Beagle potential ?

**Sweet** · 16-10-2013, 08:47

Originally Posted by Springer

Once you can stop them and get them to come back 100% effectively, you can pretty much get them started.

Everything else is just party tricks.

This is the truth.

I often think that getting dogs to do what you want them to is the easy part...once YOU know how. The owner/trainer is the key part of this.

My best buddy has an awesome Brittany...it is just that my buddy could do with a better understanding of getting more out of his dog. Sadly, he and his dog are "trying" to go hunting with.

One of the opening phrases of the wadge of notes I got when I went to the WCFTC puppy training is:
"All the very best tricks in the book will not work unless you do"

**Apoc999** · 16-10-2013, 08:50

I suppose " on the job " training will always be better, so " farm dogs " will generally pick up on the practicalities a lot faster... Oh well.. Will try get her to as much basic training as we can manage for now...

Also SADTC recomended by SSP will only be starting up tracking lessons in the new year again :-(

Can anyone else recomend another tracking class / school that I could make enquiries with ?

Otherwise I'll start with some basics around the garden / at home...

**Apoc999** · 16-10-2013, 08:52

Sweet: " The owner/trainer is the key part of this "

I couldn't agree more... I'm sure I'm already making a multitude of mistakes without even knowing it !

**swazz99jhb** · 16-10-2013, 09:07

Checkout: http://www.beagles.co.za/ for info, expert advise and hunts.

They organize "Hunts" where the dogs track a smell through the fields.

**Apoc999** · 16-10-2013, 10:55

Thanks swazz - I've looked a great deal on that site... It seems like their hunts are only during winter / the cooler months though ? So it might take some time before we can get to one of those....

Will definately keep it in mind though !

**Springer** · 16-10-2013, 11:00

Originally Posted by Apoc999

It seems like their hunts are only during winter / the cooler months though ?

Most hunting is done during season.

**Apoc999** · 16-10-2013, 11:33

Originally Posted by Springer

Most hunting is done during season.

The hunts swazz refered to ( on beagles.co.za ) are only scent hunts... They drag a bag of pilchards the establish a trail and then the dogs are turned loose to follow the trail...

Suppose its too hot for the dogs to run ( probably more like sprint ) for extended periods during summer..

Still a nice way to get her out I think... Will have to be patient :-)

**Springer** · 16-10-2013, 11:41

Originally Posted by Apoc999

They drag a bag of pilchards the establish a trail and then the dogs are turned loose to follow the trail...

Note to self: Never take a Beagle down Koeberg Rd, Brooklyn.

**Sweet** · 16-10-2013, 12:32

**mtoich** · 17-10-2013, 01:33

Originally Posted by Apoc999

Mtoich... Would love to hear how the farmer got that right ( if you ever get a chance to enquire )...

I will ask as I frequent the farm.
I must however admit that I do agree with Springer in that working farm dogs do learn from other, older more experienced, farm dogs. This farmer works his dogs quite frequently and IMO.... That's a key thing to do.