The American Beagler Forum

Who do you all think is easier to start males or females?

I have never started a rabbit dog, but started and hunted quite a few squirrel dogs. I did not see any difference in male or female when starting them but I also had 3/4 acre fenced in with sunflower feeders to pull the squirrels in. I had dogs start anywhere from 4 months to 18 months. I am now trying to convert my pen to start beagle puppies in. Never owned a beagle so this will be a challenge for me. I have dutch cross chinchilla rabbits that I will put in there to help start them. I plan on trapping some cottontails when the pup gets a little older to further her education. Also plan on putting deer hide on rat traps in there also hoping the pup will find them and get a smack on the nose a couple of times might help with deer proofing then. If not then shock collar will but never liked a shock collar.

I would say females.
Males usually start about 6 months or late and take longer to mature.
Females I have seen running at 4 months old!!

Anthony

My males started before my female but that is the exception. Usually females start sooner. Enjoy that puppy. Getting pups started is very rewarding. The key is to get them out often and socialized. Take them through rabbit habitat: briars, weeds, brushy areas, etc. Everything is a new experience and it might just as well be sooner as later. Good luck and keep us posted.

When I had a starting pen I raised dogs and trained as a hobby. I also trained other guys dogs in my pen when I didn’t have pups of my own. I had the same line of dogs and only had a few males out of that line. I can tell you this much every male I have trained always started later then the females of the same litter. Anthony said it with females maturing quicker than males.
I have two litter mates here from that is a perfect example. We hunted the male all most all season and never took the female. I took them both to the running pen after rabbit season went out and the guy told me the female started in two days and the male took a week and ½ of the season.

It's been males for me.

50/50