Shout Out to Trialers

[bbg]

you uys are right, us hunters dont get to see the num of hounds you guys have, and i dont believe trials are a bad thing, iv been to the world hunt once, it was exciting to be around that many hounds ,but in the trial dogs iv seen most are speed demons that care less about running the rabbit, just s o as long as he or she is the front dog, iv seen them push, bang and swing to be the front dog.we ran one day and therewere other dogs in the area that i knew were trialers and i swear our so called backyard beagles were jumping all the rabbits while the other 3 trial dogs would steal our rabbits. and that happened several times.ihave one n ow that wants to be front and i cant stand it.he still young but he w ill go if he dont change his ways. mine have to work as a unit,and not compete with each other. you guys have to admit there are hounds that kinda give the sport a black eye because of that. but iv also seen couple that i would love to have. in my opinion some only worry about the brass and bragging rights instead of the true sport for beagles and thats rabbit hunting and doing it as a pack .trials seem to cause some dogs to be all about themselves, instead of well rounded like our back yard beagles. i woul rather have 3 or 4 working together instead of one that feels it has to do it all itsself!

I understand what your saying. But I am sure that in the hunting pack you describe there is one dog that consistently holds the front. The others contribute to the run by picking a check or making a turn when the front dog errors but this is the dog that GETS IT DONE. In a field trial every dog is this GET IT DONE dog. They want to win. Not win in the eyes of the judge but in themselves.

[likeemfast]

you uys are right, us hunters dont get to see the num of hounds you guys have, and i dont believe trials are a bad thing, iv been to the world hunt once, it was exciting to be around that many hounds ,but in the trial dogs iv seen most are speed demons that care less about running the rabbit, just s o as long as he or she is the front dog, iv seen them push, bang and swing to be the front dog.we ran one day and therewere other dogs in the area that i knew were trialers and i swear our so called backyard beagles were jumping all the rabbits while the other 3 trial dogs would steal our rabbits. and that happened several times.ihave one n ow that wants to be front and i cant stand it.he still young but he w ill go if he dont change his ways. mine have to work as a unit,and not compete with each other. you guys have to admit there are hounds that kinda give the sport a black eye because of that. but iv also seen couple that i would love to have. in my opinion some only worry about the brass and bragging rights instead of the true sport for beagles and thats rabbit hunting and doing it as a pack .trials seem to cause some dogs to be all about themselves, instead of well rounded like our back yard beagles. i woul rather have 3 or 4 working together instead of one that feels it has to do it all itsself!

I understand what your saying. But I am sure that in the hunting pack you describe there is one dog that consistently holds the front. The others contribute to the run by picking a check or making a turn when the front dog errors but this is the dog that GETS IT DONE. In a field trial every dog is this GET IT DONE dog. They want to win. Not win in the eyes of the judge but in themselves.

Holy crud, now ive heard everything, really BBG????? Did you ask them? That just sounds ridiculous.

[bodetis]

bbg, all the hounds were taking our rabbits, mind you my ours run med upper med, but to me it was the over competitiveness in the dogs to always be that lead dog at all cost, not saying they couldnt burn them up cause they did, but ours hunted them up while the others just were waiten on the chase. to me it should be running the rabbit not the other dogs. but i do understand what the trial dogs are about, and thats be the fastest and most aggresive to be that dog. just notwhat i would want n my pack.

[bbg]

Im not sure I understand your issue with my post. What i describe is a desirable trait called "competetive spirit" defined in the AKC rule book as "desire to out do its running mates". Hounds don't care about ribbons or trophys but the dogs that are still on the ground in winners pack have a want to beat the others.

[bbg]

bbg, all the hounds were taking our rabbits, mind you my ours run med upper med, but to me it was the over competitiveness in the dogs to always be that lead dog at all cost, not saying they couldnt burn them up cause they did, but ours hunted them up while the others just were waiten on the chase. to me it should be running the rabbit not the other dogs. but i do understand what the trial dogs are about, and thats be the fastest and most aggresive to be that dog. just notwhat i would want n my pack.

I agree. Wanting the front at all cost is bad, and if they aren't hunting thats even worse. The winners pack should not include non hunting or over competitive dogs or Dogs that fail to contribute.

[likeemfast]

BBG, the hounds dont know they are going for a win. The fact "they dont do it for the judges they do it for themselves" to me was off the wall. Lord knows i make off the wall statements but i dont try and explain what runs thru a hounds mind. My username tells the story, i likeemfast, but i like them fast to a point. To want the front at all cost and to create their own checks cause they are trying to go too fast is pointless. Also as much as i likeemfast, i likeemtohunt even more. Medium, mediumfast fast hounds should all have a competitive nature. To want to out do its running mates should be routine. There is such a thing as a pack running cohesively, honoring its running mate and overtaking it when the front runner makes a mistake. One of the best hounds i ever saw run would slot up and when a mistake was made and he got the front, he did not give it up. He didnt push and bang and cause disruption to the pack, he just ran in his position till he ended up in the front and then did his thing, effortlessly at that.

[bbg]

Then you misunderstood me. I didn't mean that the dogs know what a win is. We are in agreement on what makes a good dog.

[lebro]

most beaglers i know that trial also hunt but there are some that trial and fun run only and some hunt and fun run, but most do it all to get the most out of their dogs and for camaraderie. i have not been trialing long but i have seen that the same dog does not win every time our or even make the winners pack every time if you see a dog run a couple of times you have not seen the whole picture. i have judged in one trial and this is an eye opener because you are responsible to see every thing that goes on. ive been into beagling for about 25 years and dont think ive ever watched dogs like i did while judging because if you got hot or a bunch of multi floral roses were in the way i would just wait for them to circle or cut them off somewhere.it is not just about going to a trial and watching but judging them. i think it is easier to get a good gun dog than a good trial dog. i know i have dogs that are good gun dogs but cant get it done in a trial. i also have seen trial dogs that i would not hunt with but i dont feed them so who cares.when you find a dog that can compete and win at trials ,hunts hard and handles well that is what the vast majority of trialers want.

[bucks better beagles]

It would appear that the "stupid question" voters are slacking back and the people with serious input are speaking up. BBG it is good to hear from a judge who looks for the complete dog. I think anyone would love to have you judge their dogs and, what's more, I bet you would do it honestly and to the best of your ability. Like everyone should.