Dogs want to eat the rabbit!

[S.R.Patch]

That reminds me of a funny story...ole Hammer ate the head off a rabbit hole while Steve was still holding the rabbit...yep...jerked it off and swallowed it hole...well, Steve said ole Hammer didn't crap for 3 days.
Most will break the head up somewhat before hand... Steve said it 'bout turned ole Hammer inside out pass'n that one...
I don't want the hounds eat'n my rabbits as I don't shoot many and i do like the rabbit gravy
Hounds will learn to give the rabbit if you don't let them maul over it to long. I let them track up the kill and give them praise and a head pat and off they go in search of the next one. If I shoot one, it's mine...if they catch one...most times...all bets are off...They get to hold it to long and it gets torn and they share lunch...but ya figured they earned that one.
You can convince them it's your rabbit...but ya gotta be close at hand to do it...

That farm dog run loose...he'd get to feelin bad...you'd not see him maby a couple days...he'd come back crap'n grass/bark seed and a mix of nasty looking stuff like he'd been gone a month starved out...then he'd fatten up all over agin. Nature programed a dog how to physic and heal himself...

[Joeyman]

My dogs have never tried to eat a rabbit. They just look at it. One of them brings it to me when she feels like it which is most of the time.

I have one that will gaurd the rabbit and not let anyothers near it. She won't eat it though.

If its wounded from a close range shot then they'll try and it at it but thats rare cause i'm such a good shot..... .........

[Bunnyblaster]

Ole deadeye.............

[Joeyman]

Ole deadeye.............

.............

[rabbitsmoker]

What you shoot joey 12 20 410 22

[Shady Grove Beagles]

I've had some that don't care anything about a dead rabbit.I've left it lying where I shot it and have them come right up to it,cast their eye at it lying there and keep on hunting after giving me a look as if to say"why'd you go and ruin my run?" I've had others that will suck it down like a grass snake eating a toad! Most of the times when a hound wants to eat the rabbit it's when you've got several hounds down and they catch it.
I never get too upset about the hounds eating the rabbit as I figure they are the ones that caught it! A hound isn't like a bird dog whose function is to deliver the game to the master's hand.I know some don't like and take exception to the term"run to catch" but hounds whether they be used for rabbits,coon,cat,lion ,boar or bear to my way of thinking should be attempting to catch their game.And if they are going to catch it how do they do that?They bite,grab,hold on,kill and sometimes EAT it! I want those kind of hounds in my kennel.I've seen the ones who are content to just follow a scent line endlessly and those ones don't do it for me.JMHO as always.

[ackermanich]

Wait until one of your hounds engulfs a rabbit and can't digest it like mine did. That was about a 500.00 vet bill, he had to be cut open. He is now cured of eating rabbits, and the end of my boot

[Shotgun John]

I like to show them that the rabbit is dead and even let the pups mouth it. But the rabbit is mine. If the rabbit is in your hand and you are standing they shouldn't be able to take it from you. Any rabbits that are shot up and I ain't going to eat go to my deer dogs. Don't want the beagles trying to eat my food.