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 had the absolute best beagle i could hope for. for the past 10 years i was spoiled by sam's abilities and companionship---he ran (rabbits only), he cold trailed, he checked, he retreived and very seldom did he run a rabbit to ground or lose one. we lost him to old age last october.
my new dog phoebe looks great and has a great voice. she trails--everything---deer, rabbits, whatever, and even me all with great enthusiam. she did run one rabbit through for me early in the season but my hope is quickly fading. tried her last weekend with a good dog and she would not pack up even when i physically carried her to the trail the other dog was running. she would just stand in one place bark 20 time and take a step--what she was running if anything i couldn't tell. i've heard of walkie talkies---is she one. any hope for this dog as a hunter. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks
I am really surprised that your post hasn't drawn much response.Everyone has been pretty busy debating thier ideal beagle in another post.I lost interest by page 10,anyway the biggest question i have is how old is the dog and how much exposure to rabbits has he had?
john870 thanks for responding---dog is about 3 years old and she has had very little exposure to rabbits since i've had her---we are in short supply on those things this year in Ohio.
well,I am no expert,but at three years old i would be concerned too.How has this dog spent its first three years?By now you're probably attached to the dog weather it hunts or not.I would keep trying her solo,work on the deer breaking and maybe expose her to domestic rabbits and see how she reacts to them.
I started a bitch at 4 years of age. We had killed a rabbit and brought it home for her to see, nibble and sniff through the kennel wire. She went ballistic. We then dragged it across the yard and let her trail it. She started within 5 trips to the field. When they get older and set in just sniffing household things, I think they need an animal to put with the smell. Letting a couple of pups try to get at a live rabbit in a trap also "brings it all home" , the scent and the prey, and they seem to start more easily. They know what they're looking for when they go to the field.
Above all, breeding helps. My 4-year-old was Jack's Iron Mike and Hanks Jo-Jo Blue bred. She had it in her all along.
