Tracking rabbits with beagles?

[Team Porkchop]

Anyone in the Houston area track rabbits with beagles? I just adopted a 3 yr old female beagle and I would luv to teach her to track rabbits. The research I have done has stated that it is better to track with 3 to 6 dogs. Right now she is in obedience training but in the next couple of months we'll be ready. Thanks

[DXT Steve]

I use to do this as a kid and had a blast. I am betting that she will do it naturally.

[tx07]

Yeah I remember those days. It was fun. Dad gave my brother and I a couple bolt action .410's.

[Bayouboy]

Best to put a young beagle with a couple of experienced ones to learn the ropes. Especially a good jump dog. Just because a beagle will track and run a rabbit..... doesn't mean it is a jump dog. Those are few and far between. Even if you have to loan the dog out to someone that has a good pack.... it's worth it. And, be patient with a young one. They usually play out fast in the beginning and lag behind.
It's also best to train them away from deer areas. Hard to break them from the habit of running deer if they ever start.

[Team Porkchop]

@bayouboy... Those were my thoughts exactly. I have some ideas on how to get her started but I would like to see how a pro does it. An inexperience dog can learn alot from some good old veteran tracking dogs.

[JW]

"Run" rabbits with beagles bro.

Do you know if she is gun shy or not?

[Team Porkchop]

@Ragin'.....don't know but thanks for asking. I will be sure to take her to the shooting range as a part of her training.

[Muddy Bud]

I work with a bunch of guys from North Western Louisiana and they take there rabbit dogs serious. I have seen them almost come to blows defending there Beagles from trash talk. Have had plenty invites but don't see myself driving 9 hours to chase dogs chasing rabbits. But as stated above try and start them off where there are not so many deer, I hear these guys talk about breaking a beagle from running deer and it's brutal.

[JW]

I work with a bunch of guys from North Western Louisiana and they take there rabbit dogs serious. I have seen them almost come to blows defending there Beagles from trash talk. Have had plenty invites but don't see myself driving 9 hours to chase dogs chasing rabbits. But as stated above try and start them off where there are not so many deer, I hear these guys talk about breaking a beagle from running deer and it's brutal.

Its not brutal you just beat the hell out of em.

[Team Porkchop]

Anymore advice? Does anybody know anything about the Lone Star Beaglers?

[Team Porkchop]

Bump

[morris]

I would keep her on a leach or shock collar at first. They will run when they hit a scent and may not listen to you when they are smelling. My first beagle I had was a natural never trained her at all except with a shock collar to make sure she would listen to me at first.

[FreddySugar]

porkchop i sent u a pm

[Team Porkchop]

@Morris and Freddysugar, thanks right now she is fetching really good and is super smart. Im gonna be off next week for 14 days and the tracking training will begin:-)