Gearing Down Or Cold Trailing ?

[outrider66]

I hear more people complaining about lack of hunt then I do lack of nose or brains in Trial bred dogs ! seems like more & more people are looking for a dog that will go
in the bushes to jump a rabbit !

[likeemfast]

Agreed, problem is Field Trialing for the most part does not promote hunt in a hound. Blue ribbons are not given out to a dog that hunts hard.

[gwyoung]

?

[WELLS WOODS]

outrider & likemfast, I agree. You see a lot of dogs that need more hunt, but I've seen weak & strong hunters in about every bloodline. I haven't seen many FC's with weak hunt though.

gwyoung, I'm not going on about this. Read my other posts to get my 2 cents.

[gwyoung]

.

[mybeagles]

Greg,

Ive judged some of your dogs. Valentine placed under me in Arkansas a few years ago. My judging number is 23070 if you care to validate. I don't judge 7-8 trials a year but I got my license in 2002 and have judges 26 licensed trials (most in the midwest). I used to marshall and have filled into judge several times for no shows before that. I don't say that to validate what Im saying but since you brought it up I thought I would too. Yes, you are correct being over seas limits how many I can do but I get plenty of calls. Spent 9 of last 18 years overseas and I mix in some trials when Im available. Im curious why you don't judge anymore....I don't think your any older than I am.

Not much cold trailing in the midwest...no tolerance for it. Im just stating there are some very good dogs that cold trail which is a necessity in the northern climates if you plan to run during the winter. Everyone has their limits....I allow it because I run when I have days off even if its nasty out. Maybe when I retire I won't be see tolerant.

Mybeagles

[gwyoung]

.

[gwyoung]

!

[WELLS WOODS]

Yes mybeagles, I know you are a judge & have judged some trials. I'd say you would be honest & do a good job. There's no better teacher than the actual experience of watching the houndwork of some of the best hounds out there year after year.

[likeemfast]

Likeem, correct me if I am wrong I am not a field trialer. But it is my understanding that a rabbit doesn't have to be within five miles of an AKC field trial for a hound to be pronounced the winner and receive that big blue ribbon. This could be the win that made the hound a field champion to boot! Also if a rabbit doesnt have to be ran to hand out that big blue isn't it possible that a hound could be pronounced a field champion without ever having ran a rabbit.

I would say you are correct, keep in mind i do not field trial either so maybe were both wrong.

Dave (mybeagles) has a nice male with a bigger nose than my hounds, he showed the way at times and picked up some nice checks when we ran together over a week ago. Learned a lot that day talking with Dave. I am always willing to learn something new. Some are not, and some just think age/experience makes them wiser. If im proven wrong that means i learned something.

I still believe if I say a hound dont open till the rabbit is up, that it is a true statement and has nothing to do with their nose power. It has nothing to do with a big nose vs a babbler, just means hound will not open until the rabbit is moving, aka jump. Wrong? Maybe, ....... just means im not convinced yet. JMO

[mybeagles]

In AKC you MUST place 4 hounds plus NBQ. In CKC you do not have to place hounds. This is a rule I wish AKC would change. I observed a trial in snow and Ice where a rabbit was not circled and of course they had to fill the bench.

[gwyoung]

.

[gwyoung]

?

[outrider66]

Its called Inherent traits ! it makes a dog not open on cold scent! just like the ability to gear down or cold trail when needed is also an inherent trait! As is hunt,nose,mouth ect ect ect.

[gwyoung]

!