The American Beagler Forum

I have a 7mo old male, I cannot figure out. He isnt stupid, and I know his nose works to find food etc. however I just cant seem to get him started. He is kenneled alone, and I do not have access to other beagles. when I do get him with another dog, to hunt or just to run, he is completly dissinterested, and gose on his way. he is not gun shy, but lacks the killer instinct i have seen or observed in other hounds. In that we crippled a rabbit in front of him, he walked up to it, sniffed it, and walked away. He has me baffeled, and everyone that has observed him. I like the dog, he listens well, and comes from good stock, just lacks the basic instincts. Looking for and soliciting any help or responses.

thanks

I would try a starting pen!!!! Do not keep taking him out unless he is with other started dogs because right now you are going in reverse with him. I have ruined a dog doing the exact same thing and learned the hard way. The dog never did turn out to be anything.

try putting a rabbit in a wire cage then get him around the cage and keep urging him on to make him want a bite of the rabbit then hold him and let the rabbit out to run away, then let him chase it. works some times, worth a try.

For pups I trap a wild hare in a box trap, then I'll put on some gloves and grab ahold of the hare up by the rear leg and get him squelling good while your pup is there, let him mouth the hare a bit and then let the hare go. Your pup will site chase it and lose it, after that he'll start sniffing around looking for it. You may need to do this a few times but it works.

I had a little female that would do that same thing and had her kenneled by her self but ran her with other dogs.she would go but i think it was just for a walk lol.. so i put her in the kennel with my other female for about 2 weeks and she started to stay with her it was like a light switch turned on and she started running on her own. and i have also tried the rabbit in the cage with other dogs and it worked for me also.

just keep soloing her she is young and she don't have enough confidence it sounds like. just keep taking her out she should come right out of it and will go on her own.

just keep soloing her she is young and she don't have enough confidence it sounds like. just keep taking her out she should come right out of it and will go on her own.

Don't sweat it. It's too early to worry just yet. I have a litter of 7 month olds. One pup started almost three months ago and looks terrific. The other four are still playing (I've got a stick, catch me if you can). I'm not going to even try and work'em hard until late March and April, when the snow lets up. I've only started around 30 pups, so I'm no expert, but you're pup will start when something in it's brain clicks and not before. I've started pups for people that were a year old and turned out fine. The human factor is the big problem. Let the pup be a puppy and you'll have a fine dog.

JMHO
Tim

to all who have responded, THANK YOU, I will try ur suggesstions, whenever the snow melts. A 13"beagle, and 5' handler, and 3' of snow isnt conducive to walking or training! Thanks once again.

wvduece wrote:im stumped on one too she is 7 months old will run n hunt great with a pack even jump her own rabbit n get her fair share of checks but when i try to solo her she wont hunt unless its right beside the road she wont go over the hill or go very far in the brush now if i walk her through the brush n she comes across a track she will take it n go but im not going to climb up n down these strip jobs ill give her away first she is bred top knotch too

I once owned a bitch exactly like that. She started early but she would not hunt at all without packmates. I thought about killing her, gave her away once, got her back, and considered killing her a second time. Eventually she turned out to be the most complete hunting beagle I have owned in forty years. She would hunt, briars didn't get too think, jump rabbits, and would not give up at a check. In fact she got so independent that were her major fault.

checkpoint is right. They are pups. Some start sooner than others. When they start later, they catch up faster. Don't put too much human pressure on the pup. It will start when it is ready.