Beagles: Pets or Tools

[bucks better beagles]

There are those of us who consider our beagles something more like family than pets. We keep them in the house, sleep with them in the bed, feed them from the table, walk them in the park, make them part of our divorces, spend thousands on their health benefits, etc. Then there are others who see the little fellas as only a tool to pursue a sport such as a bat in baseball. They are trained and traded to make money or disposed of for small offenses or just because we have too many of them.

So, are they loving pets or working tools? Support your position. There are only 2 options so don't wuss out by looking for a middle ground. You don't have to be a bleeding heart liberal or a John Wayne conservative to vote.

Come on out of the closet and let us know how you really feel.

[BCBeagles]

SInce the domestication of the hound or form of it. Men have used the dog as, originally, a working animal. I treat my hounds with respect and care, but they are dogs and they have a purpose. There purpose is as a game dog, no offense to the pet owners in any way. Mine are WORKING animals that I give 110% of me and expect it back every time I turn them loose. JMO.

[wireman252]

I feel they are tools that I take care of properly. But if a tool doesn't work right ,I dispose of it (if needed) or find some one that can use it for what it is. However for me it can be a little complicated with some dogs. I have a wife ( as many do) and 2 boys ( also , as many do) that can sometimes get attached to these tools. I have explained my way of thinking to them, and have warned them not to do so. But wouldn't ya know the wife did go and get attached to one particular dog we bought , even after my warnings. She raised and cared for it as a pup.The pup had gotten real bad sick with Coccidia . So I made a promise to keep this dog even if he didn't suite me. At one point , he didn't suite me at all. He did come around some, and it turns out ,that he isn't as bad as I thought he was going to be , but certainly not as good as I had hoped. However I also told her , never again will I let her get in the way of a decision that may need to be made on dogs. I like to have an occasional liter, but I am willing to cull heavily when needed.They are VERY aware of this now.

[19rabbit52]

Outside for me. I only have dogs for hunting. I was always told(growing up) that house dogs can't take alot of cold weather so the thought of keeping a hunting dog in the house never entered my mind.

[bucks better beagles]

Wireman: Sure know what you mean. I have one the twins adopted and it stays but it is still a tool. Accidents sometimes happen. (just kidding of course)

We all get attached to our tools of course. I have my favorite screw drivers etc but they don't eat dog food.

[fasttrackpa]

I haven't bought a dog in a very long time, my family knows that until 3yrs old, any one of the hounds may not be around here tomorrow. Usually if they are here that long, they stay. I do allow retired or injured dogs in the house. At the moment I have 3 hounds over 11 years old that stay in the house every night. They have earned it.

[AprilD]

19rabbit52 , best snow dog i have is a house dog. Just an old wives tale if you ask me.

[19rabbit52]

I only ever hunted with one house dog and I know without a doubt she got cold when the weather got bad- Jan. and early Feb. Never could stand to leave her out to see how much she could take. I do think no trouble down to 20 or maybe even 10 degrees.

[jlupem]

I have never had any of my hounds in my house and never will. The only use for my hounds are to gun over and run them in the off season only to keep them in line for the next rabbit season. I enjoy training pups and rabbit huning every chance I get. Don't get me wrong I take care of my hounds but turning them into a lap dog is not for me.

[Duke]

My buddy Dutch was a pet from the beginning. Hes more than a tool to me. And frankly I havent run against anything better yet. Rabbit tools or Rabbit hounds.

I do know some tools though

[goodpickens]

The line is so blurry here. When you get a new gun, you have get used to it. You don't go straight into the field and start shooting. You take time to get to know your weapon. In the same way, a dog must be trained. You need to get to know each other before you can work together optimally. For me, I do this by bringing a dog into the house. I have one in right now who was shy and unsocialized when I got her. Now my wife is actually considering house training this one and making her a house dog. If you treat a dog with the same disinterest you would any old garden tool, then you will never reach the dog's potential. Most of my dogs have been in the house at one point or another for an extended period of time. They handle better and work harder in the field to please me. You must find a balance between hunter and man's best friend.

[bucks better beagles]

Golly, we have had 262 views and only 27 votes. Sounds like politics in America. So tell me, why are you lookers, not voting? Surely, you have an opinion.

Surprisingly close so far. Wish we could get more of a voting sample. Without a vote, you are not represented you know.

[S.R.Patch]

I have to plead guilty, I can't honestly vote as to either extreme.
They are a tool, but a favorite tool.
Being too sentimental is a curse to a breeder, but even Randall had his favorites and some he even called his pets.
I keep some culls to remind me where I've gone wrong, it's saved me from over looking or forgiving with time what exist if one gets lax on the business at hand.
One thing about we Americans, we seem to have short memories...

[Mo. Beagler 5000]

A lot of people may have looked 4 or 5 times after voting to see the posts... so really it could be about 35 people who have looked at it...

for me, I bought them as tools but somehow they turned into pets... now I have the best of both worlds..

[TallPaul]

Though I disagree on two points of this poll. I voted that they are more of a tool than a pet. But I wouldn't equat them to a tool or a gun, nor do I believe that there isn't a middle ground. But at the same time, you will never see one of my hounds sporting a bandana, being walked in a parade. We have one has a part-time house dog, only because he's smart enough to be in the house, and due to having minimum space in the kennel, gives the old male his space. The old male gave me years of rabbit hunting enjoyment and has earned a little kennel space. I believe that they are just dogs, thus still animals and sometimes tough decisions will be made, but I'll provide the best care I can within reason.