plus he seemed interested in the hunting beagle also even though he did not hunt his beagles. While at work one day he approach me about a dog he would like to give me that was not quite up to his standards but in my eyes he was beautifull. I thought this might work crossing on something i had so i gave it a try. The first few times i took this dog afield he did nothing but follow me. Being about a year old i expected more. This continued to the point i gave the dog back. I had this crazy idea i could put some conformation in my dogs plus maybe stand him in arha.ukc trials..he was really a pretty dog. He kinda of reminded me of the irish setter i had as a kid but even he had more hunt than this beagle. At the time it seemed like a good idea.

Sorry, but most sight hounds actually have short backs for their lengths. (The back is the part of the dog from just back of the whithers to th eend of the rib cage). Most sight hounds do not have great endurance. The real endurance kings are our scent hounds. Am Foxhounds, Eng Foxhounds, Beagles etc. Sight hounds are bred to catch game quickly using their speed. A greyhound is good for about a quarter to a half a mile, Salukis while not quite as fast carry their speed further. A 3 minute course on jackrabbit is considered a pretty long race. About a mile and a half. For more info see: http://www.high-lonesomebooks.com/Hounds/

To see some combination sight/scent (Ibizans) hounds doing their job in Spain go to: http://www.haskins.com/Guests/Guests_p01.html

Or try: http://www.windhundwelt.de/sitges-2002.html for a look at a field trial. There are pics from I believe 203 there also. Take a look. They are interesting.

I have one dog thats so ugly she's cute.She's eight years old now and about a minature beagle.She may weigh 12lbs covered in mud and swamp water.The hardest hunting lil dog you've ever seen,dang jump dog supreme......doesn't stop hunting from the time she hits the ground till she gits back in the truck.The main thing about a ugly dog is nobody will steal it.............FullCry

I NEVER HAD A DOG THAT WORKED FOR ME THAT I CONSIDERED
TO BE UGLY. THE BETTER THEY WAS ,THE PRETTIER THEY GOT.
I DON'T TRY TO OUT JONES THE JONESS,
BUNNYBUSTER

Good point, Dan. Sight hounds were a poor analogy. Dachshunds and bassets would probably have been better. Both are predisposed to disc and vertebrae disorders and injury. I suppose a beagle's backline can stand a little extra length as long as they have enough leg to balance it out.

Abig DITTO on what you said Bunnybuster!

BeagleBill, I think your idea wasn't wrong at all, it just would have been a longer process than you thought. Maybe a few generations down the road you would have gotten where you want to be. I go to several akc shows each year with Chessies and must admit that I have spent a few hours watching the beagles, wondering the same thing. They are beautiful dogs and look so intelligent. I kind of like my long striders when they open it up and just didn't think I should dilute the blood I had, but that's just me. I'm in agreement with Bunnybuster, The better they are the prettier they get. By the way, My dad always told me when he was a boy the best bird dogs around were Irish Setters. Then they got popular and were bred for looks and the breed went to pot. I can't prove that, but I try to remember it regardless of the breed. MIKE THOMS