Your Pack Preference

[jonnyringo]

For you hunters and trialers that hunt, what type pack do you prefer to run? Do you like the dogs to be identical or close in style or do you like a mix of running styles, speeds, tracking traits, jump style, etc.?

I personally primarily run med. fast hounds but recently aquired a pup that may run more on the medium speed and she should be an excellent line control dog. She does have some Turbo blood on the dam side but is primarily cottontail SPO type blood on the sires side. Both her parents are nice hounds that run on the medium side and really have great noses and jump with a lot of hunt.

Naturally, I wouldn't want to run a walkie talkie with my hare hound bred dogs but I guess what I am saying is I want dogs that can do it all but every dog has strong points and I try to keep a balance in my pack. I noticed last hunting season on those cold icey days I could use a dog with a colder nose (no cold trailer) and one that anchors on the line with medium foot speed. This is where I decided I wanted to add one dog with this style to my kennel. My two oldest dogs in my kennel just turned 3 years old this past Spring and I am thinking by the way they have ran this summer in these extremely dry conditions that this hunting season they should have moved up a level or two by the way they have performed. They have improved considerably... particularly on line control.

I am trying to build my hunting pack with some variance in running styles. I was just wondering what type packs many of you out there hunt with - a mix of styles or one style in particular. I have book entitled "Training the Rabbit Hound Bassets and Beagles" by Carl E. Smith that was written in 1926 and the author touches on pack mix in a few chapters. This book also has the history of the beagles introduced in the USA and talks about the Patch dogs owned by Willet Randall (for all you Patch guys out there).

Good hunt'n,

ringo

[Tim H]

I like a pack with a mixture of speed and talent. An important piece of the pack is getting that anchor dog that will speed up enough to stay with the faster dogs but slow down when the pack starts getting loose.

Having a mixture of hot and cold nosed dogs helps as the conditions change throughout the year. Hot nosed dogs will keep things moving when scenting is good and rabbits are abundant. Cold nosed dogs are the saving grace on those cold, cold days.

There's nothing better than to see a pack you've built, be consistent no matter what the conditions. You'll have different leaders on different days but they all contribute.

[Larry G]

All just alike in size shape and color is a beautiful thing to see, all just alike in running style and abilities doesn't seem to work for me. OTOH if you get em strung out too far front to rear that can be bad.

[CHRIS WHITT]

Color does'nt matter to me it could be purple and green,as long as it suites me I will gladly feed it.Back to the point I prefer a pack that is close in speed but diverse in scenting abilities,and they all must be able to run a line by them selves and with a pack.

[Anderson Upland Beagles]

I like a tight smooth pack that you can throw a blanket over when they go by at medium speed .Ive judge small pack and some packs that burn a rabbit or hare it don't happen often sometimes just the right hounds you have to work with have to judge whats on the ground

[PREACHERS KENNEL]

as long as they can make it look like a pack then they r fast enuf..like he said u need an anchor dog something that glues them together//i have dog that all hunt descent but 2 really get most the jumps.. 1 very rarely starts a race but he is a great check dog,,,ilike different voices so i can pick them out good..nothing worse than a cold traler to me would rather hAVE DEER RUNNERS.. i have one that will bark sooner than others most the time but the rabbit is up within a minute 2 at worst so that ok ..

[eddywilliams]

I guess iam a little different i dont usually run in a pack over 2 or sometimes 3 .I really like to run 1 if they are good enough ,also i dont shoot many rabbits i guess i like the thrill of the chase more .I dont mind gunning some i just think the dogs get more out of it when there is less to contend with .eddy

[TC]

I like a pack with a mixture of speed and talent. An important piece of the pack is getting that anchor dog that will speed up enough to stay with the faster dogs but slow down when the pack starts getting loose.

Having a mixture of hot and cold nosed dogs helps as the conditions change throughout the year. Hot nosed dogs will keep things moving when scenting is good and rabbits are abundant. Cold nosed dogs are the saving grace on those cold, cold days.

Dang Sounds like we like about the same thing in a pack

[gus]

I want all of them to hunt and jump rabbits, hunt independently and not watch the other dogs. I want all of them to run about the same speed. I want all of them to run the line and not chase the lead dog. There is nothing more satisfying than when the lead dog/dogs turn the wrong way than seeing the next dog turn it and keep on trucking, leaving the faulty dogs scrambling to get back into the race. (If the accurate dog is mine) Not much more disgusting than the lead dog make a mistake and all the others follow. I want them to run like that as long as we are in the field and have the endurance do it every day.
Unfortunately I'm not there yet but I am making progress.

[B.Trull]

I like mine all bout the same. I chased bloodlines for years, so I always had a mish mash pack. Some good, some not so good. Nowadays I enjoy running a brace, alot less hassle on me, and alot more quality running time for the hounds. Dont buy the anchor dog concept.

[Tim H]

B. Trull, the anchor dog concept is not for sell, it's free for those who chose to use it. I'll keep using it since it has been very successful for me.

[coolbrze]

I like my packs to work together and run smoothly together. They know each other well, but will pack right in w/ other dogs. I like SPO dogs and faster clean dogs as well. I want to be able to throw a blanket over either pack all day when running, only time a blanket woulnd't cover them is when they're searching for a rabbit or working a check.

[Beagle Huntsman]

Pack is all I do. I agree more with what Gus said than any of the other posts. I want no "anchor dog". My hounds will only leave it behind. I want no "slotting up".....hate that term!

I want my hounds to work well together, and I want to see 2 or 3 hounds leading on good scent. Right on their butts I want 2 or 3 more waiting for the chance to take over. The whole pack, and I generally always run 14-16 hounds, should run up in a bunch, not strung out unless scent is very bad.

The leaders should change constantly throughout the chase. If the same hound is always leading, I dispose of it. Same thing if the same hound is always last. People with good packs know how to cut hounds from the front and rear of the pack to keep a well-balanced unit. Good packs bring on new puppies EVERY year as replacements.

I want them all the same speed and as close in ability as possible, although I always have some variety in the pack due to age and experience. You can't expect the first season hounds to do nearly as much work as those in their 4th season. I want all of them to search before the rabbit is up.

I want them all to have top conformation, and if possible, to be as matched in color as they are in speed and ability. It is best if all of the hounds are closely related. If anyone else out there has a pack of more than 10 hounds like this, I'd like to hear from you.

By the way, less than 4 hounds is a trio or brace, not a pack.

[coolbrze]

If the same hound is always leading, I dispose of it.

Let me know when you're disposing of the next one

[House Rock Kennels]

haven't ran in a field trail. So I don't know what I will be in. SPO Progressive Pack I think. My dog is a slower dog, probably a 6 speed. With good line control.