The startup of Uncle Earl’s Hog Dog Trials, unique here to Winnfield’s Fairgrounds, will mark its 29th annual celebration in just under two weeks, set to begin Monday, March 18, and continue through Sunday, March 24.
The schedule posted at HogBaying.com calls for the Puppy Bay on March 18 with the Old & Young to get under way as well; Old & Young continues March 19; One-Dog competition to be held March 20 and 21 with Two-Dog events to begin that second day as well; Two-Dog continues on March 22; the Two-Dog Finals will be held Saturday, March 23; and the week wraps up Sunday, March 24 with Youth Bay competition.
Times will be 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily. Admission is $10 for a one-day wristband and $25 for the full week. (The weekly band allows for primitive camping and there’s no vendors fee for selling dogs. There is an $80 fee for campers).
Launched in 1994 and named for Winnfield native and former governor “Uncle Earl” K. Long, the week-long event attracts enthusiasts from all over the country and some from points beyond, many of whom spend the week in primitive camps on the fairgrounds itself. For those who’ve never seen the event, the fairgrounds resemble a 4th of July gathering with children, adults and seniors abounding. And lots of dogs. Louisiana’s state dog, the Catahoula cur, is among the most popular for.
For a better understanding of how the dogs are graded on performance in a portioned-off area of the rodeo arena by a five-judge panel, standards posted by HogBaying.com show the following:
1. The dog must never lose eye contact with the hog. For example, looking away or looping out will both be .1 of a point deduction for each instance the dog does it. If the hog causes the dog to lose eye contact it will not be deducted.
2. The dog is expected to contain (hold the hog at bay) the hog the entire run. For example if the hog is moving the dog must stop it and once the hog is stopped the dog must be within 5′ of the hog. Moving includes all movements running or walking in any direction no matter if the hog is looking at the dog or not. Each instance the dog fails to maintain control of the hog it will be docked .1 of a point.
3. The dog cannot be over aggressive. Meaning if the hog is stationary the dog should not touch it no matter the location of the hog in relation to the fence. The dog will be docked .1 point for each instance of over aggression.
4. The dog is expected to bark the entire time. In the event of the dog not barking longer than 5 seconds it will be docked .1 of a point. This will include the first 5 seconds of the bay. So if the dog does not bark within the 5 seconds of being turned loose, that is a deduction. (Dog does not have to bark while stopping the hog).
5. If a dog holds the hog for 5 seconds after the hog stops it will be deemed a catch and the dog will be disqualified. If the count starts and the hog starts running again the count will not stop until the dog lets go or it is disqualified. (Initially the count will not start until the hog stops).
6. There will only be one handler per dog. Whoever is talking to the dog at the beginning is the only one allowed to talk the entire run (one for each dog). Any additional instructions from another handler will result in a disqualification. More than one handler (per dog) trying to get the hogs attention will also result in a DQ. So if it’s a two-dog event, two people can get the hogs attention and talk to the dogs but no more than two.
7. Handler may not come in contact with their dog once it’s been released. If a handler breaks this rule, they will be disqualified on that run no matter if it’s in a bay off or not.
8. Each pen reserves the right to contain the handler to a designated area of the pen. Size of area may vary due to the different pen sizes. Handlers may not leave designated area. If a handler breaks this rule they will be disqualified on that run no matter if it’s in a bay off or not.