Training a beagle can be an extremely fun extremely challenging proposition. Usually training starts when they are very young with tame rabbits and or training pens. A lot of guys I know will get a tame rabbit and harness it and let it run around the yard to leave a scent that the puppy can become accustomed to. Don't worry if they don't "chase" the rabbit as right now you are just introducing the smells. From there it's off to "sight chasing". Basically a pup will chase a rabbit as far as he can see it but once it's out of site they lose interest. We typically have a few spots where the rabbits can be seen along the edge of thickets at our local beagle club. Another option used by some is to live trap wild rabbits. Then take the pup and the rabbit to ahunting area and place the rabbit under a 5 gallon bucket. Let the beagle smell around the bucket for awhile and then lift it up. The rabbit will take off and the dog should give chase. It may help to have a few rabbits when doing this or else it may be a short outing. Once the pups catch site of the rabbit they are off. This process needs to be repeated often. Once the beagle gets used to sight chasing they will slowley understand what running a rabbit is. After time they will start scent chasing the rabbits and "opening up"(barking...sort of). After more and more time afield the dog will eventually learn to run the rabbit full circle. A lot of guys who are lucky enough used a training pen to do this since they are a few acres in size and there is no risk of losing a pup. If your dog is opening up on a rabbit and trailing it there should be no need to go get it. The rabbit will ALWAYS run in a circle and the dog will end up back where it started. Sometimes you may even lose the sound of the barks as the rabbit is so far away but patience will soon be rewarded. If you are worried about losing a dog you can purchase a tracking colar. Shock colars can also be used to train beagles not to run "off game" such as deer. I hope this helps a little as this is a very simple and VERY slimmed down explanation. If I were you I'd try and find a local beagle club.
As far as beagles being stubborn LOL...it's a beagle...that's what they do best.
Last edited by bearklr; 08-05-2009 at 09:14 AM.