The American Beagler Forum

I would like to here from some of you on why it is that 15 in beagles seem to be more popular. Personally i like them all but most of my life have had the smaller dogs. Ill start it by saying something like the big dogs can just go longer. But i have a smaller one that i can outjump any big dog. A big dog is nice in the Indy coal mines for the long runs but when you get to the briars its sure nice to have a little dog...whats your feelings?

I wouldn't mind having 13" dogs, they're light to carry, eat less, some can cruise very fast too. Thing is if the snow gets over a foot or so I find the bigger dogs can get through it easier, If I hunted down south, it seems with the briars and such and little snow a 13" would probably be the ticket.

I like big dogs, they seem to be stronger and they last longer to me. I have hunted them in the swamps of Alabma and Georgia to the flat lands of Iowa and they can get it done whereever. The little ones are good, but the big uns just seem more durable to me. I have owned big dogs that could jump with any little dog around so size has no bearing on jump power to me.

Big Dog

I think it all has to do with balance and proportion. It's harder to get the little ones with out being out of proportion ie...13" legs without a 15"er's body. Bigger hounds seem to come easier in balance with their bodies. Now, 15" can also come out of proportion, heavy bodied, broad fronts(chest), too long middle pieces, narrow weak rears but in general, a bigger hound is easier to get with balance.
The terrain also helps dictate which is better for the country hunted. Fence-rows, thick coverts, low tight brush all favour the little ones...while great spans of open wood/field, deep canals of water or wash-outs favour their leggier brothers. We have a mix of both, the important thing is that they all run well grouped together when the go...

We hunt a lot of honeysuckle seems like the little ones have it much easier plus jump more especially in the late winter months.

What is the smallest dog that has won a big hunt in LP format?

I remember seeing 2 littermates that were both LPH FTCH's and were only 11" tall at the most.

I am indifferent on size.
Typically the bigger dogs are faster, and I don't like a very fast dog.
So by getting a 13" to 14" dog with a "square build" (same height as length), the chances are that isn't going to be too fast for my tastes. Get a 15" dog with a little extra length than height, chances are that is going to be faster than what I like.

I love to see fast dogs in places like southern Indiana. Nothing like watching a smoking run that is about 1/4 sight chase.
When the rabbit comes by it looks like it is 3 feet long because it is stretched out so far. Nothing like that face paced shooting.
Where I live, dogs that fast put too much pressure on rabbits and they hit a hole, or it will break out of its area and straight line some where else. A medium speed dog just keeps them circling right there in its home territory.

Cottonbuster wrote:What is the smallest dog that has won a big hunt in LP format?

13" Gip won the 2007 World Hunt. I believe it was in the Champion class.

SilverZuk wrote:

Cottonbuster wrote:What is the smallest dog that has won a big hunt in LP format?

13" Gip won the 2007 World Hunt. I believe it was in the Champion class.

droopy ears won the grands at the world in 07,she is 13 - 13 1/2............

jessies blue turbo is 13 - 13 1/2.finished 2nd at the world in 07 and won the 07 hoy runnoff

scooter is 13 in,he won the world in 05,champion class...........

Hard to beat a 13in female for gunning. I hunt 13s in deep snow they do fine. Go to a mid west 13 in female trial,they call them " Pocket Rockets".

ilike big full 15 females ilike 2 look at them irun an average of 4 times a week seams they r alittle stronger 4 me that is

I m just like tommg, 13 inch all females hard to beat.

i run almost all 13's... i will keep a big male around but generally like small dogs, i just love seein the little dogs right in there with the 15's.......

I like them both but prefer the 15" because they seem a little faster most of the time. In the snow it depends on how firm it is but most days I think the 15" hounds have the edge, unless the snow is at the point where a 18 lb dog stays on top and a 20 +lb dog sinks in then I would prefer the lighter 13" dog.