Now my reply to training tips for bay pen dogs -
I mean no offense to anyone's opinions, i'm simply offering mine. Opinions are what makes us different and that is a good thing.
Most of your 'winning' class dogs are born with the ability. It is much easier to train or work with one that already 'has it' versus one that doesn't. That is not to say you can't work a average dog into one that can win on their better days. If your dog is losing concentration and looping, i would not mean this in a bad way, but I wouldn't continue working her for a One dog situation. Keep working her in 2 dog situations and that is where she seems like she will excel. Losing concentration is just as others have said, she is getting bored and losing focus and that is one of the hardest things to train into a dog. (that's generally one of those has it or doesn't traits)
Another tough trait or habit to break is looping. Escpecially if the dog loops when being challenged or rushed. When a dog starts to loop in that instance, they are 'bailing out' and giving up due to fear. Taking fear out of a dogs mind, again, is very hard.
Every dog is different and a trainer must recognize the dogs strengths and weaknesses. A trainer must bring out the best in their dog and eliminate or hide any flaws. If your dog is gritty, practice them on rougher hogs until they back off. If your dog is soft, practice them on softer hogs until they gain confidence. Don't let young/inexperienced dogs get steam rolled. MAKE IT FUN! don't make it work for the dogs. Pull the dogs out when they are having a blast, don't work them til u have to literally drag them out of the practice pen from over-exaustion. I would NEVER practice my dogs for only 2 mins. A dog will learn this time frame and start to either loose interest & look around to see if it's time to quit around the 2 min mark, or a grittier dog will start getting antsy wanting to grab and catch thinking the hog is about to run out of the pen. As stated before 3mins or so and most bayoffs do end up going 3-5 mins. When you get to a baying, study the hogs. <--Can't emphasize this enough!!! Know the hogs you are going to bay. If you draw the first run, so be it, use your best judgement. If you can watch several runs before your turn, watch as many as you can. See where certain hogs like to bay up and where they don't. See what hogs are rougher/softer/runnier(made that word up). And, work your dog accordingly.
The best trainer is the one that doesn't stop 'training' at the practice pen, but the one that uses every bit of information to their dogs advantage til they load their dog/s in the truck AFTER a competition.
There is so much more to put on here and not enough time or space. Makes me want to start training baypen dogs again.
Maver!ck
