Are you really a Beagler?????

[mybeagles]

I think if we are all honest, we can all remember back to a day that changed us from being the owner of a beagle to a beable crazy fenatic.

When it strikes you go on a mission to find the perfect hound or at least describe what one must look like. We suddenly need all the best equipment. We look in our back yards and see that old dog house that has been home to 3-4 generations of family pets and instantly it seems inadequate. At this point we embark on a building project that for most of us we soon find out we are not trained for. We then start to daydream and wonder how life could have been better it we would have only took up architicture or construction as an occupation so we could build a brag worthy kennel for our dogs.

As we search for that perfect beagle, all of a sudden the hounds in the neighborhood don't seem to stack up with the hounds being bred on the other side of the country. We naively believe the exagerated writeups put in the magazines about the hounds because in our little world we want to believe the perfect dog existst if we could just get our hands on the right pup.

Once we get our hands on the "perfect pup" from across the country and from the cross that the breeder swears will produce all Field Champions we start shopping for only the best equipment for our new world beater. We amazingly find time to get that pup to the starting pen 7 days a week and tell our wives we are so busy we dont have time to mow the front yard.

Then the day of recconing happens. The pup starts to bark on a rabbit. We know our pup is 5 months old, but to make it sound more impressive we shave two months off its age and tell everyone it started at 3 months old. By the time the dog is 6 months old it has circled a rabbit or two full circle and we begin to believe everything we read about the sire and dam and start to imagine how great this hound will be.

At this point we order the beagle magazines to be sure to find out when the trial dates are so we can enter our hound on his 1 year birthday. Of course, the trials close to home have dishonest judges so we look for a trial 8 hours away where your sure you can get a fair look at your hound.

Now you realize you need a fancy box if your going to be a trialer, and that plywood box your grandpa made 25 years ago that has been passed down 2 generations is not worthy to hold you future Field Champion.

You take two days off work so you can get to the trial the night before. You arive to be sure and have enough time to let everyone know your dog is only 1 year old but has been circling rabbits since 3 months old and is mature enough to compete in a licensed trial.

You draw first series and you just cant wait. Your dog is a little timid, but after the first rabbit is jumped your dog stops to listen as the rest of the pack drives away with the rabbit. Soon the rabbit cuts back to the gallery and as your dog heads into the pack he intersects the rabbit and gets a brief sight chase in front of the judges. At this point, in your mind your dog just scored 1000 points. It drives the rabbit 30 yards to a loss and is soon over taken by the rest of the pack. Your dog doubles back and picks up a "check" on some uncovered track and the rest of the pack keeps driving. You want the judges to bring the pack back to your dog. Again, in your eyes your pup just picked a tough check and should be awarded another 1000 points. This goes on for 30 minutes in similar fashion and to your complete amazement the judge orders your dog up. You cant believe it. Certainly he must have the wrong dog. You have your dog leading the trial and they order it up.....

There has been a great injustice done. The judges are promoting the wrong style of hounds. You have an 8 hour trip home to calculate what format would be better suited for your superstar. By the time you get home you have it all figured out and start to stategize your next move...

If any of this has happened to you......you can call yourself a beagler!

Mybeagles

[Triple_S]

ROFL..
OH man that was good.
and i can relate.
thanks for a good read. you should send that in to a magizene.
a 1000 points i'm still

[VA Jim]

That was my dog!!!

[PREACHERS,KENNEL]

i cant belive you would spy on a man like that lol.

[rabbitrunner33]

i know what your talking about. drove 5 hours one way to get the pup. put her in starting pen. run her first rabbit at 4 month old. working on new kennel for her.to young to do a derby yet but that will come in the spring. joining a beagle club so i can get the best help with training and ifo. i think i got the fever.hope it never ends.

[Ron Conroe]

dave, i can't believe you put my story on here after we talked on the phone. LOL. how's it been going

[bucks better beagles]

Rose City, that was perfect. Let me add a caveat. After about 40 years of searching for this beagle, building kennels, buying dog boxes, running in trials, and being disappointed...You realize that is isn't the all the stuff, it is just the hunt. The being out there and doing it and maybe, that old dog box was good enough, and maybe the thrill is just in the search.

Anyway, that seems to be how I do it now. I just run em and enjoy em.

Bob

[mybeagles]

I was just telling my story. You guys will have to write your own......

Bob, I think your right. It's the whole experience, but I still like trying to find the 'perfect beagle'. I enjoy getting dogs started and fooling with pups. I didn't realize how much I would miss beagles till I got sent over here to Korea for 3 years. Im guessing the first couple trips out when I get back will be real enjoyable.

Mybeagles