Beagle Or Not

>>Beware of the freebie. If someone wants to give you a free dog, there's a reason why. Chances are he is a trash runner, the cardinal sin of a rabbit dog. This can be corrected, but it takes a lot of experience to do it right. Look for a beagle with a proven bloodline. Many traits of a good gundog can be passed on if the breeder stays with a tight breeding program. Look for a cross that has been successful before, as this will up your odds greatly in obtaining a good pup.

>> There are a few magazines out there that specialize in beagles; check them out. They will have ads for upcoming litters. They will also give you a ton of information that will help you train and care for your dog. There are hundreds of beagle clubs in the U.S. and Canada. The American Rabbit Hound Association has more than 170 clubs around the country, not to mention the United Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club-sanctioned beagle clubs. Find one in your area, and go to a few meetings. Beagle clubs are always looking for new members, and you can quickly learn there. If you don't have the time to actually join a club, it will at least get you started toward finding a reliable breeder.

>> Don't go window-shopping for a dog until you're ready to buy, especially puppies. One visit to a litter of six-week-old beagle pups, especially with the wife or girlfriend, and you might as well stick the fork in your leg; you're done. You'll be leaving with one that may or may not make a good rabbit hound.

>> With beagles you may find a started dog a better way to go. It took me years to finally accept the fact that I don't put the time into a young dog that it really needs to become a great gundog. If you don't have the time to get your dog out on a regular basis, you'll never have a great dog. I've seen a few exceptions to this, but they are few and far between. I eventually started buying running dogs to make up for my lack of training time. Be careful here as well, as this can be trickier than buying a used car from gypsies. When looking for a trained dog, most reputable beaglers will give you a thirty-day trial--don't buy one without it. Buying a started dog may not be as rewarding as training a pup yourself, but what you see is what you get. There is nothing worse than putting hundreds of hours into a young dog, then finding out later that it doesn't have the inherited abilities to make a solid hunter.

Once you're ready to make the jump into the world of beagling, hang on to your orange hat; you're in for a heck of ride. But when it's over, you'll be smiling and yelling, "Let's go again!"