The American Beagler Forum

000

I think it is improtant to solo younger hounds so they gain confidence. A broke dog will not need soloing as much. For example, I have a 4 year old bitch that hardly ever runs solo but has in the past and did well but she is not easily rattled and is a very clean, hard hard hunter, all day type dog. She lives to run a rabbit. I prefer to run her with other dogs 90% of the time. I think it depends a lot on the individual dog's traits, strengths, weaknesses, etc. I am going to run my upcoming pups about 75/25 pack/solo then adjust as required.
Bottom line is run them either solo or pack as much as possible. For a dog to run at its best potentiel it must be run all year.

As I said in the other post, run them all in a pack. Then, if a dog can't handle the pressure, cull him and get something that is bred well enough to take whatever you throw at him. If you do this for several years, you will end up with a good pack of dogs that can always stand the heat. In my humble opinion, the worst mistake is to make excuses for your dogs, or baby them, just to tune them up to win a field trial.

I look at it this way, I wouldn't put up with a dog that constantly ran trash, or wouldn't hunt, or cold trailed, so why should I put up with one that needs special training, just to reach his potential?

000

If you are happy, I would just keep running them. Besides, soloing is way too boring compared to listening to a pack driving a rabbit.

anything worth doing is worth working for? No dog is born a perfect dog ready to run the hair off a rabbit-it has to have some running time under its belt or i sure havent seen one that didnt ,but if u find that blood holler at me


I run dogs solo depending on how their work with a pack is if they arnt a young dog

JCM, so you say to cull if they won't run in a pack or won't hunt with strange dogs. What if they will pack with dogs of yours or your friends dog? I would disagree a little with you. I have this problem with two females and either one would make a great pleasure dog or pup starters. They both are get in the brush, when you turn em loose. They can run their own rabbit, but I or no one else can tell me how to get them to pack with strange dogs, if you have had this problem at one time or another, I would greatly appreciate any informatation as to what you done. Thanks Thornie

I think the only thing that might help them is to find a new home, with totally different dogs. Sometimes, if dogs are turned loose in a big pen, with dogs, without human interaction, they will start to pack. Or they would be fine for someone who just wanted to hunt with one or two dogs. BUT, I would never breed them under any circumstances.

I know you have had a lot of dogs, and know a lot about hounds, so riddle me this, is there any thing any more frustrating than a dog that won't pack (a form of quitting in my mind)?

Solo is great for dog under 2. After that it's been know to cause a dog to want to be a little independent.

Guys I have to be honest, I absolutely hate to solo a dog, but the last 2 weeks I have been soloing my 5 yr old male every night and I can tell a BIG difference, just in the way he hunts and even the way he handles the line. So is there an age limit? NO!!! I am a BELIEVER now in soloing.

bckshtbeagles wrote:Guys I have to be honest, I absolutely hate to solo a dog, but the last 2 weeks I have been soloing my 5 yr old male every night and I can tell a BIG difference, just in the way he hunts and even the way he handles the line. So is there an age limit? NO!!! I am a BELIEVER now in soloing.

That's awesome. It is truely amazing how this transform a dog.

thornie wrote:JCM, so you say to cull if they won't run in a pack or won't hunt with strange dogs. What if they will pack with dogs of yours or your friends dog? I would disagree a little with you. I have this problem with two females and either one would make a great pleasure dog or pup starters. They both are get in the brush, when you turn em loose. They can run their own rabbit, but I or no one else can tell me how to get them to pack with strange dogs, if you have had this problem at one time or another, I would greatly appreciate any informatation as to what you done. Thanks Thornie

i have a female that will run with my other dogs and a few others she will solo just fine just picky around certain dogs can smoke a bunny thats all that matters to me.

I love it. You take this Chevy Vega down to Daytona, and run it around the track. Boy it sure is running good today. I am the best car on the track. I love this car! I am doing great! I can't wait for race day! Man, I am going to run by myself every day cause I always win! I know I will win on Sunday, cause I am running so good!

Good luck in the Daytona 500.


All joking aside, I think everyone should train their dogs in the way they think best. Each of us must decide what we expect, and the best way to get it out of our dogs. I would be the first to encourage every beagler to get a feel for their dogs, and try to maximize their potential.

If you never run them solo, how would you know how they run their own rabbit ? Me to, me to, dog ?