Who runs my kind of hound?

[Midwest Hunter11]

I have been out of beagling for the last year, and it will probably be another year before I get back in. I'm hoping if I start my research now, by the time I'm ready, I'll have found some lines of dogs that run the way I like. I know that means I will be riding on the coat tails of someone elses work, but I don't field trial, nor do I ever plan on it, so field champion this and field champion that is not what I'm looking for. A man once told me that the reason one of his dogs was not winning the trials (Midwest gun dog) yet, was because she hadn't learned to skip across the open fields and pick it up on the other side. Not what I'm interested in.

What I want in a dog:

The dog has to be a brush buster. I have found that just because a dog has a lot of hunt doesn't mean squat if it spends all it's time hunting in the open areas.

The dog needs to run 90% of the line. I like a good constant race. I want the dog to try and catch the rabbit, but not at the expense of having a lot of losses. I don't want it to be a two minunte run, 30 sec loss, two minute run, 30 sec loss.... If the dog runs with any speed at all, it is bound to have some losses, which is fine, just don't want a lot.

When a dog makes a lose, I want it to return to the point of loss. I don't like a dog that swings way out trying to find the trail else where.

I would like the dog to have a big nose, and be able to run just as well on snow. I'm not opposed to going way north to get some hare bloodlines.

I would like the dog to have all day stamina and be smart enough to handle well.

I don't like a dog that is overly competitive. If he pulls his nose off the ground to try and get to the front... that is no good.

I don't expect the perefect dog to just fall in my lap, but I would like to get some lines that are close that could maybe be crossed down the road to get what I want. I would like to hear from as many people as possible, you can post here or PM me. I'm not interested in buying right now, but I will be in the future.

Thanks,

Chris

[Mclurkn3]

Chris.
I was looking for the same thing about 3 years old... I feel a BRAMLETT HOUND would do you right.

If you'd like some info on them... send me your email and I'll send some to you.

[Matt Glomski]

Chris

That is my knid of hound as well!!!

[Hilltop Kennels]

I agree that is what I call a rabbit dog and my kind of hound!!!!!

[WELLS WOODS]

I have had good luck using a mixture of bloodlines; IFC Taylor's Sock It To Me, IFC Branko's Heli-Prop, FC Branko's Jackpot & IFC Trakarab Pacesetter are the main studs I prefer to base my kennel around. I have seen great hounds also from IFC Melanson's Ranger Dan, FC Rabbit Ridge New York Nick, IFC Mark V Ace In The Hole, FC Indian Hills Trapper, FC Branko's Hard Rock, IFC Branko's Lumberjack, FC Turbo Powered By Prop, FTC Mikerma's Super Dog, IFC Maravic's Blue Ninja, FC Smokes Creek Syris McGee, FC Hutson's Tracker Sam, FC Northway Driver and IFC Branko's Ali-baba.
There are good and bad in all bloodlines. I think if you find a good one from any of these lines, they should run to please you, especially if you are not going to put a lot of pressure on them by field trialing.
I love the trials, but hounds are not going to run as smooth when down with 7 to 9 hounds of equal ability as they would by themselves or with one or two packmates; not to mention the many faulty hounds you may have to run your hounds with during it's field trial career. Some hounds can handle the pressure of all this competition and never change thier style or pick up any faults, but most will not be as level headed and fault free as they once were before they were exposed to the continuous pack pressure.
I have seen several hounds from the bloodlines that I have mentioned that have handled the pack pressure from field trialing real well, gained thier titles, and still be the same solid hound that would suit a rabbit hunter when thier field trial career was over. This means a lot to me.
Good Luck finding what you want.

[Roy Pasmore]

Chris if you live close enough to Coshocton Ohio to make the drive in A reasonable time. I invite you to come and watch our dogs run A rabbit. We have several style dogs but the ones I run myself or better gun dogs then UKC compitetion dogs due to their not being aggressive about the frount. But they sure can keep A rabbit humping.
Roy

[daustin]

Where do you live. I have a few lines in my kennels if you want to see whats what.
My little grade female will do all of that but I haven't decided if I'm going to breed her again.

