The American Beagler Forum

Hey guys, I am new to LP trialing and somewhat frustrated and in need of encouragement. I have been around PP trialers but never trialed and the few dogs I have are more PP style dogs. I even have a PPGRCH I bought, bred right now, but that wont help me in the LP format. I definitely want to run LP because of the distance to trials being closert than PP trials and gas being near $4 per gallon. I have been trying to get what would be a good LP trial dog, but not working out so far. I went to Tazwell Virginia and bought a hound for $400 that was a nice hound and quick too, and only needed the win to champion, but he managed to get out of my kennel after only about a week and a half and I havent seen him since. That was about two months or so ago. I also bought a young dog that had some Blue Ninja and Primetime ( I think- still learning the LP peds). He can absolutely fly on a good rabbit, but is too tight mouthed and will not claim checks quickly enough. I have a Northway hound that I traded a Benelli shotgun to that I have been reduced to trialing, that I dont really consider LP material, but he has managed to get a 2nd at a fun hunt and a licensed 3rd at a club hunt in only three trials. Nonetheless, I am frustrated and almost spent out for a while. Can anyone give me a good lead on where I could check on purchasing a good field trial style dog or pup? It may be a few weeks were I have spent so much lately on dogs, but I wanna at least start looking into it. Thanks BUNCH for listening to me belly ache guys. Sorry about the whining like a big baby. lol ....

hareball. This LP trialing is a tough sport. I've been in it for a few years now and have only one win in the open class and that's running maybe eight different hounds. I've raised and trained pups, bought started dogs out of LP styled hounds and bought hounds with places already on them. The wins don't come easy unless you stumble up on that special hound.
It sounds like you have what you want but are expecting to win at every hunt. It ain't going to happen unless your a very rich man. Try having some fun and don't worry about winning and they will come. I do see where some bad luck played a part but that usally happens to most of us somewhere down the line.
You can PM me or call me anytime and we will talk it over. I will try to help in anyway I can.
BTW.......... Fustration will only make it worse.

hounddog
Jim Umbarger
540-292-3000

Thanks for the advice Jim. I have been around alot of trialers and I see how rough it can be. I admire you guys for loving these dogs and sticking in there. I just feel like I am going to have to shift from the PP style dogs I love to hunt with now, to something a little different for LP. I have some good rabbit hounds come hunting season, wouldn't want to lose those. The hound I have trialed is tough, just not LP material I dont think, even thiough he has lucked up on a 3rd in a hunt. I am looking for something with a little more foot than he has. I will keep your number down, and you may be hearing from me soon, because I want to look to you veteran guys for advice, especially on bloodlines. By the way, a guy in my hometown keeps talking to me about a dog out of a Redman? line that he has and is willing to sell because he cant trial due to work. Would you have a clue what line he is talking about?

Yes, I've heard of this line, but I've never had any of it. IMO there are good and bad in all bloodlines. I find or raise pups out bloodlines that have a good trialing record and hope for the best.
If you call, I probably be able to help you.

hounddog
Jim Umbarger

Isn't the whole point to evaluate the dog for his fitness and ability in hunting? Since rabbit season doesn't span the whole year, we need something to do...so chasing rabbits without killing them seems to me to be productive.

My attitude going into it (haven't even gone once yet...dog is still learning) is to treat it as practice for the dog. My goal is modest: get the dog to find rabbits and run them so I can get a shot off. If the dog does more than that...great. If not...works for me. If he refuses to hunt, then he becomes a house dog. Fortunately, the dog is nuts for hunting, so he is "employed".

I know how it goes...I've seen it in firearms competitions. People get all "serious" about the sport and forget the real world applications. Suddenly, gizmos and gadgets become more important than fun and achieving goals. Look at the evolution of IPSC competition and how IDPA is changing. Someone is going to take the sport to the extreme so they can get every advantage possible to "secure" a win. I just keep things at the "club" level and avoid larger competitions. This keeps the sport fun and allows me to maintain perspective.

have fun with it..if you are in it for the fame..glory..ego..to make money..I don't think is the right ticket for ya..it's a hobby not professional sports..just enjoy meeting new people..seeing alot of dogs..and enjoying the fellowship..we all poke and joke with each other sometimes and like in everything some will get upset whether they think they got cheated or if feelings are hurt because there dog wasn't the best dog for that day. It doesn't take a super fast check dog to win in LP..it does help though if you have a judge that can keep up. All you need is a true rabbit dog and it will make a showing. My advice is if you are going to trial..judge too...it gives you new appreciation for the work they do and so when you are the handler and a judge misses a check it makes you be more understanding. It's a hard job for someone that is in shape. Hats off to the ones that bust the briars and chase these pounding packs of dogs.

if you are ever in my neck of the woods give me a call..would love to talk dogs and run sometime.

