Beagle for hunting???

B

BuckFever

New member
I have noticed a few threads in this forum about Beagles for hunting dogs. I know this is a stupid question but what does a Beagle normally hunt? I am asking because I have a Beagle which is about 3 years old and would like to train the obstenance out of him to be a good hunting dog. Anyone have any tips and such on what to do or ideas as to training. This dog was primarily for my wife so basically isn't trained at all, not even to sit. Your help is appreciated.
 
Here's what I do when starting a beagal pup. Take a 10' check cord and tie it to a freshly shot rabbit. Tease the pup with it by letting them sniff, and jump up for it. Really get them wound up. Then start swinging the rabbit on the rope in big circles just above, and kinda bouncing along the ground from time to time. Slowly at first, then increasing the speed as the dog becins to chase the rabbit. Whatever you do though, do not let the beagal catch the rabbit and begin to start chewing on it too much. You want the fun in this game to be the chase, or you will have created a rabbit eater that will drive you nuts hunting for himself. I usually start a begal pup as soon as they are playful, and 9 of 10 pups will get so excited playing this game they will start baying. Everytime I have a little pup baying, and chaseing a bunny on a rope, I know it will be a good rabbit dog it's entire life. Now IMHO with your dogs age, if it wont show interest in this game, probabally now worth wasting any more time on training. Let me know how it goes, Ridge
 
Thanks for the replies. Hopefully this dog has instinct to be a hunter. I'll have to take him out by himself to train since I also have a healer mix that's no good. I told my wife we should just get rid of both dogs and start from scratch on a nice lab or something but she said that was not humane. Oh well. Coming from a ranch, my ideas are if a dog aint any good, get rid of it. Her ideas are different.
 
make sure you teach it the come command. when beagles finally get theyre hunting instict going they do not want to quit. I have never seen a beagle that reliably comes when out hunting.
 
Start off with basic comands such as come, sit, and load up (get in the truck). If you take the dog out in the field and will not come to you it will be a very long day. If you can get it respond to both whistle and voice to come the dog will find you out in the brush. Use plenty of treats and affection when you are training the simple commands. One thing you must do is issue the command only once then you make the do it. Sit is an easy one to work on since you push the back end of the dog while saying sit, then reward the dog with treat and praise. The come command, put a 10 foot rope on the collar and give a gentle tug on the rope when you call. Work on one new task at time and reinforce the commands that the dog has learned.

A 3 year old dog is not that old to start, because beagles are natural hunters, it may not be the best hunter in the world but will chase a few rabbits.
 
Beagles have a strong drive to hunt. Training is important but if you can start your beagle with some other dogs that are already hunting even if it's just for a time or two he'll know what to do when you hunt him alone.

Don't worry about his instinct. He'll hunt just about anything. Down here in the south they're often used as deer hounds and are quite effecitive.

$bob$
 
The earlier you start a hound the better.i usually have my pups broke by 6 months.Good Luck with your dog! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
If your dog is trailing anything in the back yard you have a chance. I got a two year old dog once that I just turned loose on the farm. He would trail cows, horses, and even me. I walked him in the pasture one night and shined a gray fox. I put this dog on his trail and he ran the fox for four solid hours. From then on he was a hound. One thing though, they have to have genetics. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. CG
 


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