The American Beagler Forum

Who would show to be a real rabbit dog? If ky hounds had to run cottontail in northern Michigan condition .. And Michigan hounds had to run in south ky?? What do u believe would be the out come..WOULD BOTH HOUNDS SHOW THAT THEY ARE REAL RABBIT DOGS???

Well I have a dog that came Friday m Michigan and he was a little over a year old when he came to Kentucky. My cousin had bought him from Steve Van Tuinen, my cousin was later killed in a work accident a few month later and I got the dog from my Uncle. I hunted 90% swamp rabbits, he was a straight up rabbit dog, no problems or issues at all. The dog is Hollywoods Luke Duke and I started trialing him and he did well. Made Champion very quickly and went on to make Grand in a short time also. He's around 10 years old now and he will die here at my house. So to answer you question with my experience this Michigan hound came to Kentucky and done very well on Kentucky rabbits. He is now closer to his Michigan home now though since we now live in Northwest Indiana.

Depends on your definition of a "real rabbit dog".

If your talking about a dog that can run in -10 degree temps on an icy crust then look to the northern states where they run in those conditions all winter and who are breeding and culling for that purpose. I know many beaglers here in Michigan (most) dont leave the house when conditions are bad and won't have that type hound.

If your talking about the best trial dogs run on sod in the spring and fall under near perfect conditions, in enclosures loaded with rabbits then it has more to do with who puts the time into their dogs, not where the dogs were born and raised. Most Midwest beagles breed the same bloodlines from Canada to Arkansas.

There are some die hard beaglers that almost live in the woods with the dogs and they always have some top shelf dogs. No substitute for ground time. Cant just inbreed to perfection. Look for the guys that dont work a full time job and/or have their own enclosures to have the "best" dogs day in and day out. Its an amazing country we live in where you can draw full disability from the government and run dogs 12 hours a day. God bless the USA

I believe most would excel in both as many of the hounds probably have trialed in both.

Some very good points guys , thanks for your opinion.,

I agree both excell in both areas if they got it they got it bottom line

I quess my thoughts are there is a lot out there that don't have it! I see a lot of hounds that can't even bark on snow with low temps.. And most are breed and raised in the south... And northern hounds mite have a few extra barks but they seem to get it done don't mater where there at! But I think it's very simple , trial dogs are breed to be clean mouth and I think a lot has breed the nose out to trial , therefor they just don't have the nose to run in any condition ... I WOULD RATHER HAVE A FEW EXTRA THAN NOTHING! . Mid west is a gun dog federation ! I think we need to breed RABBIT DOGS! And Judge for a rabbit dog.. But I do understand also folks like different things... Lol different strokes for different folks

Congrats on your first in a Northern Trial....Moe Foe....must be a pretty solid dog to perform like he has.

"I say a big nose rabbit dog is a big nose rabbit dog wherever they are put down....10 degrees or 80 degrees....You have to have seen really big nose to know really big nose...JMO." "I also agree....I would rather have early barks than none....again my opinion."

Continued Success to you!

"I say a big nose rabbit dog is a big nose rabbit dog wherever they are put down....10 degrees or 80 degrees....You have to have seen really big nose to know really big nose...JMO." "I also agree....I would rather have early barks than none....again my opinion."

but!!!! big nose no ex bark is rear. BUT!!! do exist. I've owned them .

BCBeagles wrote:Congrats on your first in a Northern Trial....Moe Foe....must be a pretty solid dog to perform like he has.

"I say a big nose rabbit dog is a big nose rabbit dog wherever they are put down....10 degrees or 80 degrees....You have to have seen really big nose to know really big nose...JMO." "I also agree....I would rather have early barks than none....again my opinion."

Continued Success to you!

Agree 100 percent.

thanks BC BEAGLES !

A big nose doesn't always mean extra mouth if they have the brains to know when to bark.

yes u rt! just a very fine line there! lol