Just got a beagle pup!!!!

[glongworth3232]

I just got a beagle pup today and im wondering a few things.How old should she be untill i start taking her out to chase some rabbits? Also what would be the best way of going about training her to do so?She is only 9 weeks today.All info and help is Great!!! Thanks Gene

[Happy Jack]

Congrats on the pup. We need a picture ! Nothing cuter the a beagle pup. She will probably spend this season stuck in snow if you take her out. When she's big enough and knows basic comands take her where you know there are rabbits and the rest should come naturely. You will get good advise here from people that know much more than me. Enjoy !

[Mike M.]

She needs yard work first ive seen it to many times where people (myself included) get excited about gettin young pups started and skip this step.Handleing is just as important to me as hunting in a hound when its time to go then its time to go (LOL)Once they got the handleing part down then I like to start them on tame rabbits that I turn loose for a week or two first before a trip to the field just to give them an idea of what to run this seems to help with running off game.If you take a pup out there that has never ran a rabbit there is noway of knowing what it might run into pheasant,deer,squirrels,ect,ect.Well good luck with your new pup and keep us posted on her progress!!

[KILLnGRILL]

My condolences to you on your new addition to the family.Beagles are a lot of work,you need lots of patience ,Also get yourself a good divorce lawyer if youre married.( if he/she is anything like my beagle)My wife and dog have a love /hate thing going on .:lol::lol::lol:I started mine by using fresh road kill rabbits ,drag the rabbit around the yard and then cover with leaves ,let the pup loose roughly where the scent trail begins and see what happens.Dont expect the dog to bark(open up) right away but one day he'll start ,then you wont be able to shut him up .:lol::lol:
KNG

[Mike M.]

Road kill rabbit work too if they are fresh!! Tame rabbits left on the ground for a week or two run like snowshoes hares when their running gear builds up (LOL)If you have the room it works very well.I have 2 out in my field right now that I have been workin my 5 month old pup on.

[scottmi]

Starting pen for a couple weeks, just dont leave it in too long, prolly the easiest way to get them goin

[glongworth3232]

What do u mean by starting pen?

[wally-eye]

Small fenced in area with a rabbit/s in it.

YES PIC's PLEASE.

Nothing cuter than a beagle or basset puppy..........have had numerous ones over the last 60 years, all house dogs and never had a bad one. Really have a soft spot in my heart for a beagle or basset pup...........

[glongworth3232]

So when is a good time to start doing some of these things with her?

[glongworth3232]

I cant get them to up load for some reason but my avatar pic of of her!!!

[rabbit whacker]

You are a lucky man...wish I could convince my wife I needed one. This will be my first winter in 14 years beagleless.

[timbergsp]

i think you can start her any time

I normaly buy my puppies a small rabbit at 8 weeks

let her chase it chew it what ever she wants to do

then wait and buy another one at 12 or 14 weeks do the same

rabbit whacker i have a dog I would sell to the right home 5 year old UKC champion

scott

[timberdoodle528]

You are a lucky man...wish I could convince my wife I needed one. This will be my first winter in 14 years beagleless.

Tell me is isn't so! You need a pup! You know the ole saying - it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission - JUST DO IT! You've been wanting a pup ever since I first signed on this board, I'd say you've waited long enough!



glongworth - I like to start my pups at around 5 or 6 months. Starting pens are nice, but as already stated, don't leave them in there too long. I've seen some dogs ruined from startin pens. If I were you, I'd wait till the weather breaks - go find a spot where there's a lot of rabbit sign, and just let him wander around. He'll jump one sooner or later or at least cross a fresh track. He'll naturally start chasing or trailing. Probably won't open up for awhile, but don't sweat it - he will eventually. Might as well start saving for an E-Collar, you'll need one. Tri-tronics is my pick out of all of them out there. Get one that will go AT LEAST 1 mile. Teach your pup what it means before you actually "use" it. By that I mean, work with him in the yard. You want him to come to your feet when you poke him. If you run him enough, there will without a doubt come a time when he'll jump a deer or a fox or a yote or any other non-desirable "off-game" animal and you'll have a hell of a time catching him..... that is, if you don't have your e-collar on, charged up and cinched down.
And you know you can't post a thread like this without pictures! What were ya thinking?? LOL :)

One more thing... do a search on this site on starting beagles. This has been covered a lot on this site. Don't just search this forum, as it's relatively new.... Good luck.

