a good pen dog needs a tuff hog that will fight an the dog has to make the hog turn to fight not let to hog drift thats why its not all luck judges know when a good dog is doing what it can.
I respectfully disagree. "Good" is a broad spectrum definition. A "seasoned" pen dog.....one that reliably puts money in your pocket will sit right on the nose of a soft set up hog and bay the hair off him. That being said...same dog WILL put teeth to a hog that wants to run. As far as a good dog doing what he can....I'd bet money a dog on a really rough hog that moves multiple times.... even though the dog is "doing what he can" ain't gonna score perfect.
