4 dogs and a hawk?

[Futurefalconer27]

i have 4 dogs and am taking my test tomorrow. The hawk would only be hunting with one dog (a beagle,and maybe a vizsla) but i also have a standard poodle, a beagle, a havanese and toy poodle, and a minpin (yes i said minpin). The vizsla is my cousins but i would like to use her to maybe hunt pheasants with the hawk. I would be careful to not hunt the hawk and have the dog near it but still.

[echotadog]

So what's your question ?

[echotadog]

So what's your question ?

Vizsla are great hawking dogs, but they generally need to be living around your hawk for the trust bond to work in the field. Vizsla have huge feather drive, and have to learn slowly and daily that the hawk is not prey, but part of the team. The hawk has to learn to trust the dog within close quarters as well, for the team to work in the field.

[kenjbro77]

The number one thing I have to have in a hawking dog is obedience. When I say "stay" it needs to do just that. The dog will want to not only chase pray but the hawk. So once my hawk would go after bunny I would give the stay command and she stops chasing. As echo said they have to be around each other a lot outside of hunting. I would weather my hawk in the back yard on a bow perch with the dog close by. At first I would have to stay close but after a few times they were fine together. Especially after the red-tail footed her a couple of times for getting to close.

[kenjbro77]

 This is my first Red-Tail and my Beagle back a few years ago. I no longer have either. I have had a Black lab female for the last 5 years. Very obedient. Beagle not so much.

[Futurefalconer27]

sorry my question was do you think there would be problems? The beagle is a beagle, stubborn and doesn't want to listen when on a scent. I am afraid she will try and bite the hawk thinking the animal killed is hers. Any opinions??

[echotadog]

You know your dog better than we do, if she's that bad don't use her in the field.
I had a friend who had a beagle with his Gos. The dog ran him over on a kill and after that the beagle was public enemy #1. Gos hated her.
Beagles are stubborn dogs but lots of falconers use them , so it's doable wih the right dog and hawk.

[kenjbro77]

That is exactly why I chose to give my Beagle to a rancher who hunted rabbits with a gun. Beagles are great bunny dogs, but in my opinion for what it's worth, not under a hawk. Great to those who can make it work.....just not for me.

[Futurefalconer27]

Thanks for the help. Has anyone ever hunted with a standard poodle lol?

[chrismt89]

Any dog can be used to hunt all the basic rules apply though. Need good control of the dog. Even if they dont actively seek game they still have a chance of flushing some thing just running around. Keep them in a good working distance and dont let them run in on your bird and go for it.