The American Beagler Forum

In a cast, the judge see's a rabbit. He doesn't call in the dogs. He lets the dogs work the area. Apparently the dogs didn't jump the rabbit. Finally, one dog barks and gets put on the clock, but not exactly where the judge saw the rabbit. How do you score it? What happens after three minutes? The other dogs come in and a few open, but nothing takes off within the three minutes. Finally after 4-5 minutes one dog hits it and then they run it. So, does the three minute rule apply here? If so, dog on clock gets a minus, right? If it doesn't apply, does the dog that took the track get a check and first dog that opened three times get the strike?

If he seen the rabbit, and let the dogs work around it and didnt call them, I would give the dog that opened 3 times +10 strike points, and then when the other dog blowed out I would +25 that dog for a check.

Jonathon

Well, I would have handled it a little different. I would have -10 and handled the dogs on what you had said. What should have happened , is when the judge saw that no dog jumped it he should have ask the handlers to put the dogs on it and then gone from the first break down.

Jeremy

As soon as I saw the rabbit and realized that no dog had jumped it I would have had everyone handle their dogs and then we would have turned loose on the rabbit and gone from first check. This would just keep down the confusion. I am assuming that no dog was actually working the scent and that any dog that came across the hot line would have just accidentally stumbled into it and gotten a lucky strike(no pun intended) LOL. I have learned through experience that when trying to put dogs on a rabbit it is better to catch all dogs and then turn them loose on the rabbit together, their is always one hard headed dog that will not come in and you can't start scoring until his owner gets him in which often takes forever.

Big Dog

This call could go either way, it all boils down to that big gray area JUDGMENT CALL . I personally would have minused the dog that opened 3 time and was put on the clock, You saw "A" rabbit and the dogs we not exactally in this area as stated. The dog on the clock nor any other of the dogs could run this track within the 3 minute rule, That is clearly a minus as stated in the rule book. Here is a case where you could do 3 things
1) Strike the dog that opened and check the dog that took the line.
2) Minus the dog that opened after 3 minutes
3) Catch all dogs and put them on the rabbit and go from the first check.
Just my 2 cents worth A-SHOCK

A-Shock,
I agree with you that it could have gone any of the three different ways. However, it happened in a cast, and none of the three is what the judge did. The judge just gave a +10 strike to the dog that opened.

Thanks for your input.