The American Beagler Forum

I would like to get into trialing, I have two AKC registered 8 month old femaie pups, born Sept.15th 2013. They both opened on a track at just over 4 months old. They're doing great, jumping and running their own rabbits, showing good hunt and good nose for their age. I run them solo about 75% of the time. We get in the field about 4 times a week.
My question is, at what age should I think about entering them in a derby trial.
I have read on here that you can ruin a dog by putting too much pressure on them when they are young. I certianly dont to mess up all of the time I have in these two pups.

Any advice would be helpful.

For AKC Derby Field Trials, Brace, Gundog Brace, Small Pack, or Small Pack Option your Beagles will be qualified to enter though out the year of 2015. I run in both Gundog Brace and SPO but I like to enter the young Derbies in Gundog Brace for their first few field trials and see how they do. If they do O.K. try running them in a Trio or pack of four. In the north most of the Derby field trials are run in the spring March, April, and May. A few are run a little later in the year. Watch for the ads in Hounds & Hunting Magazine or Better Beagling Magazine. Good Luck