This is my first post and i enjoy reading everyone.
My question is when do you start to solo a dog????
I have a pup that is 8 months old and is running with my pack i have never soloed a dog didnt know you should??
Also could you tell me what this deos for pup??
soloing a dog
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WELLS WOODS
- Posts: 1601
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I like to solo dogs of all ages about once for every four or five times I pack them. This will give them confidence in thier own ability. It makes them work thier own check without depending upon help from packmates. Soloing will also tell you how much talent a dog has; how fast he can run a track smoothly by himself without breaking down; how well he can work a hard check by himself ,etc. Some hounds you can solo too much and they will get too independent, so don't over do it.
My theory is if a hound won't hunt and can't produce and account for game by himself, I have no use for it. He is lacking something. Sometimes it takes a hound a while to get good at soloing a rabbit, so don't give up on it too quick.
My theory is if a hound won't hunt and can't produce and account for game by himself, I have no use for it. He is lacking something. Sometimes it takes a hound a while to get good at soloing a rabbit, so don't give up on it too quick.
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Guest
for me and this is just me
for any dog under 2 every time out with a pack they need at least 2 times soloed.
What it does is help them run there own rabbit. Doesnt let them let the other dogs do more work than them. They should be able to circle there own rabbit and move the line successfully. It keeps you from having a dog runner. It also takes all pressure from the pack off them. It allows them to progress at there own pace. I start all my dogs solo. Once I am convinced that they can successfully run there own rabbit I will put them in a pack. I hate dog runners or pack crazy hounds. They should run the rabbit on there own terms and not bother with how the other dogs are running the rabbit. Hard to get em all like that but the leveled headed ones are usually the good ones. I love a competitive hound but I dont want them overlly competitive.
for any dog under 2 every time out with a pack they need at least 2 times soloed.
What it does is help them run there own rabbit. Doesnt let them let the other dogs do more work than them. They should be able to circle there own rabbit and move the line successfully. It keeps you from having a dog runner. It also takes all pressure from the pack off them. It allows them to progress at there own pace. I start all my dogs solo. Once I am convinced that they can successfully run there own rabbit I will put them in a pack. I hate dog runners or pack crazy hounds. They should run the rabbit on there own terms and not bother with how the other dogs are running the rabbit. Hard to get em all like that but the leveled headed ones are usually the good ones. I love a competitive hound but I dont want them overlly competitive.
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Guest
for me and this is just me
for any dog under 2 every time out with a pack they need at least 2 times soloed.
What it does is help them run there own rabbit. Doesnt let them let the other dogs do more work than them. They should be able to circle there own rabbit and move the line successfully. It keeps you from having a dog runner. It also takes all pressure from the pack off them. It allows them to progress at there own pace. I start all my dogs solo. Once I am convinced that they can successfully run there own rabbit I will put them in a pack. I hate dog runners or pack crazy hounds. They should run the rabbit on there own terms and not bother with how the other dogs are running the rabbit. Hard to get em all like that but the leveled headed ones are usually the good ones. I love a competitive hound but I dont want them overlly competitive.
for any dog under 2 every time out with a pack they need at least 2 times soloed.
What it does is help them run there own rabbit. Doesnt let them let the other dogs do more work than them. They should be able to circle there own rabbit and move the line successfully. It keeps you from having a dog runner. It also takes all pressure from the pack off them. It allows them to progress at there own pace. I start all my dogs solo. Once I am convinced that they can successfully run there own rabbit I will put them in a pack. I hate dog runners or pack crazy hounds. They should run the rabbit on there own terms and not bother with how the other dogs are running the rabbit. Hard to get em all like that but the leveled headed ones are usually the good ones. I love a competitive hound but I dont want them overlly competitive.
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JCM
I never run dogs solo. If dogs cannot handle pack pressure, then I would rather know it.
Many people will say that soloing maxamizes a dog's potential and this might be true if you have a line of dogs that cannot handle pack pressure. If you have a pup that blows up when packed, this tells you to find a different strain of dogs that can handle pressure.
