The American Beagler Forum

How long does it usually take a dog to switch and what's the best way to go about it. I'm probably going to pick up a male that is 1.5 and came straight from Branko. The guy says he's been out a few times but hasn't ran with the other dogs. He said the first time he ran him and the dogs started one he check them and came running back to him. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks-Jeremy

are you sure you really want this dog?

looks like there is a good chance this is a throw away hound....

i don't know the dog or the fella, so i'm not stating anything bad about either...

but you are asking for advice so i'm givin my 2 cents...

jack

i sold a young dog a couple of years ago that had been run here on cottontails real hard, he went to wis, the guy ran him two days later and he burnt up a hare track,,,,i think if a dogs gonna run rabbits it will run any type the consideration would be the terrain the rabbits in,,,,,,,,,just my 2 cents,,,,,,,,

I've been told that hare leave alot more scent and it takes a few times for them to pick up on conttontail scent.

it may,,,,,,but i think if a dog is gonna run a rabbit it would be interested in any type not run back to you when the other dogs opened,,,,

i have ran alot of dogs ran just on cottontails and intruduced them to hare with little problems but the dogs that are ran on just hare to cottontails is a different ball game cottontails and hare run alot different hare get up and move straighter lines don't hole as where cottontails zig zag alot more it takes them sometime to gear down use there brains and nose and some just can't. i solo and brace on cottontails in my pen and run hare for conditioning in our club pen and gun both

They may have trouble handling a zig zagging tricky rabbit when they first start but they should pack and attempt to run the first time out if they have any desire to run. If the dog was just recenly brought to a new kennel it may take it a few days/weeks to accept its new home and feel comfortable. Some dogs are intimidated and hang around their master until the gain confidence. That could be caused by several different situations.

JEREMY I have seen this alot it takes time. i have seen dogs with wins and places on hare come to ohio and take some time to even open on a cottontail

.

Eleven years ago I moved here to Tn. from New Hampshire with 3 "hare" dogs that had never seen a cottontail rabbit. I say "hare" dogs as they were run on them exclusively and their breeding was all from Large Pack on Hare trialing standouts [IFC Maravic's Blue Ninja.IFC Greenbriar's Birch Haven Merlin and Pemi River .}
For the first several months I wondered if these dogs would make the transition or not. They had no trouble going hunting and jumping rabbits and off they'd go to the races------until the first couple of hard " cottontail like " checks and they'd blow through them and were just trying to hit too hard and couldn't keep a race going very smoothly.
After a couple of months the 2 females had adapted quite well and were putting the brakes on at the checks and working them much closer. The male was a wild man [also still young ] and would not slow down. He was ruining my races so was sent back up north where he continued his career as a good hare runner.
Now I go up north to hunt hare and I'm usually carrying a dog or two that have never smelt a hare, only cottontail. Have never had problem one with them running a hare. They gear right up and roll with my friend's from up there "hare hounds" with no problem. The one problem you'll have is as Steve mentioned is the conditioning for running hare. No way a cottontail dog can achieve that conditioning. I've found that dog's that are in hare condition will eventually burry the others over a full day or even more so over say a week of running on a hunting trip.
Just my humble opinion of course.

I just got him and plan on taking him out tomorrow. He's 1.5 years old and was told by Branko he could flat burn a hare up. Hopefully in time he'll figure it out.

He will be extemely rough if he has never run cottontail..It is much easier to switch from a cottontail to hare but not vice-versa..The cottontail runs much tighter,cutting circles and hare run big wide circles and have more scent and hare dogs run them at a much faster pace.. He will not be used to grubbing it out when a cottontail throws some tricks in as your dog will be running over the line constantly. Might want to find a conditioning pen and leave him there for a few weeks..

Jeremy Mapes wrote:I just got him and plan on taking him out tomorrow. He's 1.5 years old and was told by Branko he could flat burn a hare up. Hopefully in time he'll figure it out.

How did the first time out go? I to am exspecting 1.5 yr. old female from Branko next week and will be in the same boat with only cottontails in my area. He did say that she would be a touch to slow for their type trial up there so that may help??

Took him out and he opened on the first track. He was a little rough and tight mouthed but I think that's cause of the difference in scent. He is pretty quick though. He should be alright with time.