HOW Many HOUNDS Measured OUT At THE World HUNT This YEAR

[Spruce Ridge Beagler]

I just can't believe this thread is still going on ? Once again,little pack dogs are check dogs, check dogs, check dogs ! Sure, you can throw in a few strike jumps but no points for speed & no points for drive. And once again I dont run big dogs now lets get back to runnin

[beagler282]

Hunter,
The place where my info comes from is the PP rule book.After making the post I realized that the rules are different for each division but the breed standard for the NKC is 15''.You would need to check the rule book from each division as for the rules are somewhat different but pretty much the same.

I don't know who made the breed standard 15''.If someone decides to change it whether it be someone knowledgeable about beagles or a 6th grader that likes dogs so be it.Things in life change and I try and adapt to lifes changes.Life is too short to worry about half of this stuff.If I want to compete in field trials I have to follow the rules or else go find something else to do.

[Farwest]

I also found US census said that only 2% of people 17 and over graduated from high school in 1870. This would be close to the time frame for those who came up with the 15" breed standard rule. Have you ever considered this? So basically we have a few guys that are screaming it is THE RULES how would you feel if we scratched the rules completely and take a group of 6 graders of today that love dogs and put them in a room and say make us some rules to run trials with. I would be willing to consider that these 6 graders are above the intellectual level as the men of 130 years ago...how willing would you still be to scream but it is the rules knowing the who made them and the degree of their education?
jmo, Hunter

I have made it past grade 12 but not one of my courses was on Rabbit hunting! I picked that up in the woods, as I am sure the people that made the rule book did as well. Rabbits haven't change in 130 years why do you think the height of hounds should?
While I agree a inch or two shouldn't make much of a difference, the rules are the rules. Does anyone actually think by raising the standard to 16 inches will make this problem go away? Most people are more competitive than their hounds. It wouldn't take long before 17" hounds were popping up at trials.
Would it make sense to try and cut down on speeders by raising the speed limits?

[Scott Green]

Farwest- I like the idea about raising the speed limits....may keep me on getting a few tickets now and again while on my way to trials after getting out of bed late!

[Free Bird]

ARHA/NKC Big Pack began allowing hounds up to 16 inches in March of 2006.

Speed and Drive is one of four classes scored at a big pack hunt.

[Hunter]

That is interesting ,from looking at the rules Big Pack format where a bigger dog might help more than any other ARHA or UKC format. Dogs running for 4 hours solid and scoring on speed and drive. If asked I would have thought this would have been the last format to accept 16". Most of the formats score on strikes, jumps , and line recovery where speed or endurance would not factor in.
jmo, Hunter