I now have two beagle and a GSP. You know about the GSP... good bird dog, dud on rabbits. I'm very happy with my beagles. As you may recall, i got the first on as a pup. I bought the second one from a breeder who is an active gun hunter and very involved in field trials. "red" is a year anda half old and all business! When i let hin out of the truck he is nose-to-the-ground and hunting. He can find rabbits where there aren't any! I also have a mini dach. It's only 12 weeks old now, but i'm going to run her with my beagles this summer. I've hunted over JRs, Dachs, Beagle, various bird dogs, and mutts. I'm very please with my beagles. I have high hopes for the mini dach. Time will tell. Around her you can get a started beagle (a "name brand dog" out of champion field trial stock) for less than $400. For an old, dumb, lazy man like me, you can't beat that deal!
Well i ended up going with a Jack Russell. He is sitting at home right now probably wondering where i am and contemplating the stream of barks and screams he will level at me upon my return home from work
He is 7 weeks old and quite a handfull. I have had him 5 days, and he is already whining at the door to be let out to pee or poop. He is still a puppy though and has control problems
This book is REALLY awesome though for helping you pick out the right dog.
I didn't want a beagle simply because they seemed more like gun hunters dogs. I don't want to have to physically tackle a dog to get it to come back to the truck, and i need to keep my attention on the hawk, not the dog
Mini dachshunds seem great too, and were a close second for me, but jack russells seemed more like the dog for me, as doxxies are more of a scent hound and go to ground dog.
Brittanys just seemed like too much dog for me haha. Plus i wasn't ready for the hailstorm of SH!@t i would get from falconry friends about ruining a good dog by teaching it to point fur only
The JRT works great for me and im happy with him so far. His name is wood, and is living up to what i expected so far. Bought him from the only Jack Russell Terrier Club of america certified breeder in San Diego. Paid a good amount for him, but i have the paperwork of his father coming in 1st in like 30 field trials. Couldn't find anyone close who bred and hunted JRT's