Beagle Dog
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Hunting Beagles
Overview
While a wonderful family pet, this breed is also known for being hunting Beagles.
What is the prey? Mostly rabbits! In many parts of the country, is a common dinner food. Most hunting Beagles happily go along with their master for the chase! Let's look at what qualities a good hunting dog needs to have.
What is the prey? Mostly rabbits! In many parts of the country, is a common dinner food. Most hunting Beagles happily go along with their master for the chase! Let's look at what qualities a good hunting dog needs to have.
Hunting for rabbits has changed quite a bit in the last 20 years or so. One of the main reasons is the rabbit’s habitat. As fields have been dug up to build homes and business, the havens for small game decrease each year.
So much has changed! Aside from the decreasing fields where rabbits reside, other elements all have come into play:
Natural predators of the rabbit are increasing in strength and size. Why? Because 20 or 30 years ago, it was quite normal for a land owner to shoot a coyotes, hawk or owl. Now, laws prevent most land owners from doing so. This causes an increase in these animals which instinctively hunt the rabbit for their dinner…leaving a dwindling population for the hunter and his trusted hunting Beagle pack.
Because laws protect the coyotes, this species has grown and migrated from the West, now covering many field and forested areas of the East and South..this too keeps rabbits in hiding. In fact, they have learned to hide so deeply that even the best of trackers have difficulties finding their safe havens.
How Hunting Beagles Have Changed
Over time, the breed itself has undergone changes which has affected its ability to chase after rabbits. A dog should have the following abilities to perform well in the field:
- Jumping
- Scent
- Tongue
- Speed
As dog breeds are always developing, most will agree that the speed that has been built into the Beagle has taken away some of its jumping skills. While all elements are important for that good ol’ rabbit chase, all are needed for a “complete” hunting Beagle.
Luckily, scent, undoubtedly one of the most important features has remained intact. Most hunting beagles have little problem working out a track and keeping the rabbit moving along.
The importance of having a solid and trustworthy pack can’t be overlooked. All dogs must be in sync.
All must focus on staying on the trail, have a strong desire to hunt and not disrupt the pack by going off track or giving chase to other prey. Important to building a great pack, no matter what the size, will be the fit of the individual dogs. Pack = Team.
Dogs should be as equal as possible in speed and have the ability to claim with the tongue. No matter which Beagle picks up the trail of the rabbit, the other must be able to fall into place and run together. In the end, it is the individual person who must be happy with the pack he has assembled. While everyone will have their own opinion, it is the one who wakes up early and heads out into the field with his Beagles, who must feel comfortable in his choices of which dogs are heading out with him.
With each dog knowing their own duty and then working as a team…with the owner always as the leader…this makes for a great hunting beagle pack.
Establishing a routine is best. Making sure your pack is able to perform at optimal ability is a must. All dogs should be in the best shape possible. This can be done by keeping a regular excise schedule.
Because most states' open for rabbit hunting in the late fall, usually around the end of November, keeping your dogs eager for the chase and physically able to give that chase is important.
While the summer heat can be brutal for deep running to stay in shape, this can be done early morning and late evening to keep far away from any chances of heat stroke. These summer exercises will prime the dogs to be ready for rabbit hunting season.
Care
While your pack will serve the purpose of rabbit hunting, one must always keep in mind that the Beagles must be given proper care, the same as a family household pet.This will include excellent health care, including dentals, high quality dog food meals and especially tick, flea and worm control.
Rattlesnakes can be a problem, as they tend to come out when temperatures warm up in the late afternoon. For most, the best hunting is from daylight to about lunchtime. If you wish to go all day, do be aware of this element.
