The American Beagler Forum

i just found a place by me that is loaded with rabbits.
my 2 year old does well..

my question is;; how long do you run your dogs for..?


my dog barked behind rabbits for 2 1/2 hrs. today..
that's alot of yelping...

well i run mine acording to how much they are running that day if they stay on hot trails foe 3 hrs i usually take them home but have a buddy that hunts 5 or 6 hrs evertime out so i guees its just accoring hot hot it is or cold

On cold days run as long as you like. Dogs thrive on it. I used to hunt for 8 hours every time out. Should you notice that they are acting tired or loosing interest or their tongues are dragging the ground, quit. Remember, on hot days that when you are hot they are very hot. On those days, I use this criteria. When I start to sweat standing still, it is time to go home. Water the dogs and allow them to cool down before boxing them for the ride. Hot dogs can die quickly in a hot box.

If it is not real hot & they start loosing interest, I would let someone else take them home & get some with some GRIT! I run 4 hours twice a week & 8 hours on Saturday. Although running has not been good this season for some reason, can't wait for those February Ruttin Rabbits to take them on a long range spin. Main objective is to keep them in the briars as long as the job & wife will allow.

8 to 12 hour runs are better for them then those short couple of hour runs. Heat doesn't matter. When the rabbit goes in or is caught the hounds will get a drink and cool off and go back at it if they are in good condition. You should be able to run them 8 to 12 hours for few days in a row if they are in condition with no ill effects. Give them a day to rest and they'll be right back at it.

We usually run for 6-7 hours and I mean run, not lope, jog, or fast walk. Most folks here use the term "run" to mean taking the dogs out to trail a rabbit, even if it only slow walks the whole time.
If I were trialing I would let my trial dogs out and pick them up after an hour to get them used to going all out for that hour at a pace they could not sustain all day. There is a term for doing this and it is called Squirting your dogs.
Dogs will do just like humans and pace themselves to physically meet the time usually spent running. I can run for a quarter of a mile, but better jog if I'm going for several miles or I will seize up or pass out.

I run my dogs 4 to 6 hours 4 or 5 days a week, they don't usually tire but when they do they get sloppy and I know they have had enough. Feed 'em run 'em, hunt 'em, you will know when it is time to put 'em in the box. Hare