If I felt the dog were a true backtracker - one worthy of a bullet, I wouldn't post it for sale as a "lightly started" dog for an unsuspecting buyer. The pup is still young and I've seen them do wierd things that they grow out of as the gain experience. I think I'd give it a few more months and plenty of rabbit tracks before I made a decision.mybeagles wrote:This dog will cause you grief the rest of its life. Do yourself and the dog a favor and put it out of its misery. True Back tracking dogs get worse with age, Ive seen 8 or 10. None of them ever got it right......The other option is to get on this board under "Trading Post" and offer this hound for sale as lightly started!
back tracking
Moderators: Pike Ridge Beagles, Aaron Bartlett
Weather and tracking conditions play a role is some back tracking. When the ground is freezing or thawing, I have seen some very good dogs have trouble determining which way the track should go.
I believe a responsible breeder should do everything he can to eliminate any natural backtracking in their beagles. I use all of my beagles in my breeding program, that is why I am very strict on not allowing it in my pack. Plus, a backtracker will soon have the other dogs doing it. Stopping it before it becomes a habit is key in this situation and I personally would never use this dog in my breeding program. Running a track the right way is a genetic trait.
I believe a responsible breeder should do everything he can to eliminate any natural backtracking in their beagles. I use all of my beagles in my breeding program, that is why I am very strict on not allowing it in my pack. Plus, a backtracker will soon have the other dogs doing it. Stopping it before it becomes a habit is key in this situation and I personally would never use this dog in my breeding program. Running a track the right way is a genetic trait.
backtracking
this dog is running the line backwards or away from the rabbit she is very lightly started THANKS for the advice guys I just cant see shotting a dog that does something wrong the first time or to. would a training pen help and if so are there any close to williamsburg ky THANKS again boomarang
I never advocated giving this dog a bullet or knocking it in the head. Cull carries several meanings, for me that means not using it for hunting or breeding. There are plenty of folks that will take a well mannered beagle pup and make it a family pet.
My final word on backtracking is that it gets worse with age. If its a matter of poor scenting conditions and the dog is struggling to get it going the right way, his genetics will tell it the right direction when scenting improves, not the shock collar. I will go to my grave believing you cant break a backtracker with a shock collar but good luck trying if that suits you. Dont be suprised if this dog never runs again if you shock a lightly started dog for running the wrong way
My final word on backtracking is that it gets worse with age. If its a matter of poor scenting conditions and the dog is struggling to get it going the right way, his genetics will tell it the right direction when scenting improves, not the shock collar. I will go to my grave believing you cant break a backtracker with a shock collar but good luck trying if that suits you. Dont be suprised if this dog never runs again if you shock a lightly started dog for running the wrong way
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Buckeye Bob
- Posts: 489
- Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2003 10:01 pm
- Location: Ohio
Sounds like you and I could swap some stories 
Yes a training pen can help you make up your mind quicker.I had a pup years ago that backtracked I put him in the pen and he would run the track forwards about 20yrds then turn around and just smoke the track backwards just fantastic,only took 2-3 times to see that,that s a gentic problem so he became a cull.A young pup may get overly excited and get on a track and if it goes backwards maybe 10ft or so it's brain should be telling it to go forward right away,but if the pup is taking the track backwards 30-40 yrds or more and seems to run it better backwards instead of forwards I don't care what anybody tells you that is a gentic fault that can not be fixed and you are just wasting your time.Like others have said but some guys have a hard time swallowing the fact that ALL pups/dogs don't or can't be made to chase rabbits if the GENETICS are not there.So it's your choice to decide cause your the one feeding him and maybe by listening to the guys that tell you it can be fxed will give you some good hard earned lessons and when others tell you it's a cull you will appreciate their advise that much more.
In my opinion, some starting pens can be responsible for causing a pup to backtrack. Small pens with lots of rabbits will encourage this unacceptable behavior as the area gets tracked up with scent. Once a pup is opening on scent I'd get him out in the wild quick. Backtracking to me is unforgiveable but I don't take anything too serious with a pup just starting. If the dog is running well enough to put a rabbit to ground though, I suspect this fellow has a serious direction problem that I doubt is curable. I certainly would never want him in my bloodline.
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bunnyjumper
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:09 pm
- Location: Ohio
Boomarang, could you please explain in a little more detail what your pup is doing? I guess I take your post different than some, I'm not reading so much into it. I assume since you said you jump the rabbit for her, was the rabbit sitting? If so,does your pup then make some forward progress before she looses it, then starts backtracking? It would be a different story if you jump the rabbit that was sitting and she starts running a cold trail backwards. You must have seen the rabbit to know that that she was going the wrong way. If you could, please give us a little more.
Culling
If every beagle was put down that backtracked only liars would own beagles.
LOL Maybe not but there would be a heck of a lot less beagles.
There are more perfect beagles on the internet than in the field.
I've seen a lot of pups that would run it backwards when they come to a hard check. If you stand on the line and scold or punish them a couple of times they will usually quit it, unless, they are truly stupid.
LOL Maybe not but there would be a heck of a lot less beagles.
There are more perfect beagles on the internet than in the field.
I've seen a lot of pups that would run it backwards when they come to a hard check. If you stand on the line and scold or punish them a couple of times they will usually quit it, unless, they are truly stupid.
backtracking
bunnyhunter I SAW THE RABBIT TAKE OF IT WAS BEHIND A BUSH SETTING DOWN MY PUP WAS 20 FEET AWAY i called her to me and led her to where the rabbit had been she started sniffing the ground and took off in the wrong way i led her back to this spot 3 times she ran it wrong every time the first time she went about 50 feet the next 2 times i only let her go 10 feet itryed tolead her in the direction the rabbit went she would sniff and follow it till i took off her lead then she would go the wrong way is this gen. or not ido appericate all the advice includeing MYBEAGLES THANKS A LOT GUYS this is my first beagle (no supprise) and i am trying to learn boomarang
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bunnyjumper
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:09 pm
- Location: Ohio
backtracking
yes she did but she also opened up when i took her in the right way
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bunnyjumper
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:09 pm
- Location: Ohio
Others may be set in their opinions on these actions, but I have seen some young pups do alot of strange things when just starting out. This is your first pup and your learning and having fun with her, thats all that counts. Keep working with her and in time you will be able to make your own evaluations on how shes doing. Like others have said, If all young dogs were let go because of making some mistakes, we would never know their real potential. Best of luck to you.