How to Train Beagle Puppies to Hunt

Beagles are keen hunting dogs, usually used to track small prey such as rabbits. The term "beagling" is often used to refer to hunting rabbits with one or more beagles running the rabbits to exhaustion, barking or baying as they go so that the hunter can easily follow them. It's best to start training your beagles at about 3 or 4 months old. Exposing them to rabbits earlier might scare your puppies more than the rabbits.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Early training

1. Grasp the rabbit by the scruff of its neck and let your beagle puppy get a good sniff of it. Keep the puppy far enough away so the rabbit can't kick or scratch it.

2. Release the rabbit and the beagle puppy together in your fenced outdoor enclosure. About an acre is the ideal size.

3. Supervise as the rabbit instinctively runs from your dog. The dog should just as instinctively follow. Let the dog chase the rabbit until the rabbit stops from fatigue, then remove the rabbit to safety.

4. Praise the dog for a job well done.

5. Repeat the introduction-chase-remove rabbit procedure until the puppy is so relaxed that it starts to bark when chasing the rabbit. Praise it lavishly for barking; this is behavior you want to encourage.

6. Watch carefully to make sure that the dog doesn't hurt the rabbit once it has run it to exhaustion.

7. Challenge your puppy to track a rabbit in the dark once it consistently barks while chasing during the day.

Advanced training

8. Locate a trained adult beagle to run with your puppy, if possible. If no trained adults are available, you might use another puppy in training. The last resort should be to run your puppy alone.

9. Take your puppy and the trained adult outside to an unfenced area known to be populated by wild rabbits. Wait until they strike a scent and start chasing. The younger dog will emulate the older dog. If you're using two puppies or running your trainee puppy alone, they will probably still chase instinctively.

10. Encourage your puppy as it chases the rabbit to exhaustion.

11. Watch for your puppy to start barking on the trail as it chases in an unrestricted area. This is the cue that it has completed the training phase and is now ready to hunt.

Tips & Warnings

• Consistency is the key to training a dog. Always encourage positive behavior more than you criticize negative behavior.