12 Saber Tails Spring 2017

Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America

“For the remainder of the weekend, Sam hunted well and 

qualified for his first leg of Junior Hunter designation,” Tim 

added. “For me, it was great fun to watch Sam and the 

other PBGVs doing what they’re bred to do, and it was 

pure joy for the dogs! Sam and I are hooked, and look for-

ward to attending PBGVCA Hunt Tests around the coun-

try and meeting more PBGVs and their owners.”

The Texas hunt was the brainchild of PBGVCA board 

member Lora Megli of Lakehills, Texas, who had attended 

a couple of hunting events 

hosted by the Basset Hound 

Club of America in Ladonia, 

a small town about 80 miles 

northeast of Dallas.

“The basset hunting test 

is open to all pack hounds 

which made it possible for 

me to run PBGVs at their 

events,” she said. “Previous-

ly, my dogs had only hunt-

ed at PBGV National events 

which, of course, only come 

along once per year. It’s dis-

couraging to say the least 

when your dogs just don’t 

have the opportunity to do 

what they were bred to do. 

So, after taking part in the 

BHCA event and seeing the 

hunt grounds, I decided 

there had to be a way to 

have a PBGVCA hunting 

event in Texas. I ran the 

idea by hunt enthusiasts at 

the National in Indiana, and 

the idea took hold. From 

there, I was determined to 

make it happen.”

But, hosting a hunting 

event in the Lone Star State 

came with two big chal-

lenges, Lora said. “First, 

how do we get enough 

judges, and second, what 

about the heat in Texas? Fortunately some of the Ladonia 

hunt ground owners are dachshund field trial judges and 

were very interested in learning about PBGVs and being 

judges for our hunt. Since they are already licensed judg-

es, they were able to ‘fast track’ with PBGVCA to become 

a PBGV judge.”

Originally, two judges prepared to mentor and do pro-

visional judging for the test, but unfortunately only one 

judge was able to participate, Lora explained. “The one 

who was unable to participate is looking forward to 

participating at another hunt, and meeting the creden-

tials to judge PBGVs.”

As for the second challenge, Lora said heat could po-

tentially be a factor in Texas 

almost year round, so how 

do you pick a date when it 

will be cool enough for the 

hounds to run? 

“The various dachshund 

clubs already had week-

ends taken to run their field 

trials so the PBGVs had to 

pick from open dates and, 

like any other event, there 

always seems to be a con-

flict for exhibitors regard-

less what date is chosen,” 

she explained. “We decided 

on a January date with the 

hopes the weather would 

cooperate, and there 

wouldn’t be too many other 

events the same weekend.”  

The Texas Hunt started with 

pleasant weather on Fri-

day, Jan. 20 with open field 

time and the puppy/novice 

learning experience. “We 

had 11 dogs participate in 

the learning experience in-

cluding Joan Burke’s four-

month-old puppy, Giroux,” 

Lora said. “The learning ex-

perience provided the han-

dlers with useful informa-

tion about do’s and don’ts 

in the field. It also gave the 

dogs and handlers time in 

the field with experienced hunters prior to the hunt test 

the next day.” 

Lora said that Saturday morning started bright and ear-

ly with the draw. “Thankfully, the weather cooperated 

Getting ready to take to the field

A big challenge with hosting hunts in Texas is the weather.  There are 

only a few months each year that are cool enough to hold a hunt.

Cont’d next page

Cont’d from previous page