How fast is too fast?

[Rockdog]

Can a beagle be too fast? I have been working my hound out with a tame rabbit and am having some success. Old bunny isn't all that enthusiastic when it comes to making trails,so I decided to help out a bit. I put an old hand towel in with the rabbit to get good and smelly. This evening made a short trail with it and Chopper sorted it out in short order. He seemed to be awful quick about it,so I put him away and laid another trail. It was a long mostly straight trail with a little dally toward the end just to see if he was actually trailing or just lucky,lol. Well, I put him handy the start of the trail and he took off shortly. He followed it like a champ. Dally and all. He even barked a couple times own the back stretch,but man he went fast. My question is,can a beagle out run his nose? Can they get too fast and run right off the track? He didn't see me lay the trail,so he wasn't going off that. I don't dare risk a sight chase with old bun. Chop would be on him in short order,not good for my training bunny,lol. This was all open ground trailing. Maybe tomorrow I will drag a trail through some junk to slow him up a bit.

[B-man]

He's got the jist of tracking. Now go get him out in the real world on a real rabbit Bring a camera with because it is the single greatest moment of having a beagle!!

[Casey Harner]

When there are tons of losses that is to fast.

[Rockdog]

I would love to turn him loose on a wild rabbit. I think I better have a collar on him before I do though. I've been looking at the refurbished units on collar clinic. I'll pick one up as soon as the finances permit. I don't know anyone nearby that has seasoned hounds to run him with. I would like to try that. He's a good boy,just a little green. He and I are both new to this stuff and have a lot to learn.

[Ed Brown]

I've started my share of them and have one now that takes scent and moves out with it pretty fast, too fast ,as a matter of fact. When he loses it he shuts up and runs in a circle, real fast, and finds the track, usually. I only wish he'd slow down and run it correctly. I have always thought they would learn as they get a little age on them and hope this one will too. They just get sooo excited. Things usually come with time in the field. I agree with running them with an older dog, as long as the older dog isn't so fast that the youngster can't keep up. An older, slower dog works best, I think. It's my belief that you can't solo them too much. Especially after they have started. Makes them work harder.

[Ed Brown]

I forgot. I fully agree with the thought that watching and hearing a pup open on sight then scent is one of the biggest enjoyments of beagling. Some guys just HATE starting pups and I know, sometimes it's pretty discourageing. Pup always seems to be looking in the wrong direction when a hare/rabbit comes in sight. But it usually works sooner or later. I just started a one year old female that I really thought was not ever going to start. What a relief.

[hogbody]

I would love to turn him loose on a wild rabbit. I think I better have a collar on him before I do though. I've been looking at the refurbished units on collar clinic. I'll pick one up as soon as the finances permit. I don't know anyone nearby that has seasoned hounds to run him with. I would like to try that. He's a good boy,just a little green. He and I are both new to this stuff and have a lot to learn.

Rockdog, I have a 2 year old Sportdog 2500 2 dog system. I am considering upgrading to the Sportdog 1825. The only reason being the size of the collar receiver. I have small dogs (12") The 1825 has a smaller receiver. From the looks of your avatar, your dog looks like he's on the 15" scale. He wouldn't have a problem with the larger receiver. I see you are from west central PA. I live in the Hermitage area. Maybe we could work something out.

[John-PA]

Let me know where you live in PA, I can help you out with someone to run dogs with.

[bill huttozac]

In my opinion, too fast is when a dog's speed is such that it cannot, or will not, keep the rabbit's tracks between it's legs. Too many over runs and losses. A bad example for younger dogs and a distraction to a good rabbit dog.

[Duke]

When the hound creates checks and losses by overunning the line and going faster than his nose can handle. If a dog can run a hundred miles an hour but still holds and controls the line without unneccesary checks he is doing just fine in my book. Anybody got one for sale???? LOL

[Rockdog]

Hogbody: Yeah,Chopper is a pretty big boy. He is a solid 15" and will be a year old the 19th of June. Heavy boned,big feet and that blocky hound dog head. We should talk about the collar. I'm going to need one I figure. I've been to Hermitage a time or two in years past. I could likely find it again. I love this modern age of the GPS .

John-PA: I am about half way between Punxsutawney and Brookville.

I guess I jumped in with both feet here. A big,fast hound that wasn't started at 9 months yet. I hope to get him working,as I have gotten rather attached to the big lug. I just hope he stays off the deer. He could be in the next county in about 5 minutes,lol.

[PAhardwoods]

Rock,

The chop a line dogs I've seen are some pretttyyy nice hounds I'm only about 35 mins from brookville give me a call if you wanna get together and do some running, 814-335-8391


Cody

[PREACHERS,KENNEL]

MY PUPS ALWAYS outrun their nose,, with more experiewnce they settle down alot more.

i dont have any need to a dog to straddle a track and walk it ,, i like the drive but i like some line control as well .. i have patch dogs ....but i can take 3-6 out at a time and have races where the checks are few runs some 2 hrs at a time . .....thats experience.

[Rockdog]

Hey Hardwoods,how about that . I am 20 mins south just off 36. Near Oliveburg. Who da thunk it. I'll give you a whoot sometime to get together and BS. Maybe meet for some wings or pizza someplace. I really appreciate the offer to go running. I'll give you a call. Thanks a bunch,Rockdog.

[PAhardwoods]

No problem, I got a real nice older female that is great for pups, I also have a couple shock collars so ya wouldnt need to worry about that right now!!