Training 23 



covert, which is some distance away, I can not leave 

 the dogs to find their own way home. 'Quester' 

 writes that he is of the opinion that a beagle should 

 hunt like a setter or pointer, that is, quarter his 

 ground and hunt systematically. I am of the 

 opinion that it is not possible to teach a beagle to 

 hunt like a setter or pointer, and if it were possible 

 to do so I fail to see of what advantage it would be. 

 A good and well-trained beagle when taken to any 

 place where hares frequent will, upon being re- 

 leased, hunt up a fresh scent, start the game and 

 hunt it until killed or follow the trail a reasonable 

 time. My plan when training a pup is to take the 

 young dog out when 7 or 8 months of age, not be- 

 fore, with an old, very slow dog, the slower the bet- 

 ter, for if the young dog should lose or miss the old 

 one, he will hunt his trail, giving tongue like mad, 

 and take no notice of the trail of the game. Never 

 take a pup out with the pack, for if you do. ten to 

 one, he will, when out, hunt and tongue the pad' 

 instead of the game, and you will never break him 

 of the habit. Of course, beagles from good hunting 

 stock will break and train themselves, if taken out 

 frequently where game is plentiful, but the best and 

 easiest plan is, as I have stated above, to take the 

 pup or puppies out with a slow old dog. And do 

 not expect too much of a young beagle until he is 



