The American Beagler Forum

In rabbit hunting, What is the most imported thing you look for in your dogs?

I love a consistent dog and dog that does NOT cause a lot of problems. I like the blue collar style you could say...go to work and do your job to the best of your ability.

Accountability

Brains! Seems like them smart ones always end up staying the longest. They handle easy,won't run off game and will tell on dogs that will, jump rabbits, pickup the tuff back tracks,they know when the rabbit has been killed and that chase is over. some of them will even fetch rabbits. Of course they must be able to jump and circle a rabbit but it's that X factor. I just like a dog with good common sense for the hunt!!

I like a dog that does his job day in day out. No quit, minds great and always glad to be out no matter what the weather is!! And that a little better than all your buddies!!

I like to see some independence to search, but want the dogs to pack when one is jumped. Brains, drive and hunt with a good nose. Fetching is a bonus, but not necessary. I want easy handling, no trash running, and a dog that keeps track of me and checks in occasionally.

Larry

If your talking rabbit hunting then the ability to stay after the rabbit is the most important. The longer they are running the more chances you will get. Seems simple to me.

To end the Hunt with a big smile on my face, if this happens then the dogs performed to my expectations and thats all that I could ask out of them...

Hubbard84 wrote:If your talking rabbit hunting then the ability to stay after the rabbit is the most important. The longer they are running the more chances you will get. Seems simple to me.

That about tells the tale. If it doesn't have nose, intelligence, determination, independence and line control then its just another dog wasting dog food.

handling is more important to me

Tuff-E-Nuff wrote:To end the Hunt with a big smile on my face, if this happens then the dogs performed to my expectations and thats all that I could ask out of them...

I'm with you and i'll add NO trash runs!! That's one thing about running young dogs and starting pups is you just never know when they will decide to burn one up but every day they don't is a great day!

Hunt!

Hunt here also, one wont hunt the rest of the stuff is useless

HUNT! If I have to do the hunting for the rabbit I don't need the dog. If the dog won't hunt then ALL the other stuff is a moot point as it will NEVER have to do any of the other stuff.

Thanks yall. I love everthing yall say. To me I love control,I want my dogs to hunt with me,to come when call without the e collar, and to rabbit hunt without the e collar. I ve seen dogs that hunt great but when you see a rabbit they would not come to the call. I ve seen dogs that when you turn them out,they just keep on going and now you re hunting dogs, and yes I ve seen dogs that can run the crap out of a rabbit but have no clue how to get one up. I just love control with the stuff yall are talking about. Thanks Yall