The American Beagler Forum

can anyone tell me are patch dogs slow or harder to start just wondering if im wasting my time and money
thanks

I have a 6 month old female who opened on a tame rabbit at 12 weeks. I let her fool with tame ones for a couple weeks on and off. Had a hard time finding wild bunnies to get her on, but I joined a beagle club and she opened on the first bunny she ran. All in all, I'd say she was an easy start. She gets better every time out. I was told they can be a little slow to start, but that has not been my experience.

Like most some are hard to start and some aren't with my line mostly the males take a little longer but they seem to catchup really quick once they do turn it on. ive started several males between 1 to 2yrs old but also on the flip ive had some at 6 months old you could gun over. But theres one thing that i really really like about the patch dogs and thats there desire to hunt.

THANKS FOR UR REPLIES. THE REASON I WAS ASKING IS I OWN BOTH PARENTS THE PUPPIES ARE OUT OF AND THEY ARE BOTH HARD HUNTING ALL DAY DOGS THAT WERE STARTED AT 6 MONTHS OLD WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE PARENTS ARE 3 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BECOME BETTER WITH AGE. THE PUPPIES ARE NOW 9 MONTHS OLD AND 1 SHOWS AN INTEREST BUT ITS ALMOST LIKE HE DOESNT WANT TO STOP AND USE HIS NOSE. THE OTHER DOESNT DO ANYTHING AT ALL. BOTH ARE MALES AND HAVE BEEN TO RUNNING PENS TWICE.

Don't give up on them just yet cojax. Ive made that mistake to many times. i have one myself now that didn't get as much exsposer to rabbits this year do to the lack of them but he hunts as hard as you'd want. im not worried i have the rest of the spring and summer to get him ready for the next season. seems sometimes that the male patches take a little more but like i said in my other post when they start they catchup really quick. good luck with your pups.

come on guys where are all the patch fans with some experience

i have had good luck starting females, but did have a male that did not start until 10 or 11 months, last summer, but my experience, is that most males start slower, but i dont usually keep males-just my opnion darin

I don't really think that they are hard to start. Ours usually start anywhere from 6-9 months in the wild. Never used a starting pen or anything.

i wanted to thank everyone who told me to be patient several weeks back i ran my puppies with there mom and dad sunday and they all ran very well. i guess the switch came on and to here the four of them burn it up made it all worth it sometimes i think we expect to much of young dogs and dont give them enough time and thanks to everyone who gave me good advice

i can usually kill rabbitas over mine at 6 months old .. if thats hard to start then yes they r hard lol.. glad to hear theyr doin well now but running them with mom and dad at this stage will proably hurt them more than help and cause bad habits,!