The American Beagler Forum

What traits do you bred for??
Desire?
Nose?
...

Number them, #1 being the most important an so on...

1) Hunt
2) Brains
3) Endurance
4) Mouth & correct use of
5) Conformation
This is my top 5 & in order of importance to me.

1. Brains...this is kinda a broad catergory that covers a lot of things
2. good nose...got to be able to smell a rabbit whether its 95 degrees or 0 degrees
3. lots of hustle...needs to be busy at all times
4. mouth...no matter how good a dog is, i dont want it to sound like someone beating a rooster
5. color...of course black and tans

For me, I want Hunt first. Don't care for a hound that won't get right inside and shake that brush pile. Then nose... To me a big nose is a must in order for my third most important trait which is being able to hold the line with very little time spent on the checks. A little swing doesn't bother me either as I also breed for good medium/high speed.These are the traits I stick to when using a hound for breeding. These are just my own personal desires in a hound.Every body is different in there desires.That is a good thing.

Run em hard, and put em away wet ! .... Pat... ®¿~

1. DESIRE (a dog can have nose and brains , but without desire he is useless)
2. NOSE (can't smell it; can't run it )
3. BRAINS ( add this quality to desire and nose and you have a good one)
4. CONFORMATION ( proper running gear can increase stamina)

1) Nose
2) Brains
3) Guts

I'd have to rate brains the highest but desire is a close second. You really must have both in equal amounts as one without the other is equally worthless. Nose is third followed by toughness. Size (13") is next on my list but it is a personal preference that has nothing to do with performance.

All of them.