If you raise a pup that can handle pressure, then you will have a dog that keeps getting better its entire life. It will be the type of dog that is the heart of the race. It will also be a dog that is well worth breeding to.
Many people will say that soloing maxamizes a dog's potential and this might be true if you have a line of dogs that cannot handle pack pressure. If you have a pup that blows up when packed, this tells you to find a different strain of dogs that can handle pressure.
If you raise a pup that can handle pressure, then you will have a dog that keeps getting better its entire life. It will be the type of dog that is the heart of the race. It will also be a dog that is well worth breeding to.
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smitty12330844
the only reason I cant put my name in heading is my account is screwed up.-
Steve C.
Almost every time I judge a Large Pack trial I see dogs early on that get scored often. They are up near the front where the work is being done, but...... As the pack gets cut down, many of these dogs are seen standing on the check, keying off packmates and rushing to the front to steal the line. They may be able to take pack pressure but they sure aren't doing any of the hard work. Lots of dogs look great in a big pack, where they can hide their faults, but when the pack is cut down to a small number, it's pretty plain that they can't run a rabbit on their own. Now, having said that, I don't want to minimize how impressed I am by those hounds who DO handle pack pressure and lead the pack during much of the trial. The best hounds I've ever seen were great because they could handle the front and leave little for the rest of the pack to do. An awful lot of "me- too" hounds out there though and for what it's worth; the very best hounds I've ever had were started solo and packed enough to want to hark in and contribute. I know beyond any doubt that there are a number of FC's out there who can not run a rabbit on their own. Fine for the field trialer but worthless for hunting.
12point
I am learning alot from reading all of the post thanks!
I am going to pull botk my pups out of the pack and try to solo them for a while and see if they can realy run a rabbit by themselves??
After what i have read on these post i cannot sit here and honestly tell myself moreless amyone else that they can!!
Even though they sure sound good packed up
I am going to pull botk my pups out of the pack and try to solo them for a while and see if they can realy run a rabbit by themselves??
After what i have read on these post i cannot sit here and honestly tell myself moreless amyone else that they can!!
Even though they sure sound good packed up
I don't have the time to solo dogs much. However, I have made a big effort to break the numbers down to two or three dogs as often as possible. I am totally convinced that running them in pairs just as often as they are packed up is key to their development. I agree that handling pack pressure is important, but if the dog can't handle a line, I don't care how well they handle pressure.
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JCM
Imagine breeding to a great dog that you really liked, and then finding out afterwards that the owner soloed him for almost a year in order to make him great. Would you really want to breed this need for individual training into your line? 
I am not saying you throw a pup into a pack of 12 old dogs every time you run. In fact, I agree with KPrice about sometimes running a smaller pack. But anyone who believes a dog can't learn to jump rabbits, get checks, and run a line unless it was soloed as a pup, might benefit from looking at different lines of dogs.
Most of the time when someone tells me he has a dog that is doing OK, but he just needs a little soloing to . . . (fill in the blank-get checks, run more rabbit, jump rabbits, bark more, bark less, etc.) I see a dog that will never become an above average dog.
I am not saying you throw a pup into a pack of 12 old dogs every time you run. In fact, I agree with KPrice about sometimes running a smaller pack. But anyone who believes a dog can't learn to jump rabbits, get checks, and run a line unless it was soloed as a pup, might benefit from looking at different lines of dogs.
Most of the time when someone tells me he has a dog that is doing OK, but he just needs a little soloing to . . . (fill in the blank-get checks, run more rabbit, jump rabbits, bark more, bark less, etc.) I see a dog that will never become an above average dog.
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Robert W. Mccoy Jr
- Posts: 420
- Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2003 1:57 pm
- Location: Canton Michigan
I agree with Steve C.
I also agree that a dog should be able to handle the pressure of a pack.
I solo all my dogs a little.
If I think I see something I don't like while hunting I'll pull a dog out of the pack and solo him all week just to watch him.
If they make it through a hole hunting season they usually turn out to be pretty good dogs.
