PREPARING YOUR
BEAGLE TO GO AFIELD
By William Given
A
bench
championship
is solid proof that your
Beagle is a good repre-
sentative of the breed.
If you have been in dogs
any real time at all, I am
certain that you have heard the phrase, “A
well balanced dog has a title at both ends
of its name.” Unquestionably there is some
truth to it. But an obedience title, rally
title or agility title does not mean that your
Beagle can do what he was bred to do. A
tracking title comes closer, but still doesn’t
quite do it. A Field Championship does,
even though the title doesn’t go at the end
of the name.
Preparing a Beagle to earn a field
championship takes some time, some
energy and of course money. Fortunately
is does not take a lot of money nor does
it take a great deal of effort. It does take
time. But if you enjoy the time spent
with your dog afield, then it will be time
well spent.
LEARNING TO FOLLOW A TRAIL
Trailing hounds, like the Beagle, must
learn to focus on a single track before
they are ready to work live game. Since
Beagles are small game hunters, a game
trail instead of a human track is best used
in training them in preparation for going
afield. During this early training, it will
be much easier for both you and your dog
if you make an artificial trail. This is eas-
ily accomplished by saturating a bag of
sawdust with commercial game scent and
dragging it behind you about 100 yards.
Then, with the dog on lead, take him to
place where the scent starts. When he
locates the scent, encourage him to follow
it and correct him if he wanders. At the end
of the trail, reward him with praise and a
favorite treat. When he has learned to fol-
low an easy trail, make your trails more
complex by adding distance and turns
through thicker cover and over rougher
terrain. You should spend at least two or
three months on this stage of training.
FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH
LIVE RABBITS
As soon as your Beagle demonstrates
his ability to follow an artificial trail, he
is ready to work live rabbits. A rabbit from
a pet shop works wonderfully. It is easy
to care for, is slow enough for a young or
inexperienced dog to keep up with and it
leaves a simple trail that is easy for the dog
to follow. If at all possible, this phase of the
training should take place in an enclosed
area. This way the rabbit and the dog are
in little danger of running out of your area
of control. You allow the dog to sniff the
rabbit while a training partner holds it.
Then take the dog out of sight and release
the rabbit. Unleash the dog and encourage
him to find and follow the rabbit’s trail.
An older and more experienced dog can
help greatly during this stage of training
by leading the way. In any case, stay close
behind so you can separate the dog and the
rabbit if necessary. Take the dog out with
the rabbit for a week or two and keep the
sessions short so that the dog will not lose
his enthusiasm.
HIS FIRST TIME IN THE FIELD
The most challenging phase of training
your Beagle will occur when you go afield
after wild rabbits. Here the trail may lead
anywhere. It will likely be old or it may
not exist at all. But the measure of a good
trailing hound is experience, and the only
way he will gain it is by hunting as often as
possible. Again, an older and more experi-
enced dog can be of great assistance during
these sessions because the young dog will
follow him and learn by imitation. Wheth-
er you take your Beagle afield alone or with
another dog, always take him on a lead so
that he knows you are in charge. When
you reach the hunting area, release the
dog and encourage him to start hunting
by talking to him as you walk through the
woods. In areas where the cover is dense or
game is scarce, beat the bushes with a stick
as you walk along. This is where the phase
beating around the bush” came from.
Rabbits and other small game will often
hold fast at the approach of danger and can
sometimes be flushed out of hiding by such
action. You also need to be alert for signs
of game, and you may see a rabbit or hare
take off before the dog is able to scent it. If
you do, call him back to you and help him
locate the trail.
RUNNING A FRESH TRAIL
When you locate a fresh game trail,
the dog will likely take off on the scent,
especially if there is an older dog along
on the hunt. If he does not, start him on
the trail by showing him the way. You will
know he is on the scent when you hear the
deep-throated baying that all small game
hounds instinctively sound when they hit a
fresh track. This is the climax of the chase
and the reward for the many hours spent
training. The musical cry of your hound
closing in on his quarry is one of the most
exciting sounds in the field.
A well balanced dog
hAs A TITLE AT BOTh ENDs
OF ITs NAmE.”
216 •
S
how
S
ight
M
agazine
,
N
ovember
2012