running dogs mid day

[beaglechase]

how many dogs would you say that can run a rabbit when the sun is hot and dry , say a drought? even field champions...

[Big Dog]

I have seen some that had big noses that could keep it going, but it aint pretty, my question is why would you want to do that? Most joggers jog in the early morning or late in the evening when temps are cooler. I try to do the same with my dogs. The risks of running during the middle of the day outweigh the benefits. Nobody hunts when it is 85 or 90 degrees so why run dogs when it is that hot and stroke them out?

Big dog

[Nor' Easter]

When are your trails ? Our big dogs go in after lunch in the summer it's 80-90 dergrees plus. They need to be used to it, ay least some. It also shows who's got a nose.

[movalleyal2038]

I run my dogs alot in the hot afternoons, I believe it makes them hunt harder and learn to gear down when its tough.Also I only have so much time to hunt and if its hot I want my dogs ready.I have drove all the way from Pa to the UP to hunt hare and if its hot my dogs better hunt.In the real world hunting conditions are not always great ,so we must make due.The same goes for cold weather and snow.

Al

[Gang]

If you want to run a rabbit in Texas they all better be able to. We go up North a few states and the hounds think they came into rabbit heaven with the great scent conditions. If you wait on good conditions here you might as well get rid of the hounds. The truly good hounds around here will keep a consistant race going no matter the time of day. I have an FC here I'll drop anytime or temperature and you will see an awesome race even with a head raising big bawl.

[chapkosbeagles]

i herd that they will get heat stroke but i had to do it in a trial once a dog droped right on his side and could not run anymore my dog did good he won the hunt but that was the olny time i really ran in that type of heat

[Big Dog]

To each his own. I understand in texas and some of the southern states, but not up north or in the midwest. I was at a UKC trial a couple of years ago, and 4 or 5 dogs died from heat stroke right there at the trial, a mans ego is a helluva thing for a dog to have to carry. I hate trialing when it's hot, I have even gotten to the point that I don't go to trials anymore if the temps are going to get up into the 80s and 90s, just not worth it to me to kill or do internal damage to a dog over a 5 dollar ribbon or rosette. JMHO

Big Dog

[Gang]

Kim, I agree 100%. We just dont for the most part have a choice here. We keep plenty of water on hand for them and take breaks. I only train mine in areas with ponds for free choice use by the hounds when they feel the need. I always force a mandatory drink and usually swim break between rabbits. I've been lucky and haven't had to pick one up at a trial yet although I have considered it a few times.

[beaglechase]

thanks for the responce, the reason I asked a guy wanted to set down a dog that he was interested in, buying and I didn't care, if that is what he wanted to see, only thing is I wanted him to put down the ones he just bought, for comparasing , I know some dogs won't even hunt very long, they get exhausted or heat stroke, tracking is poor at the best...I would rather see a good race on more favorable conditions if I was trying out a dog, there I could judge more about the dog...

[foxxy]

i ran in a trail sat. at oakland city indiana was in a cast that just sucked and i know the dogs was good dogs just to dry and hot that day
there was no water around when we went over a hill then there was water about 1000 yards it seemed no dog could run worth a sh@t they could smell in the green bean feild
but once it got into the dried up one it was over

[DIXIEDOG]

thanks for the responce, the reason I asked a guy wanted to set down a dog that he was interested in, buying and I didn't care, if that is what he wanted to see, only thing is I wanted him to put down the ones he just bought, for comparasing , I know some dogs won't even hunt very long, they get exhausted or heat stroke, tracking is poor at the best...I would rather see a good race on more favorable conditions if I was trying out a dog, there I could judge more about the dog...

If I am buying a dog I would rather see it run in bad conditions too, most dogs will run in favorable conditions but many can't in the really rough conditions. Personally I don't care about 90+ deg temps but do like to see them run when it's below 0 , our hunting season in Maine doesn't have 90+ deg days but we do have below 0 days. I think it is to easy to kill a dog running it in extreme hot conditions, I still feel that is one of the main reasons you hear of so many young trial dogs dying of kidney disease.

[coolbrze]

I run my dogs mid-day. If they can run it then, they can run one anytime! Any dog can stroke when scenting conditions are good, it's the dogs that can lock on day in & day out that stay here.

[SwampBuck]

If you want to run a rabbit in Texas they all better be able to. We go up North a few states and the hounds think they came into rabbit heaven with the great scent conditions. If you wait on good conditions here you might as well get rid of the hounds. The truly good hounds around here will keep a consistant race going no matter the time of day. I have an FC here I'll drop anytime or temperature and you will see an awesome race even with a head raising big bawl.

Thats awesome! I am really impressed! But I feel differently, I have 2 beagles and 1 of them, my male is a decent hound and can do the same but the difference is, I will not allow him to. I have a wife and 3 kids to answer to if something were to happen to him. Although he will run all day in tough conditions I wont make him so I can pound my chest and brag him up.

[beagledogxxx]

I pretty much have to run when I have time, whether its the middle of day or late at night. I take care of my dog and when I feel she's had enough, we call it a day, whether she wants to or not. I will say there wasn't a whole lot to get excited about this summer since it only rained two or three times and the running was tough.

[yellowdog]

i ran my hounds all summer in the heat a dry i had no choice it was either that or sit in the pen..some dogs can take the heat some cant..me personally i dont want a fair weather hound...i always run near a water source when it is hot like that..it does make a hound have to gear down some and keep it going..the dog that can run solid in the dry heat can also run when the ice is on the ground ..there aint many out there that have that ability...if a hound can only run during certain temps i aint interested..i quit running a certain line of hounds for that reason alone...when it was cooler and the temps were right they could smoke..but when the temp rised and the ground got dry they looked like crap...got me out of that line of hounds completely...just my opinion..a dog has got to have bottom end to run in all conditions..day in day out the hounds i run now will run hot or cold dry or wet snow or sod..its what i like ..so i will continue to dump feed down there heads i guess..