Dane

[Midwest Hunter11]

I'd like to thank everyone that responded. I will be making some trips to see some hounds run, but I'm always looking for more info if anyone else has some suggestions.

[run'em ragged]

Check out http://www.rockyridgebeagles.com
All the way in Nova Scotia but you might like what you see.

[HatterasBob]

I think you have described my Ranger Dan & Cool Running Sonic male perfectly. He is not my fastest by a long shot, probably one of the slowest, but his check work keeps the race going. He is not very competitive, doesn't require the front, in fact doesn't care about the front, but if you screw up he will cut you too pieces. He is not flashy enough for trials, but he is my # 1 hunting dog, period. I hear alot of the same things about other Ranger Dan dogs. So Ranger Dan is my recommendation.

[Robert W. Mccoy Jr]

I would be very intereasted in hearing your opinion after you watch some of these dogs go.

I agree with your discrpition, it sounds like we all like the same dog.

But we don't. Looking at some of the pedigrees posted I bet you will be hard pressed to find two dogs out of all of these that run the same.

If the two come from two differant kennels.

Good luck in your search.

[Cork Legue]

Well put Rob!
The thing is, all of you say your best hunting dog is not your best trial hound! The new UKC format will put that hound in the Winners Circle!!
I know,I helped put the rules together! The hound you have described in my opinion is the best all around Rabbit dog!!!
Cork Legue..

[SMITTY1233]

Most situations your best hunting hound can't be the best trial dog because they want a dog that is on the front blowing over the end and grabbing the check fast.... To me that is not the best of hunting dog. THe best are the ones that lock into a rabbit and run him smooth with few short losses and work inside out... To many judges standing on trials scoring the front dog.... Its easy for a dog to pound a straight line and drive a rabbit. A real dog can run at a speed that can handle the corners and when he does miss come back and work inside out making a smoother run... My two cents...

[houndsound]

If these "real hunting dogs" are so much better then the "junk" everyone trials.......why do you even need check rules and points in the new UKC format?????? How is it possible those "real" dogs could make a check?????

I understand some like a little wilder dog, some like a little smoother dog......but I think the difference is often to exageratted. Most anyone I've met at the wild, wind splitting, no check working UKC trials I attend also gun hunt their dogs and do pretty good at it.

Current UKC trials aren't just a foot race.....

A dog has to be out hunting and making an effort to jump a rabbit, which has nothing to do with speed....

A dog has to be good at jumping a rabbit, which has nothing to do with speed.

A dog has to keep a track going, no breakdowns over 3 minutes, which has nothing to do with speed. (infact to fast of a dog will get bit' because of this)

And a dog has to bring the rabbit a better part of a circle before points can be plused, which has nothing to do with speed. (Again, a fast super sloppy dog will get bit' because of this)

A dog can gain more points then the others by picking up a check with more proficiency then the other dogs, which has nothing to do with speed....(As far as complaining that they pick up a check to fast....I don't get your complaint there....somehow if you and I are hunting and dogs A and B make a loss, if dog A hustles and picks up the check in 25 seconds...I guess dog B would be the better dog if it takes 45 seconds to pick up the check??????)


I hope the new UKC format take off and does well. I'm even looking forward to running in it....(I'd like to eventually have it handed to me in every format, lol) But this attitude I see so much of that current UKC dogs are nothing but fast dogs and aren't much of hunting dogs....and that the current trials are about nothing more then speed.......I don't get that attitude, it honestly comes across a little condescending.

I'm sure this isn't the right place for this, maybe I should've put this on the UKC board, I guess I'm the only one who's seen decent line controll dogs in the current UKC format.

dk

[SMITTY1233]

I wasn't eve referencing UKC format and have never been to a UKC trial... I was generlizing trial statement. It seems there are a lot of formats that want speed. Every dog has checks solo or in a pack. I am talking about the dogs that are smooth enough to be in the same zip code when they have a check..... Not one that is 50-60 yards out and has to come bakc and look and look to find original loss. I think the trials get a bad rap a lot because when ever you put down 6-7 dogs you are going to have a little pressure and that can hurt any dog. I am just saying that most formats want to run a faster harder hitting dog that doesn't run as smooth as a dog you would want to take out and hunt....