The American Beagler Forum

I recently picked up a hound that comes from good stock that's known for being an all around good rabbit dog. The problem is his previous owner that raised him treated him more like a pet and didn't run enough.

He stands at my feet while the other hounds hunt, once the rabbit is jumped he joins in and actually runs a good track. Nice in the check and fairly tight on the line. When the rabbit is lost for good he comes looking for me again while the other dogs hunt.

My question is there anything I can do to put more "hunt" in him. I know he has the pieces to be a good hound, just not the desire to search.

Just keep on taking him running .

I forgot to mention he's 3, hope it's not too late. I'm thinking about taking him to a small training pen my buddy has where he can get a few sight chases, maybe get him more fired up.

i ake it wher eits more comfortable to be with the dogs than near me

Just my opinion, which isn't much you can't mekem hunt or teach it, it's either in them or it aint

Emma's Beagles wrote:Just my opinion, which isn't much you can't mekem hunt or teach it, it's either in them or it aint

I agree with this. But I have a female that sometimes does the same thing, use to annoy me but now the 2x a year she does this is ok with me. I call it the top dog attitude. If she is being out done on certain days she seems to clam up and hang out with me till a rabbit is up. She gets a free pass from me, 7 years old and a good solid beagle and pet.

But for a 3 year old to do this all the time I would say give him a year and see how he does. After that you need to decide if you want a pet to hang out with while hunting or a beagle that wants to hunt for you.

I would solo him a lot.

if on the ground pen take out food bowl spread his food out through the pen
make him learn to search for food
this is what a ol school fella told me what to do

Thanks for the advise

I ran him with a couple others in a small training pen, site chases galore he was running hard. He started getting in the brush and finding them on his own. I'm not sure I can solo him, might not have the patience to wait him out. Drives me crazy when we have a staring contest on the edge of some brush. I'm waiting for him to hunt and he's waiting for me to do anything.

To me teaching a older dog hunt is liking making a whore a housewife. More than likely it won't happen in eiether case

I think that some of the best dogs I ve ever seen started late.The only true jump dog that I ever had was over two year old before she show anything about a rabbit.Would not hunt unless I was there.The dog would be burning one up and she just lay down.But if I came up.Look out Mr rabbit.I had another dog that someone left in the pen said I could have the dog.It want hunt or run.They were right but about a year later it starter running and could it run one and jump one too.You have to show time and love to some dogs.In the end its a big pay back.I think that's what wrong with a lot of rabbit hunters.They want the best now.If its not running in 6 month of age,by by dog.

IM GETTIN UP THERE AINT GOT TIME TO WAIT . THEY EITHER DO OR DONT NOT GOING TO WAIT ONASLOW STARTER IF U HAVE TIME THATS GREAT COST SAME AMOUNT TO FEED ONE THAT RUNS AS ONE THAT DONT RUN

What do you think about not feeding for a few days and put him back in the pen. Maybe feed him a fresh rabbit. Does any of that stuff work?

Jbfous01 wrote:What do you think about not feeding for a few days and put him back in the pen. Maybe feed him a fresh rabbit. Does any of that stuff work?

Negatory Red Rider.

IMO hunt is born in them just like Michael Jordan Pete rose or Peyton manning they where athletes the day they where born, polished to make better but you can't teach a person to be an athlete and you sure as hell can't teach a dog how to hunt. You gotta have heart and desire to hunt with no regard How could you ever teach heart to a dog