Fast and Doing it Right (Line Control)

[pa beagler]

Not trying to start anything or hijack anyones post, just trying to learn all I can to improve my kennel. I read the post about the fastest dog you own. I know speed is realative to the beholders eye but what would do you guys call line control? I have seen some fast dogs but they more or less just guess and may or may not get lucky when they swing way out after they have created a check or loss. They never come back to the point of loss. I have seen other hounds that need to be pryed out of the check area. I like a hound that can flat out pound a rabbit but snaps back to the point of loss and works out progressivly rather than guess. How long of a breakdown before you consider it a check? I witnessed a pack of three dogs that I would have bought spot on this past spring at a trial. I can honestly say I have never seen three dogs that flat out pounded a rabbit like they did. They ran the rabbit the entire hour with only two checks (15sec). If I had not witnessed it I would not have believed it. They were as smooth as they were fast. I am not talking SPO hounds (not bashing them either). I guess that is why I am asking this question. Maybee they were not the fastest doing it right.

[wvduece]

i had 3 dogs out this morning took a lil while to get a rabbit jumped but after they got it up they pounded that rabbit fast running like they were sight chasing only one check it took 16 seconds in 45 minutes of running now thats how i like to hear them just screaming n busting brush good run jb

[HLC_Kennel]

Not to change subjects, but lots of solo time with each dog will help out on the check. Give a dog some solo time and they should (depends on the dog) will work the check out and keep going. I love line control in a hound, because some of these cottontails that have been around the block will easily double back on the dogs, and a hound that doesn't have solid line control, will run pass that sititng rabbit. With line control, they should get doubling rabbit lot easier and the rabbit won't have time to rest between checks. My 2 cents.

[tommyg]

Most FAST hounds I've seen were high maintence,meaning you have to keep them ran up and alot of solo time,then maybe they could hang on to a track. I would rather have a hound that ran a 6 speed and ran the rabbit right than a 9 speed hound that ruined most of the chases by blowing over the line,swinging and skirting running crazy. Its not popular but about all the real fast hounds I've seen wouldn't have been fun to hunt with.

[RiverBottom]

I love a fast dog, but I found out what I call fast ain't the same as what most call fast. I judge speed by how fast they bring the rabbit back. If they are off the line part of the time and have to go back and look for it, they are not fast in my book.

The fastest dogs I have owned are able to get up close to the rabbit and make it run straight and fast. When they get off the line they seem to know where it went and they ease back over on the line again without slowing down. They don't snap back to the point of loss, they don't have to.

[Larry G]

I figger about one in a thousand can fly and do it right... so far I've seen 999 run...

[yellowdog]

I figger about one in a thousand can fly and do it right... so far I've seen 999 run...

i got 2 right now that can plum fly and you aint gonna fault them for much..it can be done it just takes time and proper training...

[marty kelly]

dog should run the rabbit as fast as it can or as slow as it has to.

[Larry G]

And i have bigfoot here in my basement

[yellowdog]

And i have bigfoot here in my basement

you ought to get him out and make some dough .... ...these two aint completely perfect however they hold a good line and dont blow the check by 50 yards they have the brains to snap back and get it and go..they may not be your idea of perfect but my idea may be different...

[Larry G]

I'll bring Bigfoot, you bring the fast dogs with line control. I may want to swap with you...

[yellowdog]

deal...lol

[full circle kennel]

its pretty simple.. the faster you go ,the more loose most hounds will get. if your looking to quicken your pack you might take a look at the larsen bred hounds from michagan. imo, the have a touch too much nose for the trials but will make excellent hunting dogs.they have decent speed and plenty of nose for hunting .most have good control for their speed.however, if you want a trial dog, these days you need a step quicker dog imo. look to the win listings for your breed info.there are many great lines out there to try. line control and speed is all relative to the type of hound your looking at. good running little pack hounds can" get it" as far a speed goes, line control ?the good ones will account for their game and wont come to the point of loss first. rather checking ahead R&L of the line first then back to the point. different style of dog. buy or raise what YOU like. just dont expect mixed styles to work in harmony within one pack. goodluck.

[pa beagler]

All good responses, thanks. What do you consider a bad over run? I don't want a hound that over runs to much more than 10 feet if even that. If he gets back to the check quickly and goes with it then great. If he swings out from the over run he is gone. I have just seen two many that can't keep one going when swinging out and guessing. I have a buddy that runs SPO hounds. They are good dogs for a constant steady run and music, but my hounds will bring Mr. rabbit back to the gun alot quicker. They just cover more ground faster. What it takes my buddy's hounds to cover in a half hour takes my dogs about 10 to 15 minutes. Yes they have more breakdowns but they still bring it around faster which in my eyes equals more excitement, shooting, and dinner.

[RiverBottom]

I've been around hounds long enough to get pretty cynical when I hear all this talk. Most, not all but most, of the "fast" hounds talked about and adverstised are not worth the feed they eat in my book. If they can't stay on the line they are not fast, they are just another rough running beagle. Those kind are a dime a dozen.

On the other thread about fast dogs I asked to see some. Still waiting. There are lots of videos on here of medium speed hounds, some of them are very good. I've seen a few videos of beagles from Ireland that can run a hare with speed and control. These packs kill hare regularly and they don't use no gun.

I do believe there are some beagles over here that can run the line with plenty of speed and do it right. Not many people try to breed them. None of the AKC field trials promote this kind of dog that I can tell. I have been trying to keep and run fast dogs that stay on the line. I have a few that I like. None of them are field trial bred, at least not AKC, and I don't keep up the AKC papers on the ones that had them. I train on cottontails, but I mostly hunt hare.

I will post a video of one of my dogs on a seperate thread.