Has anyone ever had to CULL a dog?

[MacMaster]

THIS IS JUST A QUESTION!!!! After you try everything that you can... put in paper for free,give with the dog everything a person would need. Do you take him to the pound? Take him out in a field and blow his head off? If you do the later, how do you cope with it? I mean yes the dog has faults, yes the dog has been given more than enough chances to prove himself,but, dogs are suppose to man's bestfriend, right?
If your friend did something over and over again would you take him(a human)out in a field and blow his head off?

I have never had to do this and was just wondering what everyone thought.

P.s. THIS IS JUST A QUESTION!!!!

[mybeagles]

I would suggest you ask a friend to help you out if its going to bother you that bad. This is a good reason to cull early rather than give numerous opportunities and eventually become attatched to the dog. Major faults usually show up fairly quick in a dog but I frequently see guys giving advice to keep giving a dog more time. I cull fast and ferious at a young age which frees me up to get started with the next dog. I certainly dont enjoy any part of it, but its a fact of life/death when dealing with beagles so I take the good with the bad. There is always the option of taking the dog to the vet to be put down but this will cost you a little bit of money. Good luck.

[Steve C.]

Most of the hounds I've had over the years were culled from my kennel. Now "cull" means different things to different people. A few of my culls went on to become Field Champions or close to it but they were culled for anything from size to kennel barking, deer running, poor conformation, lack of nose, overcompetitive, too slow, etc. By far, the big majority of these culls made a perfectly acceptable hunting dog for the casual hunter but if they're not worthy of breeding, I have no need of feeding them. I've put a few down myself, mostly the aged hound who is near his end. I know people ask how someone can put down a dog who's been a terrific companion and a friend all his life, but when the time comes you'll know it. I don't ever want to see one of my dogs lose his dignity at the end of their life. I've taken dogs to my vet to be euthanized before and it's not what I'd call a very nice way to pass on. A well placed .22 bullet is quick and humane and the dog never feels a thing. It also is much less stressful on the dog than packing it off to the vet where I believe he suspects the end is at hand. Believe me, this not an easy thing to do and it can be heartbreaking, but seeing your friend in pain with no chance of recovery is worse. I used to be horrified by the thought til the time came when one of my favorites was near the end and my vet couldn't get him in for another week. The dog was suffering badly so I did what had to be done and the sense of relief a while afterwards was surprising and comforting. I will never advocate placing a dog with a shelter. To me, that is the cruelest of ends for a dog, even if he is not euthanized. If you bred it, you are responsible for it. I've never understood why the thought of death is so terrifying to most people. Every living thing comes to the same end. It's not how long you live, but how well you live.

[blackdirt beagles]

thats the ugly and not fun part of beagling. but in my opinion, there are times when that is necessary. its not fun, or something pleasant to talk about, but if the dog has a severe fault or severe health problems, that may be the best course. i look at it this way: i love my beagles very much and give them the best care i can afford but they are working dogs and if they cannot get the work done then they have to go. some can be sold if its just little quirks you may not like or some can be given as pets if they fail to hunt, but then there are the very few that must be put down. taking a dog to the vet to be fixed and then adopted out is always an option, but there are enough "shelter dogs" now that if the fault is so severe i would just put the dog down. that may sound cruel to some, but how many shelter dogs just sit there in a pen anyway til their time is up? this is just my opinion but if its a severe fault, thats what i would do. if it would work as a pet, then by all means try to give it to a good home.

[Guest]

I would like to state my opinion on this. I have heard of this so many times and really had no idea what Cull meant. I was shocked to have read the replies and remarks to this subject. I totally object to something like putting a .22 to a dogs head. I have raised beagles myself and have never done anything like that. Keep in mind some don't work out and some do. This in my opinion is not the dogs fault. I feel there is a more humane way of doing this. Put the dog in the newspaper to give away to a good home or take the dog to the vet to be put to sleep. I couldn't sleep at night knowing that I placed a gun to a dogs head that I had raised and because doesn't make the hunting dog you had wanted, you place a gun to its head and ends its life.
I know that beagles are hunting dogs, but you have to understand there are alot of people who use these dogs as a house companion. Take a look on the web, at your pet shops, and know that not only are these hunting dogs for some, but a family pet. There are people who are looking for papered beagles for a family dog. They will pay up to $300 dollars or more for a beagle.
Now if by chance you had a puppy that had problems at birth, then and only then would I consider taking it to the vet to be put to sleep.
I know that selling or giving away a puppy is alot easier than an older dog. But that is why I start my beagles at a very young age with introducing them to hunting. I can see which ones that suit me and which ones that don't.
I think that something like this might be against the law as well. I know the Humane Society is getting very strict with matters like this. You might want to check the LAW ON THIS MATTER.