Good Luck and again HAVE FUN
Brad Adkins

Thanks for all the advice guys. I definitely love hounds for the fun, because I have never trialed until recently, but it is addictive, lol. I love a good solid, nice track dog as well as anybody and have since the first rabbit hunting trip I went on as a boy. I like the trialing for the different dogs, the fellowship, the friends, everything, but I still wanna be competitve a little. All the trial guys I have known were mainly interested in the fun, but they wanna win too, lol. Brad, I wrote your number down and will be calling you soon. I would love to come run dogs sometime, for the FUN!!!!

Are all you guys going to be at the kentucky state hunt this coming weekend? I would love to meet everybody.

Sorry hareball, but I'm not going to be able to make it. I have a bunch of friends in that great state and will miss shooting the breeze with them, but the farm has me tied down this time of years. I hope you have fun and enjoy yourself. If you are going, a few words of advise. If someone says, "lets play cornhole" don't fall for it. " They are some of the best! You guys have fun !

hounddog
Jim Umbarger

he hareball i have an idea for you.. go to the trails with money in hand and try to buy something you might like. it may be the easiest way for you to get a hound your looking for. you cant have mine though

One thing to remember is you do not have to have the fastest hound in little pack you just need a checking machine.I can think of 2 hall of fame dogs that i would consider pp speed that obviusly did very well in little pack.Just remember this when you go to buy your next little pack dog.

I will be at the State hunt..look me up..write my cell down and give me a call..i'll be around

Breed your PP dogs for a little more foot. Dont go breeding for trophies breed for what you like first and foremost. Speed is easy to acquire.

You are looking for the same thing everyone else is.
Just start attending LP hunts, watching dogs, talking to people.
Find out what you like, get a pup from a breeder that produces consistent results (not breeding the flavor of the day), run the legs off that pup, and in 2 years look to see if you have something.

hareball wrote:Are all you guys going to be at the kentucky state hunt this coming weekend? I would love to meet everybody.

well,here is what i have learned,there is no such thing as a lp style dog!!!!!!!!1


shure,people say rough swarpin swingin,mouthy dogs are lp style,that is only because that lp is the only format you can run them in and have any success..........

what are you calling a pp style dog??????

let me guess,line control,clean mouth,good hunt,and upper med speed,well,i have had more success in lp with a dog just like that,his name is bandit.........

my opinion is to be successfull in lp,you need a lil variety,because one thing is for shure,luck is the biggest factor in lp,and then ya got scent and running conditions,some hunts in lp ya need a brush dog to win,some ya need a balls to the wall track dog to win,bottom line is this,other than a walkie talkie dog,just about any style of dog can win in lp,now,winning on a consistent basis is another thing

i like to run clean line control hounds,i have won a few hunts in lp with them too,i have also won a few with big runners too,but,to win with a big balls to the wall dog ya need a rabbit to run for him,this is why ya see dogs at club hunts get beat week after week on cut and dive rabbits but take them to indiana and they smoke your arse......

here is my suggestion to ya,first,decide what clubs you plan to trial at,see what style of rabbit they have,what i mean is,you can go to one club and you have a bunch of cut dive rabbits,then go to indiana and have a bg runner,if you decide you want to be a guy that onmly hits lil local hunts,get ya a upper med speed brush dog that has a good nose,hunt and check work......

if you decide to skip the club hunts and run the big fives,get ya a fast hard hittin check dog,balls to the wall type hound.....

if ya plan to mix it up,hit the big ones and the occsional club hunt like myself,ya need a mixture,myself,i have a couple dogs i call true rabbit dawgs,they are the ones i have fun with at the lil hunts and occasional state hunt.then i also have a couple that can get up and go,hard hittin hounds,they are the ones i take to big runnin hunts,and when i go to a small hunt,they stay home,cause if they aint gettin the right rabbit,your just wastin cash......

anyway,i have rattled on too long,like i said,best thing to dop is decide what you like to run then hit the hunts that that style of dog has success in,and if ya got a lil extra cash,pick up another one that fits in to the type of hunt you only hit occasionally,just remember.......

any dog can be beat on any givin day,you have to have a lot of luck in this game