Solo, The Amazing Cure

[S.R.Patch]

I was talking to a friend of mine last night, we were talking about hunting and field trials and he said a very interesting thing... "speed kills and pressure burst pipes"
Seems sensible to believe this statement has different meanings to different people, each person, according to their belief may have what they consider "the big boys", according to their success in the definition of the statement.
It also seems sensible to acknowledge that regardless of whether one solo's, packs or a combination of the two,...there will always be "one better" out there somewhere...
"Birds of a feather"...

[Ohiohntr]

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone that runs in AKC SPO trials that doesn't solo. I know there are dogs that have been soloed that have had amazing success in the Midwest Federation. Are here any dogs that have been packed and not soloed that have done well?

I don't trial anymore but when I had a few dogs that were competative in AKC SPO I mainly braced but would turn to solo after a wild trial (rough beating and banging) or if it was a long travel to and from the trial the weekend before just to bring them back to reality. I did find out that solo would give the dog I was trailing a little special "edge" over other dogs where the handlers did not have the time or patience to single a dog out. It is a little hard to explain but it just seemed to take away the "pack wise" stuff like hooking, swinging, and wildly trying to get every bit of work done (all stuff that are minus pts in AKC). Solo just seemed to put them (and me) back into a "mental zone" for the upcoming weekend.

The hardest thing I see on AKC Midwest dogs is the constant travel...it is nothing for a dog to spend 4, 5, 8+ hours one way just getting to the trial. Then they sleep in a hotel parking lot with cars and strange sounds all night....the next morning they are thrown down with a bunch of strange dogs with all sorts of different training styles in a completely different enviroment then what they were trained in. This happens weekend after weekend after weekend....It just never made any sense to me to then throw them in a pack of 5-10 dogs on Monday-Friday to try and blow their brains up to see what they are made of.

A buddy and I talk about the "connection" with a trial hound all the time. I know it sounds korny but a single connection with a single purpose in mind. Most owners of FC's that I know seem to have a special connection with the hound that finished...not after the title....before. You spend the time with the hound and the hound will perform to its best ability. My opinion only...solo will build that connection and put that confidence in not only the hound, but you as well that the dog has what it takes to win or place. Nothing more exciting or rewarding than hearing a single dog just pound the snot out of a track.

Let's be honest...in a pack a dog does not have to run every piece of the track to "stand out" at the end of the day. Take a dog solo that does not run every piece of the track and it will look like and idiot or it is making a lot of it up (judges will pick up on that with a few marked lines). I want to know if the dog I have in the pack has the ability to sort out the twists and turns, drive a straight line, find the tough checks, pick up a double back. Not 75% of the time and letting the other dogs pick up the other 25%....every time.

I equate packing several dogs and then trying to trial them the same as taking 10 darts in one hand, throwing them, and hoping something will stick in the board. If I am going to spend hundreds of dollars on travel I would rather concentrate on one dart and practice aiming for the center.....each to their own.

Having said all that....I love the sound of a roaring pack of dogs

[chapkosbeagles]

Ohiohunter
Great post well explained

[klrconcrete]

Ohiohntr, That was a near perfect explanation of probably the biggest benefit of a little solo time.

[fasttrackpa]

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone that runs in AKC SPO trials that doesn't solo. I know there are dogs that have been soloed that have had amazing success in the Midwest Federation. Are here any dogs that have been packed and not soloed that have done well?

I don't run Midwest, I run in the Northeast. When we are getting ready for a trial I run them with the roughest fastest pack I can...I take the hounds that consistantly put it on a pack. I will make sure they can do it alone. but that is it. the good ones in a pack are always good solo. You have to know what you are looking at either way, and that is the bottom line.

I agree with Ohiohntr. The bond is definitely there with the good ones. and I occasionally enjoy watching my favorites pounding one alone.

[augerhead]

I like to run a pup once in a while solo, basicaly to see his hunt and if he can do it with out help. Other than that I don't have much use for it. I good hound,youngdog, or pup most of the time will have an easier time solo, no pressure , run at your own pace. I like to see what they can do with others pushing and fighting for the front. A good hound does not need a lot of time by theme selves. I have had this proved to me many times by an old friend of mine. He never turns one loose alone at all,he says the cream will come to the top. We often have young dogs about the same age that we run together, his never solo, mine a little when there young.What I have seen is mine to me look a little better at a real young age, maybe a little more hunt and independence. But by the time they are a year old , no difference some of mine make it and some of his make it. I say if you want a dog to run by his self and don't run with a pack then solo is they way to train other than that its overated. The best dog I have is 4years old now and has never been ran much solo,he knows how to do it with any kind of company alot of pressure can bother him a little. When he gets the chance to run one with out competition it is just like beating a drum, solid pounding. What I am trying to say is solo to a good dog is a walk in the park, not a tougher task but much easier than dealing with a hard running pack. A p.o.s. mee-tooer sorry dog can be soloed to death and chances are when he is put in a pack he will still me to and follow. Real good hounds are born. Soloing might help a poor dog to get to decent but it is not a cure. JMO

[Mapel Valley Kennels LLC.]

