puppy training??

There ain't much middle ground...people either use a pen because they believe in it for one reason or another or they hate it and think it either doesn't help or actually does harm.

I use the pen to check pups out early...I just personally like early starters and I believe a pen is a good place to get a pup fired up in a controlled environment. In SOME instances a pup will show you something of merit regarding style, something true. I.E. My Jasper pup bayed like a champ at an early age and was never catchy. In the woods now He's pretty much the same. On the other hand, Whistlers Buzz didn't pay much mind to a pig in the pen...when he did he just caught it. In the woods now He's a DAMN good young strike and bay dog and isn't just catchy.

Ive always used a pen to start pups and its never hurt them but Once a pup has started trailing on mock hunts or is started in the woods there really is no reason to put them back in the pen. Just feed them tracks.