Just looking for any pointers on training a beagle for rabbits. I have a 7 month old beagle and I’m looking for pointers on how to best train her. She’s got 3 good hunting kennel mates but I purchased them trained. Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks
Any tips on training beagles for rabbits
- Thread starter DanRivers
- Start date
cdn1canhunt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- southwestern ontario
Just take her to the woods where rabbits live. She will figure it out fast. Point out rabbit tracks in the snow a get excited she will be too. Follow along the tracks an hope you bump one fresh scent will have her chasing in no time. Let her run a few in her own without her kennel mates when she is confidently running them on her own…you can run her with other dogs. If you don’t let here chase them alone she may always be a follower and not a lead chaser.
rajczak_kashka
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Surrey, B.C.
Be patient....very patient. ��
hmm, interesting. I think Ima try and run her alone a few times like you said. Should I do some sort of gun training with her before hand? If so what’s a good way to go about that? Sorry for all the questions, I just really want this dog to work out. Thanks.
I’ve been hearing that a lot . It’s got me a little nervous not gonna lie. We bred the litter that had this pup so I really don’t wanna lose her to a pushed buck . I picked up 4 gps collars and I’m hoping that that’s enough. Should I get dog blaze vest or am I overdoing it?
When I had my beagles I used to bring them to the gun range and play with them keeping them a good distance from the gun shots. As the day went on I would move closer to the gunshots, within a few hours we were playing along side of the gunners.... If you play with the dog with the gunshots in the distance not paying any attention to the gunshots the dog didn't think it was anything to worry about. Some might say this is not a good idea, but this is how I did it with 3 different dogs with no ill effects..... Remember, playing with them away and ignoring the gunshots is key... Good luck
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
When I was much younger and living in NS those gentlemen that ran beagles had a universal rule: no rimfire rifles amongst thier dogs. Shotguns with appropriately sized birdshot only. Game was almost always moving.
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If your other dogs are good at running bunnies the new pup will learn fastest by running with them. If they have bad habits, like running deer, then try training her alone.
I have trained beagles myself and it takes time to get them to stay on the track. During this time I spent as much tracking the bunny as the dog did. Once they understood it was great, and then I could get back to shooting instead of tracking.
I have trained beagles myself and it takes time to get them to stay on the track. During this time I spent as much tracking the bunny as the dog did. Once they understood it was great, and then I could get back to shooting instead of tracking.
Have trained a few rabbit dogs. I prefer snowshoe hare... go out with the dog in the morning after a night-time snow, and follow the tracks. Eventually you will see one sitting under a conifer. Call the dog, then when the dog gets close, head-shot the hare. After the dog runs in and shakes the hare, blood everywhere, hold the hare, and let the beagle lick the blood and sniff the feet. At that point the training is complete. Praise the dog, put the hare in the pack, and within 2 minutes that beagle will be hunting hares by track.
Growing up running beagles is they either have it or they don't. Some take a season or two to catch on. Had some that always ran deer and coyote as well as bunnies and had 1 that was just stupid for coons. We'd spend hours digging his ass out of stump piles unless he killed the coon on his own he would not come out. I've killed several coons by hand trying to get to that particular beagle. They will try your faith and will push your every last nerve. They are the most stubborn breed and I have mastiffs now lol. But for all the trouble shooting bunnies ahead of a pack of singing hounds is an amazing experience that can not be matched. I moved to hunting with a Basset Hound later after our pack of beagles retired. Ultimately slower with a basset but they never ran deer and never ran cold
cdn1canhunt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- southwestern ontario
I suggest you take a gun with you but don’t shoot unless the dog is a good distance away and not focused on you. Ideally the dog will be on a track preoccupied with something else when you shoot.
As for how long it should take it depends on how many rabbits are around and how much time you have to take them hunting. I had my beagle actually chasing and starting to give tongue at 12 weeks. Took him a season to really figure things out. But I was in college with five guys that all hunted and one or 2 of us was hunting nearly everyday of the season.
Snowshoe hares where more fun to hunt than cottontails, hares don’t really hole. Cottontails get wise to the game pretty fast if you hunt the same spots repeatedly. They will hole sometimes as quick as the first chase.
As for the orange coat I’d say don’t bother with one it will likely get caught and tangle up the dog somewhere. Orange collar and call it good. buy a bell so you know when the dog is close when not on a chase also if you hear the dogs bell the rabbit has likely either seen you and changed direction or has already passed you by and you didn’t see it.
As for deer and coyotes I ran my dog on both deer and rabbits but I don’t recommend it. Had some long azz rabbit hunts due to it turning into a deer chase. I suggest a really good e collar and use it.
Also if you know there are lots of deer in an area go somewhere else. Be prepared for anything when you go hunting. if you are hunting with a few guys take hand held radios. I had my dog chase coyotes, fox, coon and deer on occasion. Most of the time it ended quick but ole Boomer the beagle spent a night or 2 in the woods during his lifetime.
I think it was worse for me and my family than it was for him but nothing worse than coming home from hunting without your best hunting buddy. And searching for him the next day. Oh and go get a collar with a name plate and have your name an phone number engraved on it. Most people will call when they find him or her. Tracking collar can be worth their price.
As for how long it should take it depends on how many rabbits are around and how much time you have to take them hunting. I had my beagle actually chasing and starting to give tongue at 12 weeks. Took him a season to really figure things out. But I was in college with five guys that all hunted and one or 2 of us was hunting nearly everyday of the season.
Snowshoe hares where more fun to hunt than cottontails, hares don’t really hole. Cottontails get wise to the game pretty fast if you hunt the same spots repeatedly. They will hole sometimes as quick as the first chase.
As for the orange coat I’d say don’t bother with one it will likely get caught and tangle up the dog somewhere. Orange collar and call it good. buy a bell so you know when the dog is close when not on a chase also if you hear the dogs bell the rabbit has likely either seen you and changed direction or has already passed you by and you didn’t see it.
As for deer and coyotes I ran my dog on both deer and rabbits but I don’t recommend it. Had some long azz rabbit hunts due to it turning into a deer chase. I suggest a really good e collar and use it.
Also if you know there are lots of deer in an area go somewhere else. Be prepared for anything when you go hunting. if you are hunting with a few guys take hand held radios. I had my dog chase coyotes, fox, coon and deer on occasion. Most of the time it ended quick but ole Boomer the beagle spent a night or 2 in the woods during his lifetime.
I think it was worse for me and my family than it was for him but nothing worse than coming home from hunting without your best hunting buddy. And searching for him the next day. Oh and go get a collar with a name plate and have your name an phone number engraved on it. Most people will call when they find him or her. Tracking collar can be worth their price.
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Training beagles....that's a good one.
Where's that cat herding video....
Where's that cat herding video....
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
We’ve got a 14 year old beagle who’s in retirement now, she came programmed, just minor corrections needed but knew how to do the job by instinct. Birds or rabbits, she knew what to do from the get go. Debating a new pup now, and wondering if we’ll be as lucky the next time.
My Grandfather had a neighbour with a beagle they used on deer back in the day on Manitoulin Island. If the dog got lost he would leave his vest where he last saw him and the dog was there in the morning. Always a concern about a wolf finding your dog first.This dog was trained to not chase rabbits ,you can't have it both ways or you'll be hunting dogs not game. The stupid walkers if you missed the deer were gone for the season and someone would call 2 weeks later 30 miles away ,I have your dog.
