The American Beagler Forum

Just wanted to share a little experience that I am having with a dog I just got last weekend. I had a litter of pups 3 yrs ago out of my best female, and was going to keep the only female from 4 pups, but my cousin really wanted a female, so I sold her. Well the pup never got to leave the back yard or kennel in 3 yrs at my cousins house, so she asked me if I wanted her back . I thought it over, and said ok I will give her a shot since I was getting her back for free, and I knew exactly what she could be,since I owned both parents. I took this female out for the first time last tuesday, and I couldnt believe my eyes and ears . She hit the bushes with her mother just like she had been in the woods before. I couldnt believe it!, she followed her mother around the entire trip, even while running a rabbit, and then BOOM...there she was, starting to open up for the first time,on her first trip into the woods! . I have ran her 4 or 5 more times since then, and she is really starting to open up good now, and even picked up a few checks of her own . It just goes to show that starting a 3yr old dog is deffinetly possible!.

That’s great to hear, just imagine all the wonderful running you would have gotten out of her if you stuck to your gut in the beginning. good luck with her!

I agree 100% with you MaineDogs. I regreted selling her from the beginning, but..I think we have all regreted selling one or two at some point. I am glad I gave her a shot, and hope to enjoy her for a long time now.

Just took a chance on a 2 yr old male, he started quick and after 2 months is starting to impress me.

Well that gives me hope. I have a pair that will be 2 in November and they still haven't opened up yet. Giving them this fall and that will be it. Time for a new home after that. Glad your dog took off.

Hey mainstreet! Do you have a dog that runs rabbits already? If not then you might want one. Much easier to start any dog when you have one that runs already. Maybe you already know that, just my suggestion.

We just started one that was almost three and I have started one that was 4 before.. If it is in their blood they will start and run...I am glad yours is doing good. Mine did not start that easy but about the same as a pup... now they can do what they where born to do run rabbits...