How to Train a Beagle to Hunt Rabbits

Few things in hunting beat the music of a pack of beagles on a hot rabbit track. The good news: beagles are born to do it. If you want to train a beagle to hunt rabbits, your job is mostly to give the pup the right experiences at the right time and stay out of its way.

Start with the right pup

Look for a puppy from parents that actually hunt rabbits, not just show or pet lines. Ask the breeder how the parents run: do they stay on the track, check their own losses and stay off deer? Browse beagles for sale from hunters and breeders.

8 to 16 weeks: confidence and scent games

• Socialize the pup with people, other dogs and the sounds of the outdoors.
• Drag a rabbit hide or scented dummy a short distance and let the pup follow it to a reward.
• Take the pup on short walks through brush piles and briars so it gets comfortable in thick cover.

4 to 6 months: first rabbits

Most beagle pups are ready to start running rabbits around four to six months of age, though some take longer. A fenced rabbit pen or running enclosure, where legal, is the easiest place to start because rabbits are plentiful and the pup can’t get lost.

1. Walk the pup through the cover and let it find a rabbit on its own.
2. When the rabbit jumps, encourage the pup to the spot and let it work out the scent.
3. Expect the pup to be quiet at first. Bawling or chopping on the track usually comes once the pup understands what it’s chasing.
4. Keep sessions short so the pup finishes eager, not exhausted.

Running with an older dog

Once the pup is starting and running a rabbit on its own, add one honest, experienced beagle. A good older dog teaches line control and how to work out checks. Avoid running a young pup with a big pack, where it will learn to follow other dogs instead of using its own nose.

Breaking off deer

Running deer is the biggest problem rabbit hunters face. Discourage it early: when the pup strikes a deer track, interrupt it firmly and call it back to rabbit cover. Many hunters use an e-collar for this once the pup is older and understands the collar. See our e-collar training guide and remote training collars.

Introducing the gun

Only fire when the pup is running a rabbit hard and far away from you. Start with a small-caliber blank at a distance and work up over several outings. A beagle that associates the shot with rabbits will run toward the sound, not away from it.

Gear for beagle hunters

• A GPS or tracking collar so you can find your dog after a long chase: tracking equipment
• A sturdy dog box or crate for the truck: crates and carriers

Check your local rules

Rabbit seasons, training seasons and the rules for running pens vary by state. Check your state wildlife agency before you train or hunt.