What Makes a Good Trial Dog?

[rabbitatfarm]

Not all dogs that run rabbits are field trial dogs. Just curious what everyone's opinion is. In the three dogs I run in LP, I see one with a bigger nose that often gets him in trouble, and two that seem more competitive. Two hunt a little harder than the other, but all three have enough hunt. Is it drive that makes dogs more competitive or something else? My big-nose minuses out often and yet he has beat dogs that I know were better dogs, in tough, dry, warm conditions. In a hunting situation, given enough time, he will usually track a rabbit out. I truly enjoy trialing. Yesterday we ran the champion final at a spot with heavy, wet snow and thick blackberry canes--the kind of cover it hurts to look at. The rabbits ran from one bramble tangle to another. It was tough for the dogs. My big-nose would have got picked up for sure or maybe not. One dog dominated and won. The other dogs smelled the rabbit but just didn't seem to move the track as well. My female had a strike and a jump, but had four checks to win her initial cast. The temperature had risen from the morning run and that could play a part, but she just didn't seem to be able to smell them. My open and champ are better at checks than jumps and more points are earned in check work than jump points, generally speaking. Just curious what others look for.

Larry

[DIXIEDOG]

Depends on who the judge is....sometimes a judge likes a dog with a lot of mouth....a lot of foot.....slower with better line control. As much as the intent is to have all judging be basically the same each judge has their own personal preferences and that does impact how well a certain dog can do at a given trial. $.02

[Hare Chaser]

According to AKC, their description of the true hunting beagle is the definition of a good trial dog.

[fulcount]

A judge has no right to judge a field trial if he judges by what his personal preferences are
The rule book describes what the hounds will be judged on ,if one doesn't stray from those rules
and judge strictly according to them they should come up with the proper hounds on a given day
It is a lot of hard work but worth it at the end of the day, The work part is what seems to be lacking today
Hound evaluation seems to be a thing of the past too much judging from the front only That is NOT judging that is scorekeeping

John O

[Shady Grove Beagles]

Right on John !

[LR Patch]

Right on John X 2

[PAB]

I could not have said it better than John just said it!

[mn_beagleboy]

A clean hunting dog will make a good trial dog. Especially in the midwest trial the winning dog is always the best hunting dog for the day. Jmo.