The American Beagler Forum

I went hunting with a few guys that also field trial. The subject of how often you need to run dogs to keep them to where they can "compete" at a level where you have a serious chance to win.

One guy stated, "I don't care what blood you have, if a person only runs his dogs 1 or 2 days a week for just 2 or 3 hours each time, he will never compete with those guys that run 4 to 5 days a week that run 3 to 5 hours each time out. Especially if there all the same caliber of dogs, Time in the field will beat you every time" He even said he has run across dogs that he was glad that dog was not owned by a person that ran a lot, because the dog would have been good enough to dominate if he was "run-up".

I mean, I want to trial and I want to compete but he is talking up to 25 hours a week in the field! With work and family that would be hard for me.

I guess my question is, for those guys that "compete" at a serious level, how many times a week do you run your dogs? and/or how many hours a week do you actually run?

And if you know the running schedules of some that are not on here to answer, please state their's too.

I try to run my trial dogs around 40 hrs per week, some weeks a little more some weeks a little less.
Eddie

I am not a big field trialer, but I have gotten more serious this year. I run 2 or 3 days a week most weeks. I would say about 2 hours a trip for my dogs. Sometimes not that. It is like everything else. Practice makes perfect. You can't get better setting at home, but I will say this. If you have a good dog it will show without running his legs off. I have a female that has been in 5 hunts and has placed 1,2,3,5, and 9. I am married with a kid and a full time job. I can't run 5 days a week 4 hours a trip. My advice would be, if you love it go do it.

Just curious, how much time on the ground does a hound get at each trial if he makes the winners pack?
I know in LPH Trials, a hound can spend several hours of constant running, as if it is a sight chase. That is an event very demanding of exceptional stamina and requires a hound to be in peak physical condition.

To be competitive it takes a lot of hours running.. I solo so it takes even more.. as Chimney Rock said.. It takes a lot of commitement. No shortcuts..

Thanks for the replys so far, and agree with all the above. But let put it to you this way; If somebody came to you and bought 2 or 3 dogs from you and wanted to start field trialing "seriously" and wanted to be able to compete and have a secure feeling that he "has a shot" almost every time he goes, what training and running schedule would you give him to set him on the right path, to bring out the best and get the most out of his hounds.

You are asking a very open-ended question.....

It depends on the dog, the quality of running, the format you are trying to compete that hound in, and the current conditions.

It is very very had to get a dog consistent week in and week out....One dog I may pack with another dog she can beat for 40hrs per week to condition her and force her to claim the check to build her confidence. However, another dog I might just run 3 times per week for 3 hours each in a little honey hole where she can get quality solo time in rabbits because she is built to run, wants the front, and just needs to calm down and lock on the line. This formula can change from week to week or even day to day depending on my time restraints, weather conditions, or each dogs ability.
,
It all comes down to what you are seeing out of the dog and running him or her to what you feel will provide the best results given the current conditions. Some require constant running (pack or solo)....this is called "high maintenance" and some can sit in the kennel all week then go out and win on the weekend (this is few and far between) this is called "please let me know if it is for sale ".

Good Luck....if you find a magical formula that works for every hound please feel free to email me the running schedule because it is very tough to figure out....However, once you find what works for your particular hound....look out!!!

great advise..

I would have to agree it would all depend on the dog the most trials here are on 1 hour time limit most any dog can compete in a hour

i run every dog in my kennel 2 times a week, i run friday deribes for about 6 hours or allitle more, then saturday i run my all age dogs for 6 hours, then sunday i run derbies and my older dogs together for 5 or 6 hours. The back to back days is really what gets them in shape. In my opinion

I'm no expert field trialer, so this is just an opinion from a rabbit hunter who trials some. I like to run my dog as much as possible (5-6 nights a week, 4-6 hours) to get them in shape before rabbit season. Once they are in shape (physically fit) It depends on how they act. Some dogs still need run 3-5 nights/days a week to stay sharp, or to keep the crazyness run out of them, while others can't take a bunch of running and just need enough to stay in shape. i say just know your dog and use common sense. Stamina and toughness vary from dog to dog. JMO

The answer is "You need to run them often enough that they are in peak physical condition".

