The American Beagler Forum

I'm just wondering peoples thoughts on this rule, and if it should ever be changed. I know that this is the only rule that has never been messed with or changed. It seems like with better food, and worming remedies than back in the day it is inevitable that dogs are going to be bigger and healthier. The average person is 1.5 in taller now than 75 years ago. I just seem to see, and hear about guys with 15 1/4 to 16 in dogs, and I just want to know other peoples thoughts on this in regards to trialing and if the rule should ever be changed.

I say there is a need for a new competition where there is no limit on size as long as the dog is a beagle. I bet there will still be gritty little dogs win over the big dogs.
The only time the big dogs will have an advantage is when scent is supreme and terrain is easy.
The little dogs may have the advantage on jump points.
I think the big dogs will have an advantage in the ARHA Big Pack competition due to the nature of these trials. This format is not for the small dogs as a general rule.
My personal preference is a dog as close to 15 inches as possible. Twenty years ago I preferred the midgets and the smaller the better. It's all good.
JMHO

Let the debate begin.

the breed standard is fine, i have had huge hounds in the 90's. u have to ship them of to hunters. i like them pushing the bar, just not carring it away. if a hound is over, dont take him to trial's. guys need to take more resposibilty, and use good judgment.

The big problem with 15+ dogs in field trials is that it promotes breeding outside of breed standards, the field trials are suppose to better the beagle breed and if we start getting 17" beagles we might as well call them walkers.

lets make a rule no gas over $2.00 a gallon so i can go to a hunt.

badlands wrote:lets make a rule no gas over $2.00 a gallon so i can go to a hunt.

What I cannot not understand is AKC will take your money to reg the dog and then turn around and say the dog is to big to be in trials.

BlackRiverBeagler wrote:I'm just wondering peoples thoughts on this rule, and if it should ever be changed. I know that this is the only rule that has never been messed with or changed. It seems like with better food, and worming remedies than back in the day it is inevitable that dogs are going to be bigger and healthier. The average person is 1.5 in taller now than 75 years ago. I just seem to see, and hear about guys with 15 1/4 to 16 in dogs, and I just want to know other peoples thoughts on this in regards to trialing and if the rule should ever be changed.

Has the rabbit gotten bigger, faster, smarter? We are talking rabbit dogs.
Just where in your opinion should the limit be? If it was 17" some folks would want it raised to 19".
I'm comfortable with 13" and 15".

I agree the existing rules do not need changed. There needs to be a format where any registered beagle can enter competition, regardless of size and only run one class any size. That way, those who like the big hounds or own one just over that is exellent will be able to run in competition.
How many 15" plus dogs do think run in trials and get away with it and even have made FC?

FullCircle wrote:I don't think the rules need to be changed. The trials are set up to promote better beagles so beagles that are entered need to meet breed standards. If you hunt you can run what ever you like but if you want to run beagles then try and stay with the standard. If we don't heed to what the breed standard calls for then before long we won't have a beagle but instead we'll have walkers that are chasing rabbits.

Not disagreeing with you, but the breed standard also says black, white, and tan, not red, bluetick, lemon, etc.

http://www.akc.org/breeds/beagle/index.cfm

Color
Any true hound color.

There should be a class that is open as long as the beagle is AKC and not crossed with a walker or other hounds.I have several Turbo dogs that push 16 inches,ashamed they are punished for being an inch to tall.People shouldnt be scared to run against over 15 inch dogs,I have 11 and 12 inch dogs that will run against these big dogs.If I had to run in a big pack hunt where we live I would be tickled to run against big dogs,just to thick for em!!!!!Just my opinion.

There was a poll last year about this.
The majority of the people that voted are happy with the 15" rule.
There are some points on both sides of the arguement.

http://americanbeagler.huntingboards.co ... =5&t=28870

Maybe someone should open a "rabbit dog registry" that would let you run anything and everything.
You could run beagles, big game hounds, terriers, fiests, harriers, and mixed up dogs from the pound.
Lets see what breed, or cross is the best rabbit dog out there regardless to size, shape, color, lineage, etc.

The squirrel dog world has something like this, the World Treedog Association.
It's purpose is to promote the tree dog, regardless of lineage.
You see a lot of purebred dogs there, but also see a fair share of hound/cur and cur/fiest crosses.
They are promoting tree dogs, plain and simple.

The question to ask yourself is "Do I want to run beagles or Do I want to run rabbits?"
Maybe if we would all seriously answer that we would be running "Rabbit Masters" or some other mix.
We might be surprised to see dogs that can do it better than beagles.