The American Beagler Forum

Hi all, have a question for you. I took my hound out yesterday for the first time(i just got her). She ran like a champ but does not seem to investigate spots that should hold bunnies...brush piles, downed tree tops, clumps of brush, etc. In her defense, she hasn't been hunted more than 1 or 2 times a year and was lucky to get fed let alone patted on the head. Now she has it made but seems to need a little guidance. Is this something that she will pick up with some experience and with me bringing the brush piles and such to her attention? She isn't shy when it comes to briars or thick stuff if you put her on a track...she just doesn't think of investigating these spots herself. Any help would be appreciated. tks dave

Experience is the key here. You can help her along by encouraging her to look in those spots. Walk up there with her and get down on your knees and point in there where it looks like there is an opening and say, "Look here." Everntally the light should turn on and she will do this naturally.

Good Luck,
Emery

Yep, experience. I would bust the brush with her until she starts to hit it herself. After she jumps a few rabbits out of the brush, she'll learn that is where they are.

Walk out into the likly spots and stand there, she has to learn to search. It sounds like she may have been ran with a hound that made all the jumps for her. It is time consuming but she has to learn and gain the confidence to make her own jumps...Patch