The American Beagler Forum

Those of you who run hare whats the oldest dogs you usually run snowshoes with, and do you run them only with older hounds?

If you take one dog, I know guys that run 14 year old dogs. Thet are slow and the hare make much smaller circles and/or run at a slow pace, they just hop along rather than run. You may need a decent nosed dog because the hare may get 5 minutes or more ahead of the dog and the dog must be able to keep on the track or it will lose it and have to re-jump it or another hare. I'm sure it can be hard on the heart of an old dog, so a couple of hours may be enough depending on the health of the dog. Running old ones with young dogs is hard on them, they usually go get thier own hare going and thier hearing may not be very good either, so they can not hear the other dogs one the hare. My old dog lost his hearing at 9-10 years old, but could still run hare fine.

So I guess running an 8 year old thats in pretty good shape is not too much of and issue.

An 8 tear old usually runs the hare perfectly.

I run one thats 9 one thats 8 and one thats 3 they do a great job.

Hey Duke, I have one that is 11 and he still does a fine job, only run him solo or with my buddy's female of the same age. Packing them with younger dogs usually doesn't work out unless they are in great shape. 8 isn't old for a dog to run hare just make sure the pack is similar in speed. Good luck. Earl