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone that runs in AKC SPO trials that doesn't solo. I know there are dogs that have been soloed that have had amazing success in the Midwest Federation. Are here any dogs that have been packed and not soloed that have done well?

I don't trial anymore but when I had a few dogs that were competative in AKC SPO I mainly braced but would turn to solo after a wild trial (rough beating and banging) or if it was a long travel to and from the trial the weekend before just to bring them back to reality. I did find out that solo would give the dog I was trailing a little special "edge" over other dogs where the handlers did not have the time or patience to single a dog out. It is a little hard to explain but it just seemed to take away the "pack wise" stuff like hooking, swinging, and wildly trying to get every bit of work done (all stuff that are minus pts in AKC). Solo just seemed to put them (and me) back into a "mental zone" for the upcoming weekend.

The hardest thing I see on AKC Midwest dogs is the constant travel...it is nothing for a dog to spend 4, 5, 8+ hours one way just getting to the trial. Then they sleep in a hotel parking lot with cars and strange sounds all night....the next morning they are thrown down with a bunch of strange dogs with all sorts of different training styles in a completely different enviroment then what they were trained in. This happens weekend after weekend after weekend....It just never made any sense to me to then throw them in a pack of 5-10 dogs on Monday-Friday to try and blow their brains up to see what they are made of.

A buddy and I talk about the "connection" with a trial hound all the time. I know it sounds korny but a single connection with a single purpose in mind. Most owners of FC's that I know seem to have a special connection with the hound that finished...not after the title....before. You spend the time with the hound and the hound will perform to its best ability. My opinion only...solo will build that connection and put that confidence in not only the hound, but you as well that the dog has what it takes to win or place. Nothing more exciting or rewarding than hearing a single dog just pound the snot out of a track.

Let's be honest...in a pack a dog does not have to run every piece of the track to "stand out" at the end of the day. Take a dog solo that does not run every piece of the track and it will look like and idiot or it is making a lot of it up (judges will pick up on that with a few marked lines). I want to know if the dog I have in the pack has the ability to sort out the twists and turns, drive a straight line, find the tough checks, pick up a double back. Not 75% of the time and letting the other dogs pick up the other 25%....every time.

I equate packing several dogs and then trying to trial them the same as taking 10 darts in one hand, throwing them, and hoping something will stick in the board. If I am going to spend hundreds of dollars on travel I would rather concentrate on one dart and practice aiming for the center.....each to their own.

Having said all that....I love the sound of a roaring pack of dogs

Kelly thats why you make the big bucks bro. You have said everything i tried too. Soloing a dog sounds wierd too some why it makes all the sense to me. Greg Wells told me once why i was trialing my Abbie dog. "That bitch jumps more rabbits behind a pack that any bitch i have seen. It was due to the fact i would spend a few days a week just running her, i seen she was way too smooth for little pack. She placed third in ky state her first trial. She also jumped every rabbit in the cast and never scored the first jump. All i could do was be mad, I vowed she would never be run in lp again and she was not. She completed her FC Status in 8 hunts.

[Spruce Ridge Beagler]

Well put Ohiohunter.
I use solo time to force a hound to do its "OWN" work, not because they need it or its gonna make or break em but its just another training tool.
I also believe that solo is the best way to measure a dogs "TRUE" natural speed. I think those that never solo would be suprised at how much a given dog will gear down without pack pressure, may even be suprised at overall line control and checkwork.
Packs are exciting and I find myself running packs more often than not, mostly because of time. Biggest problem with solo is that it is boring as watching paint dry!
Great topic JCM and good post on both sides!
Happy New Year to all!!

[Bunnyblaster]

I know I'm jumping back in a little late but as far as for chasing my hounds around a little I can't help it every so often. I just like to see them work so cutting them off when I'm not trying to shoot the bunny gives me something to do I suppose. I love to watch them work and I love how excited they get when they pick up a check or rejump the bunny!! I smile and laugh every time I see it.

[Chuck Prather]

Great post Ohio hunter! A great explanation! Thanks!

[eddywilliams]

I love to see a dog solo a bunny it is not boring to me, I enjoy this more than a pack chase .If you have one that can solo a bunny but doesnt show up in a pack you need to try another ,those are not common here .imo

[klrconcrete]

Chapko, For lack of a better way to put it - youre full of s**t

[MGB]

[foxxy]

Chapko, For lack of a better way to put it - youre full of s**t

bahhahahahahahahaha

[JCM]

It sounds like most people find a way to train that suits them and works for their dogs from all solo to packing all the time. I guess more than anything, it means any time someone is considering an outcross, they really need to find out how the dog and its line was trained.

It seems like by far the majority of AKC SPO dogs are soloed before they go to the trials. I wonder if this means that they will be less and less useful to breed to down the road for those of us that strictly pack our dogs?