A general forum for the discussion of hunting with beagles, guns, clothing and other equipment and just talking dawgs! (Tall tales on hunting allowed, but remember, first liar doesn't stand a chance)
I have a 14 month old beagle who through no fault of his own hasn't really been started on rabbits. Last fall I had him chasing toys with rabbit scent pretty enthusiastically, but he only got to run one real bunny in the field. I think he did pretty well with it but it was one of the last times I had him out. He is a house dog, so not neglected - in fact, he's doing pretty well at obedience. But I wasn't up to taking him to the woods (I was busy having a beautiful baby boy )
Is it too late to expect anything out of him? This is our first hound and my daughter would really love for him to be "a real hunting dog" Training dogs for just about anything else, I'd consider him still a pup and not worry about it, but from doing a lot of reading here, it seems everyone gets their hounds out real young so is it too late?
And if it's not, anyone near Scranton PA who'll take a newbie out and show us how it's done? And thanks everyone for putting so much great info out here for us to learn from!
You're definitely not too late. You will probably get him started even easier because he won't play all the time, he'll get down to business. Just make sure you start him by himself don't take him out with a buddy's pack of running dogs and overpressure him. I can't help you much on getting him started unless you want to come up to Maine on a weekend
I had a dog named Geronimo,reg. beagle. I didn`t want any thing to do with hunting for some reasons,When he was four
I got to know Daddy Rabbit,end of story,Geronimo would fetch,sit play friz and just about any thingn else house dogs do.
Made a good rabbit dog,wasen`t real fast but i killed a lot of bunnied from him,
You definately did not wait to long. Enjoy him.
Thanks guys!
He's from working dogs and I'm very impressed with his smarts compared to the akc only beagles I've had anything to do with. I think he'd do well if I only knew what the heck I was doing and could get him on some rabbits.
Dixie, I was told that I should try to bring him out once or twice with dogs that know what they're doing to get the idea clear in his head. That's not a good idea? Not that I've found anyone nearby who runs beagles
Thanks for the encouragement Chuck. This is my daughter's pet, so he also has to be a good housedog and we're going to do agility this summer. He doesn't have to be a hunting champ, she just wants to be able to do it with him. She is so excited at the thought of hunting with him, and some have said that once you make a hound a pet he's no good for anything else, but as far as I'm concerned, if any kid doesn't get to have a smelly hound lie across the foot of their bed at night, it's not 'cause they didn't want one! The most important job a dog can have is making sure their kid grows up right - outside and running around!
If at all possible get him out with someone who has a clean running puppy trainer or an older dog that is not to fast. If that is not an option take him out and let him see a rabbit his natural instincts will take over and he will begin to use his nose to track. As far as the pet thing HOGWASH
2 of my dogs just laying around the house
Getting ready to go hunting
A mans EGO is one heck of a weight for a dog to carry!!!!!
Those are some cute dogs Gbeagle! I have to say that I am hooked on these little guys now that I know what a good one can be like. I train dogs (pets and obedience) and was never very impressed with them before, but these that are bred for a purpose have a whole different personality.
I've got to get some new pics of our Scooter but here he is doing what he does best
and here's a good picture of his build. He doesn't hold still much to get good pictures like this!
I purchased two Woodpont Males(Chase and Hunter) Dec 2006 they were 6 mos at that time...
Unknown to me at the time the rabbit population where I live was depleted by some sort of desease (an ol timer informed me). I think it was due to lack of preditor hunting and the population of hawks we have. At any rate we had no rabbits to run...
at 2.5 years of age they had never been on the line of a bunny, no fault to them... I took them every oppertunity I had, they were just unsure of what to do.
Enter David Bounds of Barnholow Beagles... and interested beagler in the Woodpont line. Tim give David my contact info and he calls. I tell him my delimma and he invites me to join him in a run the weekend before Thanksgiving 2008. He cannot believe that such a fine bloodline would not be on rabbits.
First outing David has 5 13" B&T's (beutiful to look at)... we cast Chase and Hunter with them and they show no interest at all... his hounds (very quick footed and hard hammering hounds) bring a hare to us in a open food plot.. We poise CHase and Hunter between our kneeling legs so that they can see the rabbit... they quickly run in the direction ... more curious than desire... then come back.
AT the end of the day we had met one of his running partners and cast 5 of his dogs giving us 12 in the field. Still no change in my two. Roger (new guy) complimented me on some of the best looking yard hounds he had ever seen and stated that at 2.5 years of age is was a lost cause. David disagreed.
To shorten this up... after many weekends with Davids hounds, by April 1 2009.. Chase and Hunter on a cpl. of occasions where the dominant dogs in the cast.
All this to say that I would agree that IF you want him to run, and you are willing to devote every oppertunity to work him, it is deffinately not too late. and yes it is advantagous to put him with clean running seasoned hounds... he will learn from them and you will learn from their handler.
well here i go im new to and i found that i have more to learn than my dog lol,she was late starter and now im in quiet time so that sucks .but the guy that helps me tol me to get her out every chance i get.after the light finally turned on then after every three times solo i would hook up with him an run her with couple of his dogs.made me nervous she would get discouraged cuz they good dogs but she seems not to care just want that bunny 8). all i can say is get good pr of boots an some serious brush clothes cuz u will stomp a lot of horrible briars. gl 2 u m8
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