Can your dogs run on snow or do you quit hunting when the snow falls each winter because the beagle you’re feeding just can’t seem to circle a rabbit? I live in Michigan and if I’m going to have any kind of success hunting during the winter months I need hounds that can run on snow. And not just the comfortable days either. I need dogs that can run on powered snow, old snow, deep snow, and even wet snow. Not to mention bare ground or even keep a track moving forward on ice. And in temperatures below zero. Yes I said zero. I can’t choose the weather conditions on my days off. So I need a hound that can circle rabbits in a lot of different types of weather and types of cover. And do a good enough job for me to keep feeding them.
I remember back twenty five years ago it was rare to have a dog not be able to run on snow. Now days it is hard to find a dog that can, unless it’s bred up to run on snow. So what’s happened to the beagle as an all around hunting dog? Is it because people are breeding the nose off their beagles, without realizing that they are. I‘ve always been told that there is a difference in hunting beagles as opposed to field trial dogs. In trials you want that dog that runs for the front. Is what I’m told. It seems that nearly every person that calls me wanting breeding or a pup ask me if my dogs run for the front. No they don’t. They can run the front but they don’t skirt and try to run for the front. My dogs get in the chase where they end up on a check. If you have a dog that runs for the front to get scent a lot of times it’s because it can’t smell the line of scent behind one or two dogs running. That in my opinion is a dog with a weak nose. I’ve seen it a lot when I ask customers to bring a hound of their own to use as a gauge while watching my dogs run. Most of the people that come to my kennel are looking for a hunting dog to breed to or to buy a puppy for hunting. I always insist that they come and watch the dogs run on snow. To me, I just love watching a pack of 4 to 6 hounds running a rabbit or hare in snow on a tough day. Gets me hyper just thinking about it. And put a first timer out hunting with you , boy that is excitement!
Beagles are breed to be able to run in many different types of weather and in different kinds of cover. If a hound can only run well on good days in a controlled envierment it does not meet the beagle standard. So what is happening to the beagle as a all around multi season- fall , winter summer hunting dog if you breed dogs that run for the front that don’t have nose enough to run second or third ? You end up with a dog that can not hold a track only on good days mostly on grass. I’m not talking about the dog that can take a check and hammer it and lead the pack. I’m talking about a dog that skirts to the front and disrupts everything causing break down after brake down because it wants to run but can not hold a track more than twenty yards without completely running out of scent. If you insist on breeding these hounds your future is sure to go the way of the brace trial- walkie talkie type hounds. They won’t be slow and strong nosed but they will end up faster with no nose power to run in temperatures below 25 degrees. I see it happening a lot already. You’re breeding away from the beagle standard the same as brace people did years ago. I know that some people are trying to breed up a hot nosed field trial dog to run faster on hotter scent . That is fine but it still takes a good nose.
I’m not trying to run anybody down or trash any type of field trials. I’m just trying to be proactive on breeding hunting dogs for the full reason they were intended. TO HUNT. A dog has to have the proper tools to excel. I’m a real rabbit hunter and for that I need a hound to be able to run in a pack on good days or bad days all year long. Not just in a controlled environment such as an enclosure in good weather on grass. I’ve always said a dog has to have a good nose and brains to use it right. Not all dogs born will make the team. But one should try to stack the deck in their favor by breeding the best to the best. When I breed a female I always do my homework and always take my time choosing a good male out of sound reasoning rather than convience. Not to slam brace trials walkie talkie dogs but I need something a little more geared for hunting as I feel all beagles should be able to circle a rabbit for the gun most every day in a reasonable amount of time. They were bred to hunt first and foremost. If you quit hunting because the temperature drops and the snow starts to fly and the only reason being that your dogs can’t run in the cold. You my friend are missing out on some fresh air and good music.
I'm the type of hunter that just expects my dogs to jump a rabbit or snowshoe hare and run it around till it either goes below ground or it is shot. I can’t count how many times I’ve gone hare hunting and listened to my dog’s run the same hare 5 or more hours then pulled them off it to go home. That’s accountability! You sure need a hunting dog to be able to account for its game.
Keep 'Em Safe and Keep 'Em Running
“Snowman”
Rick Snow
