[Ammo]

Shot a rabbit this morning my dogs never opened up on. I've never done this before and regret shooting it when they never barked on it, less rabbit to train.
Issue is my male came running up to the shot but never smelled the rabbit or barked as he came up towards it. My female never did either. I don't know what to do at this point and ready to quit altogether. The male I've had the longest and has always sucked at a check or jumping the rabbit. But now 2 dogs with weak noses? Hows that a coincidence? These are hard hunting dogs too, ears torn up, blood off the nose. I'm at a loss. Rained yesterday so we have moisture on the ground.

 

[Jimlerminez]

If you shot rabbit off the jump the gun powder from the shot could have covered the scent. I enjoy hunting rabbits because I enjoy the dogs, but sometimes I leave my gun home and just concentrate on honestly evaluating my dogs performance. Not every run is perfect but shouldn't have to make excuses for the dogs every time out

 

[Ammo]

If you shot rabbit off the jump the gun powder from the shot could have covered the scent. I enjoy hunting rabbits because I enjoy the dogs, but sometimes I leave my gun home and just concentrate on honestly evaluating my dogs performance. Not every run is perfect but shouldn't have to make excuses for the dogs every time out

I run them during the summer with my shotgun and every other time I've always let them run the rabbit before I shoot. Even in the brush away from the gun powder they didn't bark. Rabbit was a good 25 yards in front of me. I'm not sure how far the gun powder smell spreads but I would've expected them to pick up on it.

 

[Huntsman]

Sometimes when a rabbit is spooked suddenly there will be no scent for a short distance. I was trying to get some video about a week ago while my hounds were running in a big swamp. Every time I thought I would see them, the rabbit would turn and go deeper into the swamp. Finally, I was in the right spot and the rabbit came right to me and crossed the trail within a few feet of me. It saw me and sped up as it went by. When the pack came up a minute or so later, they could not carry the line across the trail. Between my scent on the trail and the spooked rabbit, they checked. I had to stop filming and walk them 20 yards into the swamp before they picked it up and started driving again. I suspect this may be why your hounds could not smell the rabbit you jumped and shot.

 

[Zach L]

My dogs jumped a rabbit yesterday that they never got a track on. It happens some days. Dogs are like humans, they have good days and bad days. Just keep hammering away.

-Z

 

[Foxxy]

Shot a rabbit this morning my dogs never opened up on. I've never done this before and regret shooting it when they never barked on it, less rabbit to train.
Issue is my male came running up to the shot but never smelled the rabbit or barked as he came up towards it. My female never did either. I don't know what to do at this point and ready to quit altogether. The male I've had the longest and has always sucked at a check or jumping the rabbit. But now 2 dogs with weak noses? Hows that a coincidence? These are hard hunting dogs too, ears torn up, blood off the nose. I'm at a loss. Rained yesterday so we have moisture on the ground.

Don’t be so critical, so they couldn’t smell it. I shot rabbits and the dogs came to the sound of the gun and never open. Figured rabbit was done.
some days scenting is better then other days, if they can run a rabbit other days that’s good.
I believe what huntsman said not much scent when jumped or run at times. I have run in a spot where there is always a dead spot the rabbit runs through, dogs play heck trying to figure it out. JMO

 

[Fredgempurdy]

What was the wind direction I have found that in an east wind with low barometric pressure you wouldn't even think I had the same dogs .... just a possibility I can think of . I have always tried to go out on the bad days as I think it makes the dogs better for the mediocre or good ones .

 

[luckynickelfarm]

Sounds like this is a regular occurring thing with this hound since this isn't the first time you have posted about this, try to get together with a seasoned/knowledgeable houndsman and you two run and evaluate just his hounds , then do the same with just yours and see how they compare, might learn alot from it. Like someone else said you don't want to get in the habit of having to make excuses for your hounds every time out,sometimes you just need to cut em loose and move on to something better

 

[Grizzly creek beagles]

If every time you take your dogs out there’s issues that leaves you unsatisfied with your dog’s performance//abilities then the cold hard truth of it is “it’s time to make changes”. They’re all beagles but not all beagles are Rabbit Dogs. Life’s too short for all those headaches. JMO
If they are young recently started dogs you might be able to add 1 to them that has a strong nose to help them along as they progress.

 

[smokedawg]

Costs the same to feed a dog that cant run a rabbit as it does one that can. Go watch different packs of hounds run, when u watch some that run like you like, find their bloodline and buy the best female you can afford thats bred the same. Build your kennel around her and you’ll never have to buy another dog. Its cheaper than feeding something you dont like that cant run a rabbit to the gun

 

[JDW]

Often times a jumped rabbit doesn’t leave scent. Hounds need to be worked up the exit line 10’ , 20’ , sometimes 30 yds before sufficient scent is available. Top that off with your shotgun blast. Nothing so unusual here.

