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.