[sixft4par]

If this is your first beagle I would try to get with some who has started them before. The biggest thing is to get the dog to come to you no matter what. I would highly reccomend an e collar with at least 1 mile range. Once you have the dog trained to come to you when called you can take the pup to a starting pen....or trap a wild rabbit to start. If you choose to use a trap you can get a small trap at TSC and I use cut up apples to bait them in. WHen there is snow on the ground the rabbits are easier to catch. Let the pup smell the rabbit in the trap and get it real excited, then hold the dog and let the rabbit go and then let the dog go after it. The pup will sight chase the bunny for a while and then they normally realize they smell it and will track it. I'm not big on training pups with scents or dead rabbits....just my take. The best thing is to get the pup on live rabbits and it will catch on quick. Watch out for off game....pups will run rabbits or wahtever they smell at times, and this means if they happen to bump a deer they will run it. This is why the e-collar and yard training is so important. You are going to love beagling, its a great way to spend a winter day!

[Gobblerman]

You are going to love beagling, its a great way to spend a winter day!


Could'nt agree more with this post. This will be my 5th or 6th season with my beagle and it's alot of fun. If I ever move to the country, I'm buying another one (maybe 2). I've learned alot over the years, If I knew what I know now back when I started both the beagle and I would be better bunnie chasers.

She chased her first bunnies at about 6 months old in Missouri. She actually opened up on 2 and we got them both. Nothing sweeter than hearing the hound barking. Music to your ears.

[maak]

Small fenced in area with a rabbit/s in it.

YES PIC's PLEASE.

Nothing cuter than a beagle or basset puppy..........have had numerous ones over the last 60 years, all house dogs and never had a bad one. Really have a soft spot in my heart for a beagle or basset pup...........
Just my luck. I have a beagle/basset cross, and he's the most obnoxious dog I've ever met. Whenever I slap his butt for doing something bad, he goes over and body slams his beagle wife against the wall. He's only 40 pounds, but he can drag a LazyBoy recliner across the house and use it as a ladder to get into all sorts of stuff. Then when I get home, he takes what he got, drops it in front of his daughter, and barks at her, like she did it. He's a pretty smart dog.

[john warren]

ok, my guess is , everyone that has ever owned a beagle has their own garaubteed method. heres what i do with my dogs.
from the begining i clatter the pans when i feed them , just to let them know noise is a good thing. don't bang them too loud, just so they associate some noise with food.
i associate my dogs with as many people and other dogs as i can. tr to have them meet and interact with 100 people before their six months old. and as many dogs as you can.
this helps stop dog fights and nipping at strangers.
begin simple training right away. just make it fun. i use clicker training and it reall works well. research it on the internet and make sure you fully understand it before you try it.
ok those are basic dog things. now the hunting part.
take the dog for lots of walks in the field. let them play and learn what things smell like. he might chase something ,, might not, doesn't really matter yet. its good exercise for the dog,(and you) and lots of fun.
play games that use the skills you want to advance. have someone occupy the dog while you drag a scent trail with his favorite treat or toy and let him find it. hide a treat under a towel or something and let their nose find it. if you have kids one of our favorite games was to have the kid walk threw a field with tall weeds and then hide and let the pup trail them. just keep it fun for the dog and they will learn more then you cqan imagine

[FREEPOP]

Good advise here. I will add time, time and more time, in the field, yard etc. playing learning and strengthening your bond together. Trust and teamwork is a good foundation. Remember one thing about beagles, they are pack animals and in any pack (family) there is a heirachy. You are the alpha male and what you say is law. There are reprocussions for not obeying and praise for doing good. I don't beat my dogs, but when I use the the words "bad dog", they understand and you can tell it hurts their feelings. Most of this stuff comes later, for now, spend as much time as possible playing and strengthening you bond :)