Starting Beagle Puppies on Rabbits
By Max Phillips
One of the most rewarding things that can happen to the owner of a Beagle
puppy is to watch it “smell” its first rabbit and see the excitement it brings
to the puppy. Starting a Beagle puppy on rabbits can be an exciting experience
for both the puppy and its owner. Many theories exist about the “correct” way to
start a puppy. One of the most effective training methods was developed by Mr.
Joe Jackson. Mr. Jackson owns a kennel and a small puppy starting pen near
McComb, Mississippi, where he has developed a unique and successful method of
starting Beagle puppies on rabbits.
There are many factors that must be
considered before starting a Beagle puppy. Some of the most important elements
are conformation, strength, and disposition. Elimination of undesirable
characteristics in the beginning reduces the potential for problems in the
future. Select a puppy based on its physical appearance, personality, and
pedigree. All of these factors have relevance in determining the quality of the
Beagle puppy you are starting.
After you have selected the puppy or
puppies you plan to start, the training begins. Puppies should not be started
until they are old enough and strong enough to stand the physical demands of
running rabbits. This age may vary depending on the individual puppy, but six to
eight months of age is usually a good age to start the field training. A key
component to puppy readiness is proper diet combined with a regular worming and
vaccination program.
Handling is the next important issue. One needs to
be able to handle and lead a puppy before field work begins. This can be
accomplished in a variety of ways but nothing beats hands-on care and petting.
Teaching a puppy to tie-out and lead will be much easier if you are able to
handle the puppy.
When your puppy is ready to be handled on a lease, field
training can begin. Mr. Jackson’s training techniques advocate that you begin by
placing the puppy in a small enclosure, with a rabbit in a wire rolling cage.
The rolling cage is made of small mesh wire so that the puppies cannot injure
the rabbit. When the puppy “discovers” the rabbit and aggressively trys to get
to the rabbit, it is ready to be “put-down” in the starting pen.
Starting
pens are usually small enclosures (one to five acres) with good ground cover and
a high concentration of rabbits. When the puppy is placed in the starting pen,
they need to be allowed to stay in the pen until they find a rabbit and give
chase. Usually this will occur soon after the puppy is placed in the starting
pen.
Remove the puppy after it has run the rabbit for a reasonable time.
Don’t leave the puppy in the pen until it is completely exhausted. Return the
puppy to the kennel and repeat the activity each day, allowing the puppy to run
for longer periods each time they are out of the kennel. This will increase the
puppy’s strength and desire to run rabbits. Continue this activity on a daily
basis until the puppy exhibits the desire to find and start its own game and
after successfully pursuing the rabbit continually for an extended amount of
time, even finding the rabbit after checks occur in the chase.
Puppies
started in this manner tend to develop individual skills more quickly; however,
if puppies have difficulty starting on their own, they may need to be placed
with other puppies or an older trained dog. Puppies need to be run with other
dogs in small packs to help them learn to “hark” to other dogs and to work
together as a team. To become good rabbit dogs, puppies must develop their own
individual skills and running style, but they must also learn to run with other
dogs as a pack.
When the puppy has satisfactorily completed this starting
exercise, it is ready to begin hunting in the open. This method of initiation
will allow the puppy to start on rabbits only and will not confuse the puppy by
running “off game.” Running rabbits with Beagles is a very enjoyable hunting
sport – whether field trialing, gun-hunting for rabbits, or just for the
pleasure of listening to the race. Properly starting a Beagle puppy will help
make it a more enjoyable hound for its owner.
|
|