TRADITIONAL
BRACE BEAGLING
In Traditional
Brace Beagling, accuracy is the name of the game and
rabbits are not harmed in any way.
Hounds and handlers enter the field according to how the hounds were
drawn by lottery. Shaggers beat the brush with
sticks in order to chase out game. When game is seen the spotter calls
out, "Tally-Ho!" Handlers place their hounds on the line
in order of how they were drawn (first dog in brace 1, second dog in brace 1,
etc.) unless the handlers agree to switch positions, at which time they must
notify the Judges they are switching positions. Hounds are judged
according to how they pursue game using the qualities mentioned below.
According to the American Kennel Club's Beagle Field Trial Rules, amended to
April 2005, the following are standard procedures for beagle field trials run
in braces (two hounds) on wild rabbit or hare:
Procedure 5-B Definitions - Desirable Qualities
Searching Ability
is evidenced by an aptitude to recognize promising cover and eagerness to
explore it, regardless of
hazards or discomfort. Hounds should search
independently of each other, in an industrious manner, with sufficient
range. In trials run under Brace or Small Pack
Procedures, hounds should remain within control distance of the
handler, and should be obedient to his commands.
Pursuing Ability is shown by a proficiency for keeping control of the trail while making
the best possible progress.
Game should be pursued rather than merely followed, and
actions should indicate a determined effort to make forward
progress to the surest, most sensible manner by adjusting
speed to correspond to conditions and circumstances.
Actions should be positive and controlled, portraying sound
judgment and skill. Progress should be proclaimed by
tonguing. No hound can be too fast, provided the trail
is clearly and accurately followed. At a check, hounds should
work industriously, first close to where the loss occurred,
then gradually and thoroughly extending the search further
afield
to regain the line.
Accuracy in Trailing is the ability to
keep consistent control of the trail while making the best possible progress.
An
accurate trailing hound will show a marked tendency to
follow the trail with a minimum of weaving on and off, and will
display an aptness to turn with the trail and to determine
direction of game travel in a positive manner.
Proper use of Voice is proclaiming all
finds and denoting all forward progress by giving tongue, yet keeping silent
when
not in contact with scent that can be progressed. True
tongue is honest claiming that running mates can depend on.
Endurance is the ability to
compete throughout the duration of the hunt and go on as long as may be
necessary.
Adaptability means being able to
adjust quickly to changes in scenting conditions and being able to work
harmoniously
with a variety of running mates. An adaptable hound
will pursue its quarry as fast as conditions permit or as slowly as
conditions demand. At a loss, it will first work
close, and then, if necessary, move out gradually to recover the line.
Patience is a willingness to stay with any
problem encountered as long as there is a possibility of achieving success in
a workmanlike manner, rather than taking a chance of making
the recovery more quickly through guesswork or
gambling. Patience keeps a hound from bounding off and
leaving work undone, and causes it to apply itself to the
surest and safest methods in difficult situations.
Determination is that quality which
causes a hound to succeed against severe odds. A determined hound has a
purpose in mind and will overcome, through sheer
perseverance, many obstacles that often frustrate less determined
running mates. Determination and patience are closely
related qualities and are generally found in the same hound.
Determination keeps a hound at its work as long as there is
a possibility of achievement and quite often long after its
body has passed the peak of its endurance.
Determination is desire in its most intense form.
hounds. The proper degree of independence is displayed
by the hound that concentrates on running its game with no
undue concern for its running mates except to hark to them
when they proclaim a find or indicate progress by tonguing.
Tailing, or watching other hounds, is indication of
lack of sufficient independence. Ignoring other hounds completely
and refusing to hark to or move up with running mates is
indication of too much independence.
Cooperation is the ability to
work harmoniously with other hounds by doing as much of the work as possible in
an
honest, efficient manner, yet being aware of and honoring
the accomplishments of running mates without jealously or
disruption of the chase.
Competitive Spirit is the desire to
outdo running mates. It is a borderline quality that is an asset only to
the hound that
is able to keep it under control and to concentrate on
running the game rather than on beating other hounds. The
overly competitive hound lacks such qualities as
adaptability, patience, independence and cooperation, and in its
desire to excel is seldom accurate.
Intelligence is that quality which
influences a hound to apply its talents efficiently, in the manner of a skilled
craftsman.
The intelligent hound learns from experience and seldom
wastes time by repeating mistakes. Intelligence is indicated
by ability to adapt to changes in scenting conditions, to
adapt and to control its work with various types of running
mates, and to apply sound working principles toward
accomplishing the most under a variety of circumstances.
The hound that displays the aforementioned qualities would
be considered the Ideal Beagle for all purposes afield,
capable of serving as a field trial hound.
Eligibility: A hound is
eligible to be entered in a licensed field trial if it is individually
registered or is part of an
AKC-registered litter. A hound must be entered in the
name of the person who actually owns the hound at the time
entries are closed. Owners are responsible for errors
made on entry forms regardless of who may have made the
errors. No entry shall be accepted from any person who
stands suspended from the privileges of the American Kennel
Club. Castrated dogs and spayed bitches are ineligible
for entry and shall not be permitted to compete in Beagle field
trials.
Procedure 6 - Closing, Drawing, Bracing Absentees
6-A Immediately prior to the closing of entries for each
class at a licensed or member field trial, the Field Trial
Secretary shall announce any necessary changes in Judges or
other decisions by the Field Trial Committee affecting
the running of the class. He shall then call out the
names of all hounds entered in that class, or classes to be
drawn at
that time, after which he shall announce that entries have closed and
that the drawing will begin.
6-B The running order of the hounds
entered into each class shall be determined by the drawing, and the hounds
shall
be drawn in braces, or trios if applicable, for the first
series. Should a second hound owned by the same person be
drawn in the same brace or trio, that hound will change
places with the next hound drawn which is not owned. This
change will be made with a hound drawn later if possible,
but may be made with a hound drawn earlier if necessary.
The running together of two or three such hounds may be
permitted in the first series when a separation is impossible,
but in no other case.
6-E Owners and handlers must keep themselves informed as to
the running order and progress of the judging, and
must be ready within hailing distance when their hounds are
called by the Marshal on instructions from the Judges.
The running order cannot be changed under any circumstances
once the hounds have been drawn, except as
specifically provided in Procedures 2-A and 6-F.
6-F Any hound, except the additional hound or hounds called
to complete an incomplete brace or trio in first series,
that does not appear within 15 minutes after the Judges have
called for its brace or trio shall be marked absent in any
series and shall not be permitted to run, and its absence
shall be reported by the Judges to the Field Trial Committee
who shall investigate the absence and submit a complete
report to the American Kennel Club. If in first series, a brace
or trio becomes incomplete as the result of one or more
hounds being "clocked out" under this Procedure, the
remaining hound or hounds, retaining their relative position
to each other, shall be moved down to a position
immediately following the last hound drawn; then beginning
with the odd hound or hounds, if any were drawn,
additional complete braces or trios shall be made up, and if
an incomplete brace or trio still remains, an additional
hound or hounds needed to complete the brace or trio shall
be selected by the Judges.
If a hound is absent after the bracings have been announced
in second or subsequent series, the remaining hounds
shall be moved up and each hound below the absent hound
shall be moved up and each hound below the absent
hound shall be braced with the next highest hound with which
it has not previously been braced. The Judges shall
establish a reasonable time before disqualifying for absence
the hound or hounds they have selected to complete an
incomplete brace or trio in first series.