That dog won't hunt

[auld argonian]

Oh, Lordy! I just let the Beagle out in the back yard and she literally walked right past a cottontail rabbit that was sitting in the back.

This might be humiliating!

This goofy dog will chase squirrels like they were the devil incarnate but has historically totally ignored rabbits. I always thought that Beagles went after rabbits like the Terminator went after Sarah Connor but no dice.

Not that she's one of those show dogs...she is a certified Indiana Bred Hillbilly Beagle and she still won't even recognize a rabbit!

Oy!

Best

AA

[David Thornton]

Find a good pack to run him with. Once he gets the idea that rabbit scent is the objective, he'll come around. We keep a 40 acre enclosure with rabbits to work pups in.

Oh & post a pic of said beagle in a kilt so this has relevance.

David

[threebanger]

Our beagle was the same way. Squirrels drove him nuts, but he didn't even look twice at a rabbit...

[Ian.MacAllan]

Find a good pack to run him with. Once he gets the idea that rabbit scent is the objective, he'll come around. We keep a 40 acre enclosure with rabbits to work pups in.

Oh & post a pic of said beagle in a kilt so this has relevance.

David

David gives excellent advice. Developing a good hunter usually requires both nature and nurture.

.

[Beertigger]

We've got a beagle/corgi mix. If you happen to casually mix the word "bunny" into your conversation, she'll be at the back door, ready to chase one around the yard.

Doesn't often catch 'em, though. They squeeze through the fence just ahead of her.

[davedove]

Find a good pack to run him with.

I'll second that. If you want the dog to do something it's supposed to "naturally" do, you need to find some other dogs to show him the ropes.

When I was still living with the parents, we raised horses and had a mixed border collie (no idea what it was mixed with). When we were trying to get the horses to go out into the pasture, you could tell the dog wanted to help. However, the dog never had another one to show him what to do. So, as we were attempting to run the horses out, the dog kept cutting them off. I swear there were a few times my dad was ready to go get the gun.

[hospitaller]

I make sure my beagle chases as many animals as possible. Take it to a friend's farm once a month to run free, usually comes with some sort of creature, more often than not squirrels and less often a rabbit or two.

Here's my son, his name is Junior:

[vmac3205]

That's okay, when one of our friends siccked his Beagle, Percival, on to our 8# black and white kitty, and the cat chased him out of the neighborhood. he was mighty embarrassed too. That was some cat.

Oh, Lordy! I just let the Beagle out in the back yard and she literally walked right past a cottontail rabbit that was sitting in the back.

This might be humiliating!

This goofy dog will chase squirrels like they were the devil incarnate but has historically totally ignored rabbits. I always thought that Beagles went after rabbits like the Terminator went after Sarah Connor but no dice.

Not that she's one of those show dogs...she is a certified Indiana Bred Hillbilly Beagle and she still won't even recognize a rabbit!

Oy!

Best

AA

[Splash_4]

Here's my son, his name is Junior:

The family resemblance is striking!

Seriously, we have a small terrier mix that would only chase squirrels as well. Once we house sat a border collie mix that chased everything. Once that happened, the terrier now chases everything. I think dogs are like people, the copy everything they see.

[arrogcow]

I used to have a beagle as a kid. I've seen bunnies come up and step on him.

Adam