The American Beagler Forum

When you take a pup to a starting pen what are you expecting from him when you get him back. Should he just be barking with the other dogs or should he he be barking on the rabbit track.

Well it depends. It usually takes several outings in the wild to get a dog to start in the wild even after being in a running pen.

I usually expect that they are only barking when they are getting scent of a rabbit.

I would expect the pup to run a rabbit track if it crosses a trail. Once the pup is started if you have him in the field he should recognize a rabbits track and open if you happen to cross a rabbits trail. He may not be successful in circling the rabbit, solo, but he should try.

We expect ours to be running the track.alot depends on how well the pup was prepped before going in,the type of setup the starting pen owner has and his methods.we use Kevin Groce in Albany,Ky and he is topnotch.I have also heard great things about Danny Padgett in E-Town,ky and Dick Powell in Ind.
J.Murphy/Murphy's Kennel

I have took a few pups to Dick Powell, and when I got home with the pups you could take a gun and kill rabbits in front of them, soloed or packed.
Trent

I also use Kevin Groce in Albany. He has a excellent setup.and I am taking some to him next month. When I get the pups back from him they are more than just started.

All of my pups go to a pen. There are two starting pens close to me that I use. I enjoy spending time at these pens even if I dont have a dog there. I have seen many different results from pups after coming out of a pen. Some pups will come out of the pen and run in the wild the first day out and never miss a beat. Others will take a couple of days before they take off in the wild. It seems to me that the pups with the most "desire" seem to switch from the pen to the wild better than the others.
Starting pens are just to get a dog started. I think some people expect a finished dog when it comes home. Others will bring the dog home and stick it in the pen for a few months and then expect a world beater when they finially decide to take it hunting.
Ive had good luck with the pups that I have had started.
Starting pen are a great thing and the people who operate them earn every dime they get.

The pen I use he has a five acre pen and when running good in it he puts them in a 30 acre pen, so it's almost like being in the wild.

Murl Beagler:
we have 5 up at Kevins now.If you are from over that way maybe you have seen them there.

J.Murphy

Anyone know how to get in touch with Kevin Groce?

I only live an hour and a half from Albany and would like a reputable person to use for starting my pups.

Thanks for any info.

James Holbrook
Bopeye
jrtholbrook@multipro.com

Kevin's # is (606)387-7158. Tell him Howard from Monticello sent you. J, I've seen your hounds over there. Kevin had some good words about your hounds. I'm taking 4 over there about the 12th. I've used him several times and he is all good.

Swing do you have Dick Powells phone number or e-mail

Dick Powell
1-217-322-4672