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[jfields]

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[MasonsBeagles]

if you ever trial at all esp. ARHA solo time pays off bigtime if your dog breaks out alone. you can usually tell by the handlers expressions if the hound can do it alone by the grin or you can tell where time in the field has been limited with the lip being bit. lol

[Pine Mt Beagles]

GOOD POST
IF YOU HAVE A-5-DOG PACK AND ONE OF THE HOUNDS CAN'T SOLO A RABBIT BY IT'S SELF TO THE GUN OR HOLE JMO.YOU HAVE A -4-DOG PACK.BUT MORE IMPORTANT TO ME IS THAT A HOUND THAT IS ONLY RUN IN A PACK WILL NOT BE TRUE TO IT'S BREEDING,,, IT WILL LEARN FROM THE REST OF THE PACK AND NOT DEVELOPE THE STYLE OF THE BLOOD LINE.LET IT SOLO FIRST AND LET IT DO WHAT IT IS BRED TO DO ,SO WHEN IT GETS IN A PACK IT HAS A GOOD FOUNDATION AND WILL NOT BE INFLUENCED EASY. ABOUT THE QUESTION SINCE THE DOG IS PAST THAT I WOULD START CUTTING BACK ON THE NUMBER OF DOG'S IN THE PACK UNTIL THE DOG IS RUNNING BRACE.AND AFTER THE RACE STARTS CATCH THE OTHER DOG,
GOD LUCK AND
KEEP'EM RUNNING
PINE MT BEAGLES

[JCM]

if you ever trial at all esp. ARHA solo time pays off bigtime

I have run in quite a few ARHA hunts in the last 12 years, never soloed a dog in my life, and would gladly compare my record with anyone who does solo their dogs. From my experience, guys who solo are trying to overcome faults in their dogs, and usually have very limited overall success. Their time would be better served by choosing better bred dogs, instead of trying to maximize the potential of dogs that probably would be culled by more successful trialers.

Maybe I am wrong, but it seems to me that soloing is the chosen training method for internet beaglers. In the real world, if guys would just run their dog, run it some more, and then run it some more, it would probably do some of the things they want it to do. I don't think the problem is how a dog is run, they problem is how much (or how little) a dog is run.

[RiverBottom]

My best dogs are running solo every time out, no matter how many other dogs are on the ground with them

[jfields]

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[JCM]

jfields,

In case you can't tell, I think this is one of the most interesting differences in training.

Here is my take on soloing.

If I was going to build a new house, I wouldn't give a teenager a truck, fill it with tools, give him a blueprint and an account at Lowes, and tell him to go at it. I would get someone in charge that has experience, knowledge and integrity. Now, this guy might have a couple of teenagers working for him, and use them to do some of the easy work, and I would have no problem with that. As the teenagers mature, gradually they will take on the more difficult tasks, until one day they will take the lead and be the boss.

Same way with beagles. I put my young dogs in a pack with good dogs that hunt and run the way I like. As they mature, they will do more and more of the hard work, until they are the good dogs. If the young dogs trash, then the old dogs tell on them. If the young dogs overrun, then the old dogs cut it off behind them, and make them work to get back in the race.

Training this way gives the young dogs hours and hours of good chases, with solid running. I think this is much better than a young dog going out their stumbling around until they find a rabbit and then struggling through a chase. My goal is not to have a 14 month old pup that I can hunt by himself. My goal is to have a 3, 4, or 5 year old dog that has the ability to control any pack, in any situation, in any weather condition.

Neal, the last dog that I granded out had a win on four inches of snow and 5 degree temperature with wind. He also had a win in 90 degrees in the summer. I just don't see how soloing would have made any difference.

[Mapel Valley Kennels LLC.]

Pretty good observation Jim.Come to think of it i really dont solo much,usally a few times before a big hunt.Pack running most of the time from 2 to 5 dogs.I would guess there is another way to look at it though.I like to drink beer, i have noticed that when i am in the pack so to say i seem to drink more but enjoy it less.When i run dogs by myself i still drink beer but not as much as quick and i also seem to enjoy it more. By running solo i think the dog has more of the oppurtunity to enjoy the rabbit and not always feeling the pressure of his packmates. I enjoy the pressure of my packmates but its also good not too enjoy the pressure at times.

The first person i ever seen not solo was mark brown he as yourself have reaped the benifets of winning. So there must be something to your madness. Eiether way run em till they melt.

[jfields]

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[modock kennels]

the beer drinkin is very critical

[Pike Ridge Beagles]

It is just preference. It will help a dog to run solo but so will pack running. For my time, I am running them in packs. Yes, I will solo a young hound with a good start to see how well he does it alone but it is not an ongoing standard practice. Too much fun watching the pack run to solo very often.
JCM hit the nail on the head when he says to run them and then run them some more. Wether your preference is in a pack or solo....keep them on tracks. I have solo'd every dog in my kennel a few times each but after I see how they perform and am satisfied it is pack running there on out.

[eddywilliams]

You really dont know what you have till you solo a dog i have to disagree with the pack theory ,you dont have to blunder out with a dog that cant finish a rabbit wait till its keeping up good and contributing then solo them i believe it helpsthem 4-1 and ill continue this practice .

[khensler01]

I agree with Eddie and Jfields.Maybe solo just brings the best out quicker?I don't believe as soom do you have to wait till 3yr. old to see what you have. I think greatness shows early,It won't be a complete dog at 1 1/2 but if you solo them and pack also at times by the time they are 2yr old you will have a more complete hound.Another thing if they dog doesn't have the ability no matter how you run it it will always be subpar.Ken

[ackermanich]

My thoughts on this subject is that each individual dog needs an assesment. I have had pups that i have soloed then have put down in a pack and they maintain a level head , run the line, and stay in the check area and seem to time after time being packed up. These pups are naturals these are the type of pups that do not get rattled in a pack and may not need hours of solo time. Then i have had pups who at a young age , get lazy in a pack depend on pack mates to jump the rabbit, wont work a check, mee too, or run the outside these are the type of pups that need solo time. And i feel some pups simply don't make the grade. If you determine that a pup needs solo time and see it has some tools to work with take the time to solo it . I have definately seen an improvement after solo time. Some areas i think solo will improve is hunt, confidence, check work. Another important thing to remember when running your pups always keep them in clean company, and try to pack them with other pups who are close to the same age and ability, or a pup trainer they can run ahead of to build confidence. i also feel there is a balance between solo time and packing both equally important but again should be assesed on the individual pup.

[Rabbit Huntin Fool]

If you have access to someones running or starting pen is the best option where you can find rabbits easily and quickly will probably be her best choice. The next best option will be at dawn or dusk when rabbits are out on the edges but very accessable where you can get her on a rabbit while she has her interest peaked then gradually start later and later while the time to find rabbits takes more time and by then she will hopefully have learned that your gonna find rabbits if you look and gain confidence. This is a great way to start pups also. Honestly if she won't hunt after some effort ask yourself is she worth it or does she do enough to have a place in your pack or does the pack run the same with or without her. Culling is hard to do and very few are honest and true enough to the sport to do it. Thats why we have thousands of dogs for sale on these sites. 90% are probably culls being traded that should have been buried. Good Luck with your dog, sometimes some effort is all it takes for the lighbulb to turn on and its nice when they turn out.