 

[duke1]

If they are young or havent been run much, they may just need time in the woods. Every dog i have or keep has a huge nose but it has happened that one could not smell a hot track. Although rare, it has happened. If it is consistent for you, like mentioned above, "make a change". Wwwsaaayyyyy too many hounds out here that can please you.

 

[Fredgempurdy]

A lot of great replies here could be your dogs just don't have it . And like most say if you go out consistently and have bad results as hard as it is to move on that would likely be the best course of action . With that being said marketing dogs as something they are not isnt fair to prospective buyers that may not have the knowledge that you do . Only sets them up for failure the same as where you were... not saying this is 3hat is going to happen but something to think about . When I sell dogs they aren't bad dogs just not working in my pack ,would make solo dogs with some time but generally too competitive for me . Hopefully you can dial in something that works for you ,may have on rotten egg spoiling the batch jmo

 

[Foxxy]

What was the wind direction I have found that in an east wind with low barometric pressure you wouldn't even think I had the same dogs .... just a possibility I can think of . I have always tried to go out on the bad days as I think it makes the dogs better for the mediocre or good ones .

I agree, wind from the east running the least. Applies to fishing as well!

 

[Ammo]

Is there anyone around Southern Indiana that can help me out in person? I'm at a point where I'm unsure what to do. I have a cold nose bitch that helps this male at a check, she barks a little more than I like but she keeps em track so the race is better. She is slow.

Today's issue. Hunter (weak nose male) hits a track but can't jump it. Polly (cold nose bitch) runs in and gets it up. Not a lot of scent today so Polly is able to work it but not race it. The Male keeps wanting to go backwards while the female is pushing forward. Male will not honour female because his nose doesn't smell what she does. She works it out and starts to circle the rabbit in a huge circle but the male keeps leaving working backwards then finally comes up further down and starts to hit tracks probably where the rabbit done circled from the female cutting the circle off.

How the heck would I ever get a shoot if they don't work together and the Male cuts the circle in half the female has made?

That cold nose bitch will leave checks to go see what the male has which doesn't improve here because he's backwards where a bunch of scent has dropped.

I got another younger female 2 1/2 that's confused running back and forth not sure which one to team up with. This is so frustrating. They come back bloody, they hit everything, they cross water, they just don't work together and his nose has always been like this. I've had him 3 years. I got these 2 females to help him because I thought he just needed help.

I've watched blackcreek's on youtube and love them. Brankos are too fast for me on YouTube. Weircreeks want impressed with.

If I got 2 litter mates of a good bloodline that cold nose bitch could train them, she is slow.

I have no problems being honest and cutting hounds out, even though the Male is my favorite. Something has to change and I've hunted them a lot here lately.

 

[Ammo]

If I picked out a bloodline should the pedigree have nothing but those dogs on it or can it be mixed up?
The female that acts lost has 21 field champions in her bloodline and there's days I couldn't give her away... she also has Narrons Cadalac Jack in her pedigree and I seen someone say their the best jump dog bloodline.

 

[Curnel]

IMO get rid of the male your old female might not be as slow if she was wasting time figuring out he’s backtracking , make the cut he sounds like a cull to me . Get you some pups and run them with her till they don’t need her anymore if she does it right . Have you soloed her to see how she does if not I would and like I said thats just my opinion do what you want with it but sounds like he’s your problem

 

[Ammo]

IMO get rid of the male your old female might not be as slow if she was wasting time figuring out he’s backtracking , make the cut he sounds like a cull to me . Get you some pups and run them with her till they don’t need her anymore if she does it right . Have you soloed her to see how she does if not I would and like I said thats just my opinion do what you want with it but sounds like he’s your problem

I agree. The female has basically been soloing this whole time doing the jumps a d checks for them but I prolly should run her alone to double check. She's so cold it may take her time to even get to the rabbit where it's hot. Normally my male swings out pretty far checking all over until he hits something then she works it for him.

 

[Chipjohnson]

Sounds like the male is the biggest issue. If it was me I would get rid of the male. Keep the slow female, use her to start new pups.

 

[TJRANGER]

Ive been reading this whole thread and I agree with Curnel’s analysis! Cut your losses and cull the male or just maybe he just has a hot nose. Solo him a lot and let him jump his own rabbit. He might be ok if he gets enough solo time. Solo the snot out of the female. Here’s my take on a cold nose dog, give her a chance to produce rabbit but if she doesn’t in a short period of time, cull her also. I have a cold nosed gyp and I usually give her a few minutes to produce and she does 90% of the time. If she didn’t I would cull her. If you allow a cold nose dog to continuously work a track that other dogs cant smell the other dogs will either be a train wreck or quit honoring her.