The Eagles had a new hit on the radio called Take It to the Limit when my folks got me an Irish Setter puppy named Jesse. I spent a lot of time in the woods and fields with that dog. We had to walk down the street past a bunch of houses to get there. I trained her to heel without a leash. She would walk by my side anywhere. I don’t remember it being that hard to teach her.

Then I go a drivers license and started getting coon dogs and beagles. You got them off a tree or caught them in the brush, snapped a leash on them and they dragged you back to the truck. It’s what everyone did. I can’t explain it. I must have lost the ability to think how easy life is with a trained dog. Temporary amnesia.

Many years later Kila and I went to Missouri to coon hunt with some boys down there that had a stud dog named Coma. They had a young walker female named Snap that they were selling. When we got to the tree deep in the woods where the dogs were treed they put a leash on Snap and dropped it. Snap followed them out of the woods and then jumped onto the tailgate and loaded herself in the dog box when we got to the truck. We brought Snappy home with us.

After that I quit leading dogs through the brush. I just trained them to follow me when I put a leash on them and let go of it. Wasn’t hard to do.

Terry Daniel had a good beagle named Shy that we bred to. We hunted some with Terry in Iowa where he lived and up north in Minnesota also. When we were ready to quit for the day Terry gave an old rebel war whoop and next thing we knew Shy was by his side. I had to go tackle my dogs in the brush and get them back, the way we always did it. It was one of those moments when it dawns on you how dumb you are.

I finally got smart enough to quit coon hunting and just hunt beagles. I very seldom use a leash anymore. It’s been months since I last put a dog on one.

I say “come on” and my dogs follow me. Sometimes a couple and sometimes 15 or more. Doesn’t matter how many. How I train them is kind of a long process and I’m not sure I understand it all myself, but some day I will try and write it down if anyone cares to read it.

I also train all my dogs to come when I call. I hunt these dogs on snowshoe hare. The snow can get deep and the next road can be a long ways away and they don’t like to quit and there are wolves out there. They need to come when I call. We are not perfect but I don’t have to head them off in the brush anymore.

I hate writing “how to” stuff. You can’t do it without implying that you think are some kind of expert that knows more than anyone else. I’m no expert. There are a whole bunch of people that know more about training dogs than I do. If you want good training advice it’s not hard to find.

One thing I can claim is that I have had a lot of dogs. Hundreds. All kinds, but more beagles than anything else. I have been breeding this line of dogs for a long time. Something like thirty years of selecting for the same traits over many generations. I guess I know more about them than anyone.

I can tell you what I do and how I do it. If you have one of these dogs maybe you will find something you can use, or at least you might gain a better understanding of where your dog comes from.

I’ll try to keep it short and add more from time to time.

One of the young dogs I’m working with now, Forest. His dad is Ray and his mom is Pumpkin.

We don’t have any puppies right now but we are already looking forward to spring and hopefully another busy summer.

We love getting pictures and stories about our beagles from their families. Thanks to all of you!

 Lisa found this somewhere years ago and saved it on our PC. Not sure who wrote it but they knew what it’s like to loose a dog.

I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying, You found it hard to sleep.
I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
“It’s me, I haven’t left you, I’m well, I’m fine, I’m here.”

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me.
I was with you at the shops today, Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care.
I want to reassure you, that I’m not lying there.
I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said “it’s me.”

You looked so very tired, and sank into our chair.
I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there
It’s possible for me, to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty, “I never went away.”

You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew …
in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.
The day is over… I smile and watch you yawning
and say “goodnight, God bless, I’ll see you in the morning.”

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I’ll rush across to greet you and we’ll stand, side by side.
I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out … then come home to be with me