I have at home a beagle that we got about a year ago from the pound. She has been inside most of the time. I want to get into rabbit hunting and don`t know where to begin with her. Nothing serious, just take my boys out and get a few rabbits every now and then.

I have a few questions and couldn`t think of a better place to come than here. I don`t have any history on her except the vet says she is about 5yrs old. I took her on a leash in the woods and she stuck her nose to the ground and was wailing the whole time. Do beagles instinctivly take off after rabbits or how do I go about traing her? Don`t you loose them often when they take off on a trail? I have heard that they will run the rabbit around in a circle right back to you, if that true. I guess I am trying to figure out if she is ready, I don`t want to take her out and have the boys watch as she runs off never to be seen again. Thanks for your replys.

With a name like BADLUCK you might loose the dog.Just kidding. Take the dog out as much as possible, Instinct will prevail she
knows what she wants to hunt. If the dog listens at all she will not run away because she wants you as much as you want her. Yes a rabbit will circle and come back close to where it started.GOODLUCK

If you know anybody that has a rabbit dog that is your best chance. The best way for beagle to learn is from another beagle.
If this is not an available option then do as Bo Nose said. If you can get the dog to jump a rabbit he'll know what to do. When he jumps holler encouragement " get it dog! get it!".
The only reason you would lose the dog is if it jumped a deer and gave chase. A rabbit will make a loop back to where it was jumped as it tries to lose the dog. When the rabbit gets back to it's hiding place it will stop momentarily. When the dog keeps coming the rabbit will run the pattern again. A deer will run it's normal trails from thick cover to thick cover and not in any particular fashion.
If there are a lot deer in the woods where you will be hunting you might not be able make rabbit dog out of him.

Good luck Bro.

Badluck, yea, I agree on the name. Anyway be prepared to run if you turn any dog loose. You don't need to teach him to run. He know's how to do that. If he's runnin' a rabbit , he won't be very fast. If he's runnin' a deer, "GOOD LUCK". He'll be out of hearing real fast. He's either ready or not. You won't know 'til you turn him loose. We don't loose a lot of dogs, but it does happen. I try to keep the huntin' dogs seperate from the family pets. Something you might want to consider. Good Luck. Capt Brad.

Rabbits circle back most every time -- if she's runs a rabbit. She'll learn on her own. Just take her out where there's some rabbits and let nature take it's course. Shouldn't take too many trips if she gets a good snootfull and sees one or two.
Take care.

If you'd like more in depth answers, you're welcome to post on the BB on my site. A lot of really knowledgeable beaglers visit. Just click my homepage link icon.

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