Running hounds solo

[lifehog]

When you guys run your hounds do you solo them from time to time or just always in the pack?

[Terry Long]

When you guys run your hounds do you solo them from time to time or just always in the pack?

me I run mine in a pack but if I see one not pulling there weight in the pack and no they can I will then take them out and solo them and then when I think they got I will put them back in the pack

[Newt]

I don't make a point of soloing my dogs. I have one that I love to watch and listen to her run so I turn her out alone sometime just for the satisfaction of seeing her punish a cottontail. I've never been convinced that soloing changes the long term running style of a beagle.

[wvduece]

i soloed one this morning for a hour didnt get a rabbit jumped walked back to the truck turned 2 older dogs loose had a rabitt up n running in exactly 4 minutes i hate to run solo i do sometimes to see what the dog is doing

[BCBeagles]

I try to do it with my young dogs and it takes patience and little more work, as in hunting with the dog at times.
It does go a LONG way when a young dog jumps a few and circles them on there own, IMO. I am confident all the dogs in my kennel
could and would jump and run there own rabbit and, at times, not look too bad at it. I have soloed all of my hounds and still do on occasion.
I feel it is vital to a good start and eliminates them picking up any unwanted habits from the beginning.

[JStorer]

I run solo quite a bit, til a pup is hunting, running and getting the checks good on there own then they can contribute to the pack, I feel they have to prove to me that they can do it themselves first. I also find there is less chance of them becoming a me too dog, more leader less follower.

[lifehog]

I have run all 3 of them solo and they can run there own rabbit and in a pack they do well also the new one i got seems to have made my pack so much better.I was just wondering about the following they do sometimes when they are looking for a check etc. I was thinking that some solo time would get them doing there own thing which would make them follow less when packed up??

[ChadCaslte]

I absolutely believe in solo work on a dog. I try to do it as much as possible, but it is very hard to find enough time when you have a kennel full that all need running time on them.

[R.W.Hawk]

3-1 ratio , solo , to pack time.

[sgc]

I run solo a lot because, I feel, if a dog can't run solo and run the same rabbit for an hour I don't really care what its doing in a pack. I want to sit back & listen to the dog run the rabbit & let me see it 3 or 4 times, at least. IMO the ability to lock on & not lose the rabbit is most important. I've had dogs that sound great in a pack. They're out there screaming. I've even been offered good money for them; but when I think back to the runs I've had with them solo, I can say they just lost too many rabbits.

[Dave Swiger]

If you are not careful you will have me too dogs. My young male was riding on the work of my old male. I split them up. I'm soloing the young male now. You talk about bringin this dog on. He is getting better and better each time out. Sunday he jumped and ran 3. Monday had jumped and ran 1. Tuesday he jumped and ran 4. Let him rest yesterday, but he will be in the field tonight.

Dave Swiger

[Newt]

I have not found it necessary to solo a hound to find out if it is contributing to the pack. Once a hound is started and physically able to run in a pack, if it doesn't get a check occasionally or take the lead occasionally then, IMO, it's in the wrong pack.

[bradadkins]

ya gotta ask yourself..if you have 4 dogs..and 3 of them can't circle a rabbit but one can..which one is actually running the rabbit? My opinion the other 3 is nothing without the one and are doing nothing more using him as a crutch. If they can't do it alone then they can't do it in a pack..something has to be controlling the race..my money is on the dog that can do it all by himself.

.02

[barnold1]

Outside of rabbit season, I primarily solo my two dogs and find it really tightens up the faster one.

[JCM]

I have not found it necessary to solo a hound to find out if it is contributing to the pack. Once a hound is started and physically able to run in a pack, if it doesn't get a check occasionally or take the lead occasionally then, IMO, it's in the wrong pack.

And, if it takes soloing to reach their full potential, then they had limited potential.

Every time I make a breeding, or train a young dog, I think about what the impact will be 20 years down the road. The kennel as a whole is always considered above the needs of any one individual.

Imagine if you bred dogs that didn't have the mental strength to handle pack pressure for 5, 6, or 7 generations in a row. Some with solo time, can learn to jump rabbits and run with very few checks. And a with lot of individual attention, may become successful and win many trophies. But, with each generation, you make this trait more dominant in your line.

Compare this to hounds that generation after generation had to prove their worth in a pack. They reached their maximum ability without special treatment or training. They had the mental strength to become successful, no matter how they were trained.

You make the choice. Which would you choose?

And when you consider the value of soloing, ask yourself, is helping this one dog become good so important that I won't even consider what is best for my whole kennel and all beagles. Or do I want to better the breed, and have better, stronger, more intelligent hounds in 10, 15, and 20 years?