I guess would tend to disagree that it's a breed specific issue for a couple of reasons, but here are the main two:
1) I agree that there is a good amount of sighthound behind the breed but I wouldn't describe them as sighthounds, in fact, the U.S. registries are the only registries that classify them this way. In both europe and in south africa they are classified as FCI group 6.3 - related to scenthounds. see:
http://old.fci.be/nomenclatures_detail.asp?lang=en&file=group6#section3So are they a sighthound or a scenthound? Who knows? Personally I feel they are more like a cur-dog than either a true sighthound or a true scenthound.
2) I saw lots of dogs, of lots of different breeds turn in three different types of performances at that bay comp. Some were good bayin dogs, some caught-out, and some acted the fool. Mine acted the fool for sure, but so did several BMC's, cats, lacys, and crosses. If it was really about the breed, then there shouldn't have been any other breeds that acted the same way, but there were plenty that acted just as confused or distracted or were as lacking in focus at the bay and/or only showed interest mostly when the hog moved or was being pushed around by the attendants (and they weren't sighthound related breeds either). Again, there were plenty of dogs of different breeds that gave similar performances to the two girls I entered, so I'm just doubtful that is was a breed specific issue.
1) the only reason that the US registries classify the Ridgsback as a sight hound is because they can express the double gait required for sight hound competitions. As in many cases, the US registries have Ridgebacks mis-classified for the benefit of breeders who want to compete and title dogs that couldn't ever cut it in the real world through a simulated discipline. Hare coursing is for greyhounds and whippets, not cur type dogs like the Ridgeback but breeders wanted to title, they express the required double gait and it makes the registries $$$$$ so there you go.
2) your absolutely correct. The distinction is not between breeds. It is between trained and practiced disciplines. Some woods dogs are not effected by the change of environment, that has been proved time and time again but by and large, they are the exception, not the rule.
Dogs don't generalize well. A classic obedience example is just because they can sit in an apartment doesn't mean they'll sit in the yard. Same goes for baying a pig. In my opinion, dogs will see it as two separate activities, so they may perform differently depending on the environment.
I've been thinking more about this whole thing and realized that TrueBlue may have a good point about context and generalization (or a lack of it) for a dog ... there were quite a few things that made this experience very differnt for this pair that I entered as singles.
- they've both been in training pens before and worked hogs good in the pen... but never by themselves. There has always been other dogs in the pen that they knew, and I've also always personally been in the pen with them.
- they've never been in a pen surrounded by strangers... both attendants in the pen, and spectators surrounding the pen.
I guess the rules wouldn't allow me to go into the pen with them, but I'm really wondering if I should make their next bay comp experience a two-dog entry to add something familiar to the mix?
I don't know... I still have more questions than answers.
She is correct, you are correct, yes and don't we all
Steve