If they can't do it on there own they are of no use to me.
I think every dog is differant, some need it when they are young and some don't.
I don't push young dogs very hard I run them solo or in a brace about twice as much as I pack them. Espeacilly in bad conditions.
Once they are 1 1/2 years I really start to push them just to see what they are made of.
One thing though when I pack them I pack them all day to see if they are gonna quit when they get tired.
I personnally don't believe in soloing to fix a problem I just do it to let a young dog get confidence in his own running and hunting ability.
I have a young male I'm running that has alot off foot and really likes the front. I am running him solo or in a brace with a dog that is slightly more experianced.
Once a month I'm putting him down with the best I got just to see if he will slot up. So far he is doing a good job.
Yesterday it was 11 degrees when I turned loose he started of trying to run by the end of the day he was walking when he had to.
Thats what I use solo time for. Let them learn if they blow over no body is gonna help them.
I also agree that a dog should be able to handle the pressure of a pack.
I solo all my dogs a little.
If I think I see something I don't like while hunting I'll pull a dog out of the pack and solo him all week just to watch him.
If they make it through a hole hunting season they usually turn out to be pretty good dogs.
If they can't do it on there own they are of no use to me.
I think every dog is differant, some need it when they are young and some don't.
I don't push young dogs very hard I run them solo or in a brace about twice as much as I pack them. Espeacilly in bad conditions.
Once they are 1 1/2 years I really start to push them just to see what they are made of.
One thing though when I pack them I pack them all day to see if they are gonna quit when they get tired.
I personnally don't believe in soloing to fix a problem I just do it to let a young dog get confidence in his own running and hunting ability.
I have a young male I'm running that has alot off foot and really likes the front. I am running him solo or in a brace with a dog that is slightly more experianced.
Once a month I'm putting him down with the best I got just to see if he will slot up. So far he is doing a good job.
Yesterday it was 11 degrees when I turned loose he started of trying to run by the end of the day he was walking when he had to.
Thats what I use solo time for. Let them learn if they blow over no body is gonna help them.
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AlabamaSwamper
- Posts: 810
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- Location: Florence, AL
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I have enjoyed reading about this topic for months. I do not solo my dogs much. Usually I might solo one after running the pack if the dogs wants to but not very often. They solo in the starting pen.
I had never heard of soloing before I started reading these boards and if I had more time, sure, I would solo more. I just know we killed more than enough rabbits with dogs that never soloed so I never thought about it.
I had never heard of soloing before I started reading these boards and if I had more time, sure, I would solo more. I just know we killed more than enough rabbits with dogs that never soloed so I never thought about it.
"No stronger bond exist than that between a man and his dog."
Link to RabbitDawg board. (Old Southernbeagles board)
http://www.excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=6643
Link to RabbitDawg board. (Old Southernbeagles board)
http://www.excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=6643
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Beagleman973
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2003 11:28 am
- Location: Southern Illinois
I solo for one main reason, to make sure no young dogs turn into "me-too" pack hounds. You know the ones, they look great running with a pack, but turn them out by theirselves and they can't run a rabbit 100 yards. By running them solo they can't depend on others in the pack picking up the checks for them, they have to grub out the hards ones all alone. Plus I have found that running them solo tends to make them hunt harder, they have to jump the rabbit all alone.
To my way of thinking with young dogs it takes a measure of both. They need to run with a pack to learn to heark in, cooperate and slot up, it builds their competiveness and you can see how bad they want the front. But....it still takes solo time, in my opinion to make a complete hound. I love to hear a pack run as most as the next guy, but sometimes I take out one of my veterans and solo them. It's a lot of fun, and yes brings me pride, to see one veteran hold the track and really push the rabbit.
JCM.....It wouldn't bother me knowing that I bred to a stud that was soloed a lot, instead of thinking I was bringing traits into my breeding that required a lot of individual time, I would think that I was bringing genes into my breeding that could account for a rabbit all my himself.
