Beagle/Bassett

[deb]

Hi!
My husband had a Beagle/Bassett mix a while back (quite a while! ). Says it was the best rabbit dog he ever hunted with.  He's thinking of looking for another combo like that!  
Anyone know where we might be able to find one??

Thanks-
Deb   :-)

[victorcharlie]

Deb:  I've raised AKC registered beagles for 20 years.  I hunted cold blooded dogs for about 5 years before I got into the registered hounds.  I'm not trying to discourage you, but a purebread has some advantages.  There are lots of pups raised every year, only a few good ones, and very few great ones.  Pure breads at least  have a history, and knowledge of the blood line is important.  Pure bread hounds are more consistant in quality.  I've seen some very good cold blooded hounds as well, but when bread back to another hound, the consistancy isn't as close.  What I mean is that speed and style can vary greatly from individual to individual much more so with cold blooded hounds than with registered stock.

During the 60's the old guys slowed AKC beagles down to the point they really didn't suit the average hunter.  During the 70's, the gundog movement started, by breeding the faster hounds that were not suitable for slow brace trials.

In my perticular case, I have personally watched every hound in my blood line for the last 4 generations.

With a cold blooded dog, that has no history, it is very hard to predict if the dog is going to make a hunter, and after much time and effort has been expended, it is discouraging.  Not to say that you can't get a bad purebreads out of great stock, because you can and will, but the odds are higher that the hound will have some quality.  One thing for certain, it cost the same to feed a good one as a bad one.

I would recommend that you buy as good a bread pup as you can find from a reputable breeder in your area.  Speeds and styles vary by area, and the long time hunter breeder in your area will have bread a hound to run in the conditions for your area.  While a pup will take a little longer to get where you want it, you won't have to worry about someone dumping an undesirable hound on you.  Also with a pup, you have the same odds as anyone else of getting a good one.

I would highly suggest attending an AKC, UKC, or AHRA field event in your area and watch.  Pick a pup from hounds you like, but first, learn what you like and you won't get burned.

I'm pretty sure you can download a rule book from AKC.org which describes desirable qualities and faults, and this is a good place to start.

[RB Rooson]

Deb,

You may have had a tremendous crossbred hound (Beagle x Basset), but don't count on it happening again.  There is a reason that dogs are bred to keep the animal pure and true to form.

Go with what Victorcharlie said, "Seek out a reputable breeder of either breed and make your choice from there".  Do your homework first and decide which breed has the traits that you desire.

RB

[Yes, 357_SIG]

Hi!
My husband had a Beagle/Bassett mix a while back (quite a while! ). Says it was the best rabbit dog he ever hunted with.  He's thinking of looking for another combo like that!  
Anyone know where we might be able to find one??

Thanks-
Deb   :-)
[/quote

Beagle Basset mixes ["Benchleg Beagles", "Bagles", etc.] were quite popular in South Central Pa when I was there.
They were and can be great rabbit [and pheasant] dogs.     

Bassets [developed by the French & Germans] were the first dogs bred for the foot hunter.
All previous breeds were for the noble gentry who hunted from horseback.
They were bred to be very low to the ground, strong, and powerful; but slow.
The name "Basset" comes from the root word for "dwarf".
The best hunters are the smaller field stock Bassets.
They can plow under and through horrible brush piles, brambles, briar patches [the heavy loose skin just "rolls" through], corn, sorghum, milo, and other game cover.
If a rabbit or a pheasant can go there, so can a Basset.
Avoid the humongous "show" dogs, too big and clumsy for field work.
Keep them active, healthy, exercised, and well conditioned.
A hunting Basset can literally run alongside a marathon runner, mile after mile.
One of my marathon runner friends regularly took his Basset jogging with him.

Hunting Bassets do not press ["run"] rabbits like Beagles.
They work slowly and methodically and you just follow them until they put up a rabbit [or pheasant].

Beagles range much faster and further out, and are often hunted in packs.
With Beagles, you let the pack strike a trail and then wait for them to run the rabbit past you.

The best hunters are the smaller field stock Bassets.
I had a brace [pair] of hunting Bassets who were wonderful field companions and we had a litter there in Pa.
Many times, we would try to hunt with my friends' Retrievers, Spaniels, Setters, and even GSPs; but they just couldn't get into, much less through the rough ... where the game invariably holed up. 


As soon as time permits, I [new to GBO Forums] will post some articles on hunting companions.

As far as "purebred" dogs, there have been more good breeds ruined by show breeders than I can count.   
At one time, everything from Cocker Spaniels, to Irish Setters, and Poodles were good hunting dogs.   

