Beagles will roam Coshocton
COSHOCTON – Beagles will roam Coshocton’s countryside this weekend during the ARHA Little World Beagle Hunt.
“It’s fun to be out and listen to the different howls the dogs have and see how fast they are at tracking,” said Shelby Jones, who participates in the event her family helps run. “Being around the guys is also fun because if you go out with certain guys they are just hilarious.”
The hunt is held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26-27, and is hosted by the Coshocton County Beagle Club with help from the East Holmes Beagle Club. Beagles and their owners meet at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds before heading out in casts.
“There are five dogs in a cast and we head out to a special wooded area and walk our dogs in to get them use to the grounds,” Jones said. “The judge then says run and they usually go for about an hour. If you get a dead track then you have to get your dogs together and then let them go again. You also have to go get them if they take off from the pack.”
Judges go out on the casts too and give the dogs points for how well they do.
“The handler stays back because the dog pretty much does all the work,” Jones said.
The hunt also will include a bench show, dog supply vendors, food and a 50/50 to help support next year’s hunt.
Vicki Shrock, from the Coshocton County Beagle Club, said there should be between 200 and 400 dogs at this year’s hunt.
“It’s fun to come see all the different types of breeds there are,” she said. “You don’t just see your typical colors anymore. There are lots of different ones. There also are short and tall Beagles, but ours have to be under 15 inches.”
Shrock also noted that the public is welcome to come take a look at the dogs and see what goes on at the fairgrounds.
“It’s nice for kids because a lot of the owners will let them come see them and pet them,” she said.
The hunt starts at 6:30 a.m. Saturday with the bench show and at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. Activities will run until 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. both days depending on how long it takes the dogs to come back in.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: Clubs & Organizations