[blackdirt beagles]

guest - you missed the point here. a high majority of the time cull doesnt mean put to sleep. many are resold or given away and their new owners love them and they work out as hunters or pets but in some cases the best is to put them down. everybody knows what they can or cant do in this situation. id never judge a guy who does things differently than me. as for the Humane Society, ever see one of their shelters? i wouldnt put any dog thru that.

[snowshoehareguide]

what steve c said - i cant improve on that -steve if u run for president im going to vote for u - very good answer to a very tough question----as for my friends- seriously - i dont compare a human life to a dog even tho i do like most dogs better than some people- pete

[Guest]

I don't believe I missed the point. I know this was only a question and I thought I would give my opinion on the Question, which was only a question. As you probably know by my first reply, I am a female. My husband and myself have different opinions on the subject as well. I was basically touching the subject about the gun to the dogs head.
For your question: Have I been the a Humane Shelter, the answer is yes. I have been to many. I agree with you that I wouldn't want to put my dog through that. I understand that some shelters are poorly kept up and I wouldn't want to send a dog there. I agree whole heartly on that.
Know as for selling the dog or giving the dog away, I think I touched the subject on that as well. I am all for that. I have done that ALOT!!
For the last reply, I love my dogs as well and no they are not human. But like you I like my dogs better than most humans as well
I have a older beagle right now that is doing well in her old age. She was the best hunting dog anyone could ever have. She wasn't papered, but she could run with the best. For as long as her health will let her, she will have a place to rest her head in my kennels. If she gets ill and has problems I will take her to the vet and have her put to sleep. It will be hard, but that would be the right thing to do.
Please understand I wasn't trying to make friction, just stating my opinion.

[AlabamaSwamper]

Everyone has their opinions here and we should all respect that.

I hate this topic more than any other. Grow up here where I did and one gets used to the idea of culling in the sense of a .22.


I doubt there are many that would kill a good healthy beagle that had a good personality. I wouldn't.

However, a dog doesn't just have to have health problems to get it. A shy dog will get it in a hurry and so will an aggressive dog. No need for them to stay around. Those can't even make pets.

It's really all in the way a houndsman was brought up. It never gets easy, that I promise you.

I have stated many times on the boards that I used to deer hunt with a guy that would cull half the litter at birth, regardless of how healthy they were. That was his way of controlling his pack and believe me, it worked without flaw. I was in no position to question him on it. I dreamed of having dogs like him and still do.

I couldn't do that, for sure. A shy or aggressive or sick dog is another story though.

[Steve C.]

Guest, why do you feel that having your vet put a dog to sleep is more humane than a .22 bullet? Given the choice between the bullet and the needle, I'd take the bullet for myself any day, and I won't treat a beloved friend any worse by taking him to a vet. It's no easy thing, but I'd never ask someone else to do what I'm unwilling to do. I have a 13 year old female now who will be coming to the end of her string before too long. She's perhaps my favorite dog ever. I pray she'll stay healthy to the last day, and pass quietly in her sleep, but that seldom happens. I won't have her die a slow death on the cold table at the vet's office, with only strangers around. I've been her best friend all her life, only I can be her best friend at the end of it. If you think that's cruel, you still have a lot to learn about life.

[patchhounder]

AMEN!!!! STEVE C., YOU SAID IT THE BEST

[Guest]

Maybe this was the post and replies that most took my attention. I went through it twice because I could not imagine me taking a final walk with one of mine.
I do agree it will be me and not someone else when the time comes, but it would be a last resort. Twice in the past I have been called on walk someones dog, one turned very mean & one liked to chase cars (he caught one). Niether were beagles, but both were better friends than most humans.

I know it is off the subject of culling and no one will understand if they do not want to. I love dogs and will do what needs done to keep them happy and I hope they all outlive me.

[CORNERSTONE]

Sorry.....................was not logged in.



Hope they out live me post was mine

[lee ga]

i would never put to death a hound just because he wasn't a superb rabbit hound. i only keep a few and its not hard to find someone to take an occasional beagle. i make sure the individual knows exactly why i'm giving the hound away.the hounds that don't have much hunt will most certainly make a good pet for someone and others that are not quite up to par are given to deer hunting friends or to a young kid that wants a companion. as for putting down the sick, i understand what steve is saying and think it speaks volumes for his good character. bottom line,there isn't an easy way, only the right way for you.

[blackdirt beagles]

i just lost my male dog last month to old age . he was in great shape til the end and i hunted him quite often and im happy he died in his sleep, but if his health would of been bad where he was in pain, i wouldnt want his time spent dying at the vets, i would of wanted him to be with me out in the field, possibly even after a short run. its a tough deal, but thats my opinion. as for shy or mean or completely "faulty" dogs, i would deal very swiftly but painlessly and humanely also.