13" -VS- 15" Which do you prefer and why?

bkg · Post by **bkg** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 10:28 am

I have been a diehard 15" beagle man for as long as I can remember. My feeling has always been the bigger dogs had more foot which I prefered and seemed to hold up better on long runs and seemed to handle the deeper snow better. An old time and respecrted beagler who has done it all on a national level said something to me the other day that made me think. He lives and runs in the far north where the conditions are bad and the snow is deep. He runs 13" has has great dogs what he said to me that really made me think was

"why use a horse when you can get the same job done equally well with a pony"

So I ask is there really a difference other than size?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 12:03 pm

I believe all the quality can be found in a 13" package, that is also possessed in the 15" package but also that some countries hunted are better served by larger or smaller hounds according to the terrain and cover that the hounds must travel.
Surly a hound that must pursue the hare through belly deep snow would be better served by adding a 1" or 2" of leg to carry him over it or on the open drives could make more gain, but on the other hand, one who's advantage it is to go under the heavy growth, would be better to not have to stoop and belly craw under it ,when the 13" carriage could fly right under and the powerfullness of the shorter leg could climb the steep hills, but then if he should fall in a deep creek, the longer legs to leap up onto the bank would keep the race going. Oh my! What to do? Now you've got me worried...

All the best...Patch

YGD-- BUNNYBUSTER · Post by **YGD-- BUNNYBUSTER** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 12:52 pm

THE QUESTION WAS !!!
WHY USE A HORSE WHEN YOU CAN GET AN EQUAL JOB FROM A PONY.
ANSWER--- TO MAKE IT EASIER ON THE HORSE.
I PREFER ABOUT A 14" BEAGLE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S EASIER ON A
BIGGER DOG TO RUN IN THE FIELDS & WOODS HERE IN INDIANA & HE MAY HAVE LESS TROUBLE GETTING IN THE BRUSH OR BRIARS THAN THE SMALLER DOG. MY TWO CENTS WORTH.
BUNNYBUSTER

dosgris · Post by **dosgris** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 1:41 pm

i am hunting some superthick stuff that i have the idea the 13" variety can handle it better. it seems to me that my smaller dogs (among the 13"ers) do better in the thick stuff than my less small dogs.

AlabamaSwamper · Post by **AlabamaSwamper** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 5:10 pm

I have yet to see the difference myself. I have dogs that range from 11.5'' to 14.5'' and they all run in thick stuff well. When talking of a 13 or 15'' dogs, that is only 2''. Not enough to matter in the thick stuff. Maybe 5 or 6'' would but not 2''.

Emery · Post by **Emery** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 5:36 pm

I beg to differ that 1-2 inches makes little difference. Give yourself one more inch of clearance underneath your pumpkin on your truck and see how much more you can go through. Put a hard hat on your head and start walking through a construction area, you will be suprised how many more things on which you bump your head. Take a 6 foot center and 5'10" center, see who wins the most tip offs at the beginning of a game. What does this have to do with beagling you ask? It is the same principle. Oh yes, your 15" dog will make it under the same brush pile your 13" will, however it will take more effort because it has to crouch down a little further. You might say that your 15" and 13" run the same speed. This could be because of the ability of their noses.

Just my opinion.
Emery

DG TX · Post by **DG TX** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 7:51 pm

I have seen top of the line come from 10" to 15".(never over) I like big bitches as they seem to whelp easier. I can remember back in the 70's when to whelp a 13" bitch meant a possible C-Section

. You can take a 14" bitch to any male

. Try with a 10.5 worthy of breeding...

Brian/bkg · Post by **Brian/bkg** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 8:34 pm

I just bought my first pups that will be 13" the rest of what i own is 15".
If there is no concieveable difference then why do some formats seperate 13" FROM 15" if there is no advantage or disadvantage. I bought these pups to gain nose in my pack hoping to not sacrifice foot speed and was assured these dogs when grown could run with my bigger hounds. I have little experience with 13" that is why i asked everyones opinions.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 9:12 pm

Of course there's a difference between 13" and 15" dogs. 13" dogs are better suited for thick places that at times they have to crawl around in and 15" dogs would do better in deeper snow and more open places. I've got places where I run that my 13" dogs do the best and other places where my 15" dogs run better. It's easy to tell which are better suited to your hunting territory.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 10:01 pm

Brian,
All kidding aside, I feel it is best to keep a level pack. We get all sizes but it would be better if they resulted in the size we liked so a good one would not have to be culled for being to big or to little. The best is to go to one who has most all the qualities you like and has proved to put in what is needed.
Getting a pup that is shorter than you like and may not be prepotent to give you what you hope for is a biger gamble than breeding a bitch you like to one of the same size, that has proven to put the better nose you hope to gain. Keep the variables to a minimum when breeding...Patch

bkg · Post by **bkg** » Fri Nov 07, 2003 8:38 am

Thanks Patch. I didn't buy these to breed to my existing dogs. I just wanted try try a line that had more nose for hunting in bad conditions than what i have now. I like my dogs but if most beaglers are honest with them selves like i am trying to be they can see that no line has everything we are looking for. In my case i need more nose but don't want to sacrafice foot so instead of trying to breed it i thought i would add a little different line to my pack and see how they come along. Good chance are they will be 13" but could go bigger. I dont' know how to handle the big dog and snow idea now like i always thought the bigger dogs did better in deep snow. Well if that is all true than why would someone from the far north who has tons of snow keep the 13" if they can't run in it. I know that even a 15" dog has trouble running in powder not because it is deep but because he continually will knock the track out ahead of him. On a packed snow size wouldn't matter cause they run on top and if it wasn't packed so good maybe a smaller dog could run and the bigger dogs will fall through. I am beginig to belive that maybe alot of the 13" vs 15" stuff is meerly old wives tales and that a good dog is a good dog no matter the size and if matched in speed you will probably see little difference in the run itself.

Smoke · Post by **Smoke** » Fri Nov 07, 2003 9:19 am

I have rabbit hunted all my life, and i have always had dogs of different height. the 15" is some times better on a stretch on a hare. but where I live the smaller the better because there is a whole lot of fences and I have seen som 15" get caught once or twice. as Far as culling a dog for their height, I don;t think that you should. Everyone has their own opinion. Right now I have two pup 6m old and they are doing great. one is 11" and the other will probably hit 15" I am just looking for the ability to hit that track as hard as they can

power · Post by **power** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 3:50 pm

I ALWAYS GET A LAUGH WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THEY BREED FOR CONFORMATION TO ACHIEVE STAMINA.
THEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR HOUNDS AND THEY ARE ALL 10-12" HOUNDS.
IF THATS WHAT THEY WANT GREAT. I LIKE SMALL DOGS TOO. BUT IT SEEMS SILLY IF YOU NEED STAMINA THAT YOU BREED SMALL DOGS.

bkg · Post by **bkg** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 1:35 pm

Power i don't think size has anything to do with stamina. who has more stamina a beagle of a Coon hound. What about an Arabian -vs- draft horse.

I know a guy who runs 13" beagles in Vermont on deep snow for hours at a time would a 15" have more Stamina. I doubt it!

wingpatch · Post by **wingpatch** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 3:58 pm

IT AIN'T HOW BIG THE DOG IS IN THE FIGHT, IT IS HOW BIG IS THE FIGHT IN THE DOG..
Swamper I got to agree with you this time

Wingpatch

The American Beagler Forum

13" -VS- 15" Which do you prefer and why?

13" -VS- 15" Which do you prefer and why?

13" OR 15"

laugh

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