The American Beagler Forum

my daughter an i have been runnig beagles now for two year's now for the gun. but now she want's to trail , i know nothing about it, an she is nine year's old is there a age limit ? i thinking about letting her run one of my dog's, the dog has very good hunt an jump abilty, but sometimes over run's but pick's back up quickly upper med speed. could someone tell me what type of trail this dog might fit into. thank's for any info.. my daughter is my hunting buddie gotta keep her happy don't want to hunt alone... plus she help's with the kennel !!!

arha little pack I think would be the easiest for her.ukc would be ok once she gets a little older and can call her dog and things like that.

We have some young folks handle dogs at the UKC Hunting Beagle Hunts I attend.

Where are you?

ARHA Little Pack is popular down here in Alabama and lots of children, both sexes, at every trial I go to. Lots with grandfathers like me.

I've been on several cast where a child was handling a dog and everyone helped the child catch their dog, etc.

There is nothing to learn, When cast number is drawn, see who is in your cast when cast meets at post with your drawn number and see the judge, follow the judge to the running place or catch a ride with another cast member, turn the dog loose when ordered to do so and catch it when ordered to do so.

The judge does all the rest.

Great to get children involved, good thinking!!!

Ronnie,
Join us at our hunt on the 28th of this month in Raphine. You and your daugther will have a great time, see plenty of rabbits which is important when you are hunting with kids. This will be your best place to learn trialing as most of us are learning ourselves. Keep them youguns in the woods, they will thank you some day for it.

hounddog
Jim Umbarger
540-292-3000

As long as it's an honest running fair dog, you should have fun at any format you go to. I would visit as many as you could. See what format holds the most trials closest to you....weigh that against which formats you enjoy the most and that'll be your answer. Everyone likes different formats for different reasons. None are perfect, all can be fun. I really appreciate you investing time with your daughter. Hope you guys have a blast. Where are you located?

dk

I would be afraid to send her on a UKC hunt for the fact that some over competitive adult who knows the rules would (outhandle) her even if her dog did deserve to win.

Then you shouldn't send her to a PP hunt, because there is a chance she might get buddy judged, even if her dog deserved to win, c'mon........

I'll go ahead and say it.... if you attend trials with your daughter, in any format, there is a chance things may not fall fairly every time. I'm sure thats a shock to everyone, but its true.

dk

My 10 year old girl handles my Sport dog in ARHA LP. She has a blast and loves to sign the scorecard afterwards. Her and Sport were second in the champ class yesterday.

She is my alarm clock, map reader & all around trialing buddy.

The guys at our hunts seam to go out of there way to see that the kids have fun.

houndsound wrote:Then you shouldn't send her to a PP hunt, because there is a chance she might get buddy judged, even if her dog deserved to win, c'mon........

I'll go ahead and say it.... if you attend trials with your daughter, in any format, there is a chance things may not fall fairly every time. I'm sure thats a shock to everyone, but its true.

dk

Looking back at that, it sounds rude, not how I meant it, I apologize Mike.

dk

houndsound, No need for an apology. What you said is probably true, but I know getting outhandled does happen a lot to beginners in UKC. Not just children.
Any format with a judge would be easier for a young kid to start out in.

I know it is not true everywhere but there are a lot of UKC trialers around this area that would be very lienient and helpful with a child handling a dog. The last trial I was in a grandfather had his grand daughter handling the hound for him. And, I might add, the grandfather was a very experianced handler. In UKC Hound & Hunter format, it is the handler as well as the hound and an experianced handler does have an edge over beginners. But, if you have the dog power, you can win. Make sure she knows when her dog is opening and the rest will take care of it's self.
You can find a number of incompetent judges in any format. With the Hound & Hunter format, others can over rule an incompetent judge.

My son has been handling his own dog since he was about 8 and it has more trophys then all the others put together and he has enjoyed it very much. He is now 14 and may be a better hunter and trialer then I am. He has been helped by a lot of people in ARHA little pack, they take him and his dog on a cast with them and I go judge a different cast. I don't send my son with just anyone but there are enough good people that I always find someone I can send him with , that says a lot for ARHA LP requireless what you may have heard or read!! We have meet a lot of people we now consider our friends from alot of different areas and states. I would reccomend you take her and you will both enjoy it . Don't go with the attitude that not winning is a failure , but go with the attitude that being there with your daugter , the dogs and the other people makes you a winner reguardless the outcome of the cast, Enjoy . Hearld Dalton

Well said tnbeagleman..................


hounddog
Jim Umbarger


ps.... Mike, I know what you're saying but if there is a kid envolved it won't happen while i'm there.

At the UKC world hunt there was a 14 yr old in my cast. He had bought the dog already qualified for the world hunt. He entered the dog and this was his first hunt. His dad and him had drove from N.Carolina to Ohio to enter. On a cast that meant so much. The guide before the dogs were cut told everyone that there was a young newbie in the cast and to be polite and help the lad out. We all did just that. Kid got some breaks and non of us walked away mad. we all felt good about it. Every cast I have been in with a youngster has been great.The whole cast has been more than helpfull.

Mike