I've seen many dogs that ran out out of gas because they were out of shape and you get some really good running. They will start off strong and 15 minutes in to it, you can see them slacking off.

The other extreme is the guys who run their dogs too much, and keep them run down. Each dog is different, some need run more than others. Some need to be laid up more often than others to rest.

If you pay attention to your dogs. Pay attention to their physical appearance, pay attention to their performance.
You be the judge.
If your dog is looking a little fat and soft, it needs run more.
If it looks muscular, lean, and strong. It is ready to go.
If it looks run down, worn, and thin. It needs laid up so it can put on weight and heal.

As you run dogs, it is a cycle. Generally in the first part of the rabbit season, my dogs are fat and soft. As the season goes on, they get into perfect shape. Then depending how hard I hunt them, and how hard the running is - I see them start getting run down. Some times with sore feet, sore tails, coat not slick and shiny, and need to put on weight. I start leaving those dogs at home more often until they start looking and feeling better.

I've seen some fine dogs that people ran down. Those people are like "I don't know what is wrong with this dog".
I am thinking, "Some groceries, wormer, and only running a couple days a week would do that dog good."

If you can see the dog's spine, ribs, hip bones, and the coat is poor. That dog is poor. When a dog is in shape you might be able to see the last couple ribs, when you can see more than that - the dog is starved.

They are your dogs, you be the judge. I don't have time to run as much as I want and the dogs need. My dogs stay fat and sassy about all year long now. When trialing we ran every Saturday and generally 4 or 5 evenings a week. My dogs still went through up and down cycles with that schedule.

Crap, I'm screwed.... I get to run my dogs 2 times a week if I am lucky except for vacations when I run three times or so.... My new pup is awesome and I was thinking about bringing her to a trial this weekend but I don't want to look like a tard with my three hour a week running regimine...


Sorry to accost your post but if you have a dog that has the "stuff to get it done" can you send is somewhere to get conditioned??

Every dog is diffrent. With that being said i highly doubt a weekend hunter can go to a field trial and hang with the guys who run there dogs 3,4 even 5 days a week. One dog might be better then the next, but if you dont run your dog and keep him in shape to bring out his full potential that lesser dog might outshine a dog that is of better caliper just because of PRACTICE.

Ever heard the saying practice makes perfect. I know i can tell the diffrence in my dogs when i get them out there 3-4 days a week!!

Im not saying you have to run your dogs 5 days a week but dont be suprise if you go to a tial and get your feelings hurt by a lesser dog that is at the top of its game.


If u get ther chance to go to the field trial, Go and see the caliper of dogs they have. If nothing else its fun to watch and meet new people!

Crap, I'm screwed.... I get to run my dogs 2 times a week if I am lucky except for vacations when I run three times or so.... My new pup is awesome and I was thinking about bringing her to a trial this weekend but I don't want to look like a tard with my three hour a week running regimine...

Mo Beagler,

Different guys have different expectations when they arive at a trial........Guys that run 40+ hours a week and select from large kennels full of pups to glean for the very best expect to win and place hounds every trial and most times they do.

What I have seen as a judge is guys showing up with a young dog with very little run time, that just happens to be better than anything they have ever owned before thinking they "get screwed" when their dog doesnt place or gets picked up for falling behind in the winners pack. What they fail to realize is that they are competing with dogs of equal or better quality that have much more experience and conditioning making them any easy winner.

Almost without exception, the trials I have judged have a clear winner that outshines the rest all day. Usually its a tighter race between the 3 and 4 place dog than it is 1 and 2.

Guys are disturbed that the same guys win every week, but the guys winning are not a fluke. They have extreme dedication, make many sacrifices to ensure their dogs get the 20, 30, or even 40 hours a week they need to be in prime condition.

If guys like Joe Kuklinski, Jeff Martin, Denny Dugan told you how many hours a week they spend in the woods, most of you wouldn't believe them.....

My hats off to the guys that put in the time and win week in and week out.............and I can breed to the best of the best males in the country for $300 which is a good deal in my book.

Mybeagles