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The Affects of Field Trials on Our Hounds

by Joe Robinson :: Featured: June, 2003

Whether we like to admit it or not field trials always have and probably always will influence our hounds and their performance. From the avid field trailer to the die hard hunters who despise field trials the hounds we have now have been influenced by field trials.

If you will check the pedigrees of your hounds you probably not have to go too far before you find a hound with some sort of title. The title could be FC, CH, HBCH, RCH or other depending on what registry the degree was received. If your hounds are single registered then chances are they have still been influenced but you just don’t have the records to show it.

The influence of field trials begins with the people who compete in field trials. They look to buy hounds and breed hounds which posses certain traits that will give them a better chance to win in competition.

The influence is expanded further when a hound receives a Champion degree. At that point the hound becomes more popular as breeding stock. Then field trial enthusiasts and hunters alike will breed to and buy pups from this stock because of this degree. A few years down the road this hound with a degree has influenced several generations of hounds, he probably would not have without a degree. The influence of these hounds with degrees can be seen in field trial hounds and in hounds that have never seen the trial circuit.

Keeping this in mind we need to look closer at the degrees of the hounds we breed to and what requirements had to be met in order for a hound to receive that degree.

The registries that are holding the competitions and awarding these degrees hold a great responsibility to the Beagle breed. The rules they set forth and the criteria that is set in order for a degree has a direct influence on the traits of our hounds for many generations.

These registries need to take a close look at their standards and at the type of hound they are promoting. They need to look at each quality that makes up a good hound and evaluate how their program rewards each of these qualities. Some credit may need to be given to one trait over another or one may be easier to judge than another but all traits must be considered.

The registries should evaluate its program from time to time to see if it is reaching its goals and is going in its intended direction. It is possible that a registry may need to modify its rules occasionally or make adjustments in its program to give more credit for one trait that is slipping away in its program. Slight modifications in the rules can make a difference in which hounds win and are awarded titles. This is simply good management and being responsible to the breed. That way they are awarding titles to hounds that we would all like to have in our kennels.

Since all of us are affected in one way or another by field trials we owe it to our hounds to make informed decisions when breeding or buying hounds. Know what traits and qualities that the hound had to have in order to earn a degree. Do not assume that just because he is a champion that he will automatically suit your needs or make your pack better.