3 replies to this topic

[daringescape]

I am new to hunting, and have a 1 year old beagle/basset mix. I would like to be able to train him and take him out rabbit and bird hunting - where should I start?

He isn't the most obedient dog - being a hound, there are times where his nose takes precedent and he develops that selective hearing that our wives complain that we have. I did take him hiking quite a bit this summer in the eastern Sierras, and let him off leash and he did really well (stayed pretty much on the trail, and didnt get too far ahead) he knows the sit, and lay down commands, and will come when called - but thats about it.

Any of you guys here hunt with dogs? advice?

here are a couple of pics of him, just for fun.

 fin11.jpg   44.27K   1 downloads  fin22.jpg   39.34K   2 downloads

[KNOCKED UP]

Work with him DE,
Dogs almost always want to make their
masters happy.
Most dogs are fairly smart, and catch on quick.
Again, and again, and again.
Tom

[daringescape]

I plan on taking him out and working with him - I've been reading that starting the the backyard dragging a hotdog to get them following scent is good, but I'm pretty sure he has that down.

This summer he brought us 6 birds from the yard, and caught a squirrel. The squirrel, he was just chasing around, and must have caught it and injured it. He was just running around the grass barking like crazy at this poor squirrel who was trying to drag itself away using only its front paws. I had to dispatch that one.

I have a feeling he will be a good hunting dog.

[DirtyDave]

Bring home a dead rabbit. Toss it around and get him excited about it. Make drags using the dead rabbit and have him find it. Make the drags more and more difficult as you go. Always reward at the end of a successful find with a treat or a ton of praise. Encourage him when he is on the right track, but let him figure most of it out, his nose will take over.
I have a Jagdterrier that I use for all types of hunting. My wifes dog is a 7yr old Puggle (Pug/Beagle) that has a great nose, but has never hunted. I tried getting her excited about birds, hoping she would be good for quail, but no interest at all. I brought home a dead cottontail (she was 5 and never saw or smelled a rabbit in her life), and she lost her freakin mind over that rabbit! Thats when I started doing drags for her.


I have read a few articles here and they are pretty good.
http://www.beaglesun...ed.com/node/455