Video: How Important Do You Think Solo Time Is?

[mcardery2k]

We like to Solo Solo Solo our dogs.
Mark~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guWTjuStSYU


Jennie 13 weeks old First Rabbit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e80Fp_0sHPE

[RiverBottom]

Like I mentioned before, I don't do things like most on this board

I want my dogs to work in a pack. I don't solo them. I don't want one that needs to be soloed. If running them in a pack brings out bad habits in them I want to know about it so I can cut them from the herd. I want dogs that run the line and only use the other dogs to call them to the line when the rabbit is jumped or a check is picked up. My best dogs run the same no matter how many dogs are down, they just run the rabbit. Those are the ones I want pups from.

[japa]

Amen , We'll put. I will agree. If a pup wont honor the pack then you get a break down and confusion. That leads to lost rabbit.

[Anderson Upland Beagles]

[/quote]

that dogs in shape looks good nice pic ....

[billi]

I can speak to this some. In the last few years due to my age im down to 3 dogs. I started a few years ago alternating dogs when running taking them one at a time The youngest a pup had not ran in a pack much at all maybe a few times. I run by myself most of the time but the few times i ran the pup with someone else she practicly ignored his dogs. I think all dogs would probably act somewhat different but with her i about created a problem. I guess it was like everything to much of one thing can be bad. I will say this i recommend solo time in that it makes a dog more independent i think many not all become so dependent on packmates. I read on here where someone said beagles or meant to be pack dogs ..alll dogs will become pack dogs not just beagles..if forced to hunt for food.

[snowshoehareguide]

just read what billi said -
-

i think both is very important--if you like to run a pack . running solo is not more important then running in the pack-

not less either--

i think its very important to solo pups-- i want every dog to be able to hunt , jump , and run alone -i dont want them standing around listening for the other dogs to start-or solve a check - i dont want them barking just because somebody is barking-

i also dont want to let 5 go and have 5 seperate runs going -- lol


so i mix it up- the pack running is easy---they all get plenty of that -

- i have to make time for the soloing--its not as much fun-- but its important to me---

sometimes i cheat a little- , run a young pup with one slower or older dog--
when pup is leading most the time ,put him with faster pack- work him into faster pack gradually-

they learn to do their share of the work like that -
not soloing but some of same benefits-

[RiverBottom]

Just to be clear, I do believe most dogs will improve if they are run solo part of the time. I just don't have room in my kennel for "most dogs".

" -i dont want them standing around listening for the other dogs to start-or solve a check - i dont want them barking just because somebody is barking-"

Me neither. I want ones that just naturaly don't do that stuff.

Pete, here's something you will understand...

I love to run a big pack but when winter comes I cut back on dogs. The worst days I only run 2 and could just as well run one. On snow, when there isn't much scent to start with the first dog gets most of it. Nothing left for the rest to do but get in the way. Thing is, the ones that get loaded up first when it is 20 below are the ones that never needed any solo time.

[NorWester]

I pretty much agree with everthing Riverbottom had to say. I'm really not interested in a hound that needs specialized attention to be a productive member of the pack I run. I could care less if soloing the dog makes them a better all around individual as I very, very seldom run one hound.

Even on the toughest days here I run the pack. We have success as a pack and we fail as a pack. Of course I'm not guiding rabbit hunts or put that high a priority on shooting the hare. I might have a different opinion if I did.

[B&D Kennels]

I believe most of us agree, soloing a hound developes its skills. That being the case, when that same hound learns to become an acceptable pack member, would that hound not be a more contributing hound to the pack by having better skills?
Also, if you do not solo a hound, will that hound develope all of its skills and be as proficient in a pack?


B & D Kennels
"Where coontrolled speed is appreciated"

[SwampBuck]

I think solo time is great for dogs. My 4yr old would not go start his own rabbit because we had a super jump dog in our pack, I didnt like that. I soloed him for a good month 2-3days a week and let me tell you it turned on a light switch for him, he went from a good pack hound to a solid gun dog that has no probs jumping his own rabbit. I have a female thats the same way, runs well if the rabbit is up but hangs out on the trail until its up. I hope solo time will fix her too.


I feel its VERY important to solo.

[JCM]

Like I mentioned before, I don't do things like most on this board

I want my dogs to work in a pack. I don't solo them. I don't want one that needs to be soloed. If running them in a pack brings out bad habits in them I want to know about it so I can cut them from the herd. I want dogs that run the line and only use the other dogs to call them to the line when the rabbit is jumped or a check is picked up. My best dogs run the same no matter how many dogs are down, they just run the rabbit. Those are the ones I want pups from.

I didn't write this, but I sure agree!

[mcardery2k]

So how do you know if they can run a rabbit if you don't solo them?
Mark~

[klrconcrete]

Well put Mark, I solo young hounds more than packing them- this allows me to see "that dogs" ability, I have seen lots of dogs that were literally unbeatable in a pack but since they didnt get any amount of "specialized attention" they really were lackluster at best when soloed, some of these I owned-temporarily- and some were owned by friends-temporarily. So I guess to answer the question- I think it is important if you want a hunting dog it is not important if you want a pack of hunting dogs! Kurt Robinson

[NorWester]

So how do you know if they can run a rabbit if you don't solo them?
Mark~

When the hare flies by me with a worried look on his face and my pack is breathing down his neck, I'm reasonably certain they are running him

I think it is important if you want a hunting dog it is not important if you want a pack of hunting dogs!

I agree with that statement.

I'll also add that when you run the same dogs all the time, day in and day out, you know who is doing what, who isn't and the strengths and weaknesses of each hound.

[snowshoehareguide]

So how do you know if they can run a rabbit if you don't solo them?
Mark~

thats a very good question-

When the hare flies by me with a worried look on his face and my pack is breathing down his neck, I'm reasonably certain they are running him

thats a pretty good answer- -somebody in that pack is running him- but im awful skeptical-

if i have a big pack , i have some in there that wouldnt worry that hare much .

i look worried when i see that hare run by with a big grin




love to run a big pack but when winter comes I cut back on dogs. The worst days I only run 2 and could just as well run one. On snow, when there isn't much scent to start with the first dog gets most of it. Nothing left for the rest to do but get in the way. Thing is, the ones that get loaded up first when it is 20 below are the ones that never needed any solo time.


yup i understand that . lol
- i usually run 2 - 3 when snow is extra deep -

they take turns busting trail ---

all else equal , 2 will push harder , thats one of the few times i appreciate the competiveness in beagles -

in real tough scenting -- two may be one too many - competiveness works against you -

more dogs just makes it worse -- lol i never consider that soloing --- lol im just desperate -



ive kept some hounds around because i didnt have anything better to replace them with . some of them made very good hounds eventually - i m pretty suure , this would have happened a lot faster with more solo time-

read on another forum yesterday--dan lea said it normally took 3 seasons on snow to make a snowhound-
i know it doesnt take all of them that long-- but ive seen a lot of dogs that would prove him right --

i think more soloing would shorten that time in same dog - i think he is right , but thats too much time -

one more argument for soloing---


when i think back over the years--- many of the best snowhounds ive seen ---

were owned by a guy that only had 1 dog or very few dogs-
---they got soloed a ton -- half those guys wouldnt know what 'soloing " a dog meant

they were just huntin ,