But over across the pond in the British Isles, a "rough shooting" day implies
that the spaniels (ESS or ECS) search out and flush pheasant, European w/c,
grouse, rabbits, hare, pigeons or sit on the bank and wait for ducks to come in.
In other words, to hunt whatever may be around.

^^^My kind of day!

Best dog I ever had was free from a litter down the road.
Looked part blue tick, yelped like a beagle, enjoyed water as much as a cat.
We hunted everything.
Pheasants, squirrels, rabbits, wcock, grouse, *****, we'd even run fox sometimes.

 

2 x what P. Warrior said. Part of the fun of beagles on rabbit is the chase. A flushing dog can be fun, but mostly it's jump shooting you'll be doing. Most beaglers I know run rabbits more than they hunt rabbits; meaning they don't even carry a gun.

 

"If" a guy wanted to hunt rabbits, a beagle is the way to go for my taste. Anything other than a hound (I have seen some good rat terriers) is about like trying to play baseball with a golf club. As it was mentioned, I run as much as I hunt. The beagles provide me with chases throughout the year when I can't hunt. I will mention this. I have seen almost everything possible "happen" to a hunting dog. Before you decide to make one a house dog combo, consider a few things. They stink. They get cut up and filthy. They like being outside. It toughens them up for game time. Lastly. . .you don't ever want to have to go home and explain to the wife and kids that you lost Bowser, the family pet or that he got his guts splattered on the road. You may have well killed him yourself because that is how they are going to look at you. Whatever you decide, enjoy.

 

The guy said other than beagle. Don't get me wrong beagles are kick butt dogs. That's part of the reason I own one. Maybe don't like them or want a change. Maybe they want Canadian bacon.

 

Might sound funny I don't hunt rabbits much and never owned a true rabbit dog. My old Dachshund used to kill rabbits and ground hogs in the yard.
Do people use these dogs to hunt rabbits? We took here out once and claimed one rabbit that she actually caught and killed. She barked on the whole chase and when we caught up with her in the brush the rabbit was dead. It was my moms dog and she never liked the idea of taking her out hunting so that was the end of the experiment.

 

Might sound funny I don't hunt rabbits much and never owned a true rabbit dog. My old Dachshund used to kill rabbits and ground hogs in the yard.
Do people use these dogs to hunt rabbits? We took here out once and claimed one rabbit that she actually caught and killed. She barked on the whole chase and when we caught up with her in the brush the rabbit was dead. It was my moms dog and she never liked the idea of taking her out hunting so that was the end of the experiment.

Yes but I've heard it done in a little different way. The ones I've have heard were carried to a hole or brush pile, then sent in to either blush or drag them out. I think guys will dogs like beagles with the Dachshund in their pocket/pouch. I don't think to many people use them anymore. My grandfather had a friend that used one when they where in their teens.

 

Okay. . .I'm just playin but I have to say this in good fun and for all of my hound brethren reading. . .there are NO rabbit dogs other than beagles.

 

 

Portuguese podengo is the way to go I have videos of them in my YouTube channel Cottontail chase California they well rounded dog gives the beagle a run for their money