Rob.....Thought you might want to know, that female pup you were going to buy from me this past spring. Well I ended up keeping her and I'm glad I did. I think she may have the best nose of all the pups I've seen from the litter. At nine months old she's showing tons of hunt and ran one down a gravel road this past weekend. Her speed is going to be towards the upper end of my pack and so far, knock on wood, she looks really clean and smooth. She's not going to be as big as you would have liked though, she's gonna be right at 14 or so. Take care and good hunting to you, saw your pics, looks like you're doing just fine with what you have!
John Strader
To my way of thinking with young dogs it takes a measure of both. They need to run with a pack to learn to heark in, cooperate and slot up, it builds their competiveness and you can see how bad they want the front. But....it still takes solo time, in my opinion to make a complete hound. I love to hear a pack run as most as the next guy, but sometimes I take out one of my veterans and solo them. It's a lot of fun, and yes brings me pride, to see one veteran hold the track and really push the rabbit.
JCM.....It wouldn't bother me knowing that I bred to a stud that was soloed a lot, instead of thinking I was bringing traits into my breeding that required a lot of individual time, I would think that I was bringing genes into my breeding that could account for a rabbit all my himself.
Rob.....Thought you might want to know, that female pup you were going to buy from me this past spring. Well I ended up keeping her and I'm glad I did. I think she may have the best nose of all the pups I've seen from the litter. At nine months old she's showing tons of hunt and ran one down a gravel road this past weekend. Her speed is going to be towards the upper end of my pack and so far, knock on wood, she looks really clean and smooth. She's not going to be as big as you would have liked though, she's gonna be right at 14 or so. Take care and good hunting to you, saw your pics, looks like you're doing just fine with what you have!
John Strader
If you can't run with the BIG DOGS stay on the porch!
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windy hollow
- Posts: 559
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 8:34 pm
- Location: frystown pa.
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Re: soloing a dog
I've been training hunting beagles for 30 years but only got into field trials one year ago and I start and train all my BEAGLES solo...I feel either they naturally have it or they dont. when they establish a working style its all theirs and not the results of the pack. It is a simple way to train really and 1on1 is effective. you get to know your hound and he learns what you like and what you dont..... teach him "NO" and when he does wrong use it he will learn in time...........with a pack you cant always see or correct a problem12point wrote:This is my first post and i enjoy reading everyone.
My question is when do you start to solo a dog????
I have a pup that is 8 months old and is running with my pack i have never soloed a dog didnt know you should??
Also could you tell me what this deos for pup??
It is wise to teach them while they are still impressionable. add them to a pack once they establish a working style.
WINDY HOLLOW BEAGLES
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Steve C.
I usually keep about a dozen beagles of various ages in my kennel but at times have had 25 to 30. Under those circumstances, naturally those young dogs aren't getting much solo time. Some of the problems you run into are lack of independence and skirting to get to the front. I know of several cases where littermates were run together every time from the day they started. One pair of little males in particular were terrific dogs who both eventually finished IFC, but the owner discovered one day that when one was picked up, the other just flat out quit. Walked right out of the running pack. It took him a long time to make this right and the only solution was solo time. It was just like starting them over. I have a 2 year old bitch from about as good breeding as there is on the planet. The sire and dam had 41 licensed AKC wins between them. In a pack she can be mouthy at times while alone there's no sign of it. Lately she wants the front at any cost and is getting rougher and rougher. While she needs to learn to handle a pack, it seems obvious to me that right now she needs solo time and lots of it. Usually by 2 years old, she should be further advanced than what she is but with all the nose and speed she has, she still hasn't matured enough to use her talent properly. It's a critical time for her and how I handle her now is going to be critical to her future. Some dogs will blow up from pack pressure while others never have any problem. This bitch's sire was never unduly influenced by a big pack and did his best work in very rough packs. The dam would often run away from her packmates late in a trial- leaving them far behind. So the genetics favored her ability to perform in a pack but she still needs to be handled properly at this time to avoid blowing her up. Every dog is different but I demand that every member of the pack can run solo as well as a member of the pack. Some days I hunt with one dog, other days 4 or 5.