A general forum for the discussion of hunting with beagles, guns, clothing and other equipment and just talking dawgs! (Tall tales on hunting allowed, but remember, first liar doesn't stand a chance)
Dave Swiger wrote:If hunt is learned then why don't we see more poodles in the field. They are said to be the smartest dogs. Beagles have been bred for a certain purpose and same thing with all hunting breeds. I train German Shephards to guard and attack...not really, just bring out the natural instints of the dog. I love the nature VS nurture debates.
Dave
I believe it can be done. Every thing is possible.
Hunt is a trait...bottom line.
You can not teach any dog desire and smarts, because they either have it or they don’t. You can teach a dog to sit, stay, roll over, come here, etc...
Foot speed, line control, nose power, and hunt are all traits and are things that a dog that has a desire to run to catch will excel at.
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I really HATE (LOL) to admit it but I agree with SANFORDSSJ on this one .
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I think one thing to remember is that these dogs are scent hounds. I would say that's why a lot of dogs lack "hunt" but everyone has a different definition of hunt. Some guys like a "bird" dog type hunt, to me that's the beagle just going around scenting and covering a lot of ground fast which makes sense and some guys like that (but a lot of rabbits are ran by). Some guys like a dog that will hit every brush pile, weed, and any kind of cover to find a rabbit, to me those dogs are "hunting" not just running around trying to catch a scent. I think that's why it's so hard to predict how much "hunt" a dog will have. I agree that they have to have desire, most dogs I've seen that have desire are pretty good if not real good jump dogs.
I do believe that hunt along with most other rabbit running qualities are passed along from the parents. I was just wondering if the sire or dam throws certain traits. I know you have heard this before " That dog throws a lot of hunt in his pups " OR " That dog throws big mouths " I understand that dog may throw hunt or mouth but is it on an individual basis or is it a male female thing?
I'm sure some would catagorize "hunt" and "desire" as the same thing while most realize that they are definitely two different things. Just because a hound has a lot of desire doesn't mean he has a lot of hunt. Some hounds have almost no hunt, but once a rabbit is up and running they have the desire to run it all day long. Seen some well know stud dogs (one in particular that's out there now) that have almost NO hunt but do have the desire to run one all day long.
60/40 TO THE DAM..JMHO
the biggest thing i feel to Reember is That if you breed two Faults together your gonna get Faults you breed to get what your lacking
The Stud must complement the bitch...
that being Said the easiest thing I feel to breed for is Speed..the hardest is HUNT they either got it or they dont!!!
Oh And Casey if you can TEACH a Dog to hunt I got one here you need to come work your miracle on LOL
From Field to Show and Show to Field the way it should be
If you just sit back and read these posts all the time it sure does ease the stress of work! I think I'll teach one to
run my computer at work. LOL You can solo to improve hunt, line contol but I really don't believe you can teach hunt. I am not saying there aren't miracles but do they happen twice.
You can't teach hunt, but I and you can teach one to stay out of sight of you. We may think its hunting!!! LOL
A pup out of good hunting beagles will hunt when first turned loose, hunt and find everything, birds, rats, everything in the brush, but it will not be on the road with you. May come out occasionally by losing its way, but stand and look around and go right back in hunting for something, it knows not what.
I seldom see an road warrior anymore and I don't know anyone that has one for very long. We'd sure kid the owner to death!
Percfect example of what pups should do John! I have two that are 6 months and they will go looking for "something" and they don't know what as of yet,LOL.
My little Shooter female, green started, alone will jump out of the kennel bypass her food and hit the brush looking for a rabbit. She now knows they are there, but
I have to now put her food in her pen for her to eat after I go and catch her. That is born in her, I did not have to walk her to the brush, but a couple trips and instict took
over.
I am also of belief it is trial and error on who throws what. I will take my chances on looking at the weak areas on my stud or my bitch before I breed any hounds.
You then ,after careful study, can evaluate the traits in the pups. Breed for what you want by breeding to what you want. Don't fool yourself by thinking the female or
male will correct the problems completely. That is my philosophy, and strictly my opinion.
Looks like you have two goosd ones there. What are they out of? What hunt did the sire and dam have?
Remembet the story of the college that wanted to have the smartest and prettiest female student possible so they bred Einstein to Miss America and got the ugly of Einstein and the dumbness of Miss America.
Always breed to have less of the traits you don't like, never breed thinking you'll only get the best traits. I call this breeding negatively.
And, I'll add for the rookies, never breed a black dog to a white dog thinking you'll get the brown one you want. I'm talking about instincts and traits, not color. It very seldom works like that. Breed for the norm, not the one in a thousand chance.
My two Shooter little ones are off of a Striker and Shaker bitch(the male pup) and female is off of my Dingus bred female. I know on my female her momma will hunt
hard for a rabbit and jumps a bunch of them for me. The male is off of a bitch known to have nice hunt as well. Hope they make nice ones. time will tell.
I beleive that hunt is a trait, but I have noticed that you will have dogs that hunt very hard but just don't have the brains to be a greaqt jump dog. I think some dogs become great jump dogs from time and they get rabbit smart!
I think I'll teach one to