If your only / primary goal is a "champion hunting dog" and you really, really plan to do serious work ... [field trials, etc., etc..]; that is one thing.
Check out the "big name breeders"; and ... be thorough.
Go visit on site ... several times.   
Check / visit on site with dogs they have sold.   
After you get a pup, plan on seriously working 6 - 8 hours / week religiously with your dog.       
If you really really want a  "champion hunting dog" and are really ready and willing to make an enormous investment of time [and money]; ...               
then you are one in a million.     
Have fun !!!   

On the other hand, ...
if you want a great companion, a family member, and a good hunting companion field dog, that is an entirely different matter.   
I had friends who had just about every kind of hunting dog we knew about; and I tried various breeds myself.
Because my time was very limited, and because I was primarily interested in good family companions, who could be good small game / upland field dogs; I settled on Bassets.
They were perfect for me for rabbits and pheasants.

The most important thing is to find a local good reputable small breeder who has one pair that is limited to about 3 litters total ... spaced at least a full year apart.     
Preferably, a family who really loves and actually hunts their dogs.     
You will become part of the extended family, will always be welcome, and will be expected to visit regularly, or at least, keep in touch.
The "pups" will always be welcome  .... forever.

The most important thing is healthy pups from healthy parents, all well socialized.   
Litters should be kept together as much as possible for 12 - 16 weeks, or longer.
Take your pup to visit with parents and litter mates regularly.
Early training is critical.   

[deb]

Thanks for your input.  We actually got a Beagle/Bassett several years ago.  He works rabbits and pheasants pretty well but, alas, rabbits are in short supply around here and we haven't gotten him as much regular work as we would like.  He has proven to be very teachable--will sit, speak, roll-over on command.  He is about as stubborn a dog as I've ever seen, though, and protests "staying".  He'll do it, but howls in response to every repeated command to "stay".  All in all, we're satisfied with him.  Think we'll keep him. 

[bobg]

  I hunted with a guy years ago that had a Beagle/Bassett. It was great on pheasants and rabbits. I did hunt with a man a couple times that had a male and female registered Bassetts. They were big and clumsy. Didn't know what a rabbit was if they stepped on it. I think i will stick to my beagles. At one time i run seven of them. Do to health reasons i don't hunt anymore. But i still own two beagles. 

[Yes, 357_SIG]

"registered Bassetts [sic]. They were big and clumsy. Didn't know what a rabbit was if they stepped on it."

Yep ...

As far as "purebred" [SHOW] dogs, there have been more good breeds ruined by show breeders than I can count.   
At one time, everything from Cocker Spaniels, to Irish Setters, and Poodles were good hunting dogs.   

Bassets [developed by the French & Germans] were the first dogs bred for the foot hunter.
All previous breeds were for the noble gentry who hunted from horseback.
They were bred to be very low to the ground, strong, and powerful; but slow.
The name "Basset" comes from the root word for "dwarf".
The best hunters are the smaller field stock Bassets.
They can plow under and through horrible brush piles, brambles, briar patches [the heavy loose skin just "rolls" through], corn, sorghum, milo, and other game cover.
They can go places where Beagles can't / won't.
If a rabbit or a pheasant can go there, so can a Basset.
Avoid the humongous "show" dogs, too big and clumsy for field work.
Keep them active, healthy, exercised, and well conditioned.
[/b]A hunting Basset can literally run alongside a marathon runner, mile after mile.
One of my marathon runner friends regularly took his Basset jogging with him.


registered Bassetts. They were big and clumsy. Didn't know what a rabbit was if they stepped on it.

[petemi]

I've had 8 beagles in my lifetime.  I never knew the bloodlines of any of them.  Five were exceptional huners.  The best wasn't a beagle at all.  Abigail was dropped off here at the farm.  She was tall, perhaps 18 inches, long haired, beagle colors and collie ears.  The first day she hunted as a 6 or 10 month old pup she ran a snowshoe right at me and I shot it at about 5 feet with a .22.  She sniffed the dead hare and took off after another.  One beagle was, and still is an unreliable hunter.  They were going to put her down at the pound, and she was too nice a little dog to let go.  She's still a great pet.  One beagle was killed by coyotes as a youngster, not hunting, just running around while we were haying and never hunted.  The last is a 2 year old that came from the Humane Society yesterday, so I don't know yet if he'll work.

Pete

[SHOOTALL]

DEB get a basset and beagle of good background and breed them . Nothing sings like brothers and sisters in humans and nothing hunts better than kin dogs . Pure bred dogs are fine but remember they all at one time were a mix . People who breed pure bred dogs rightfully try to protect their breed but look at labs or Irish setters its hard to find a hunter for the show dogs . Pure bred in this day and time is no sure bet its a hunter.