The American Beagler Forum

Just had to take the chance to brag on my dog Smoke. He will be 3 this year and is an awesome allround dog. The past 2 years when you would kill a rabbit and show it to him, he would'nt hardly pay it any attention. He would just come up and smell it and go find another bunny. This past saturday we got about 2 inches of snow and i could'nt resist taking a couple of them out. I turned him and one of my best feamles loose and it did not take long and the race was on. On the second circle mr. bunny came by at about 35yds and met the receiving end of a .410 KABOOM
He was in a pretty thick mess and i could not quite get to him. Smoke was the first to find him. i was standing about 20yds away and he reached down, picked him up as gentle as a baby, and carried him to my feet and dropped him. I have other dogs that have/will retrieve, but smoke has never paid attention to a dead rabbit. I hope he keeps it up. These danged little crittters never stop ceasing to amaze me.

I had a real good little female about 12 years ago, similar situation. Killed a bunny in some terribly thick briars. When she got to the rabbit she came out of brush. I just kept asking her where is it, where is it, and finally she went in picked it up and brought it too me. I really encouraged her and she would retrieve about 1/2 the rabbits after that, and always when they were in thick cover. I deployed over seas for 2 years (military) and when I got back she would not retrieve anymore. Nobody was encouraging her anymore.

I reccomend lots of possitive reinforcement and hopefully she will keep doing it for you. Its pretty cool when you take a new friend rabbit hunting and they bring one back for you. I just tell them, I thought all beagles retrieved.... They just shake their head and walk away amazed......

Mybeagles

Kevin, that sounds awesome. Our dogs usually have them eaten by the time we get there if something like that happens.