Ye kidding mate get yourself out for a fox, rain and wind putting them to ground, we'll they are here anyways :-)
saw one this morning. paddled right past me in a wee boat.
that was my bitch. she . wouldnt go on one dig. she was totally disinterested. even when we used another bitch to dig. it was really odd to be honest. when i went back out with her i expected the same but she just settled back in. i wouldnt hold much hope for a terrier that has shown signs of going off the boil.. but i would give them a crack. its only right if they have been decent.
Once a dog is well into its working life then if it walks the guaranttee is null and void in my book
i had a bitch never put a foot wrong in three seasons. one outing with company she entered and then came off. we dug it with a different terrier. . i was gutted and took the bitch back to her kennel and rested her for a month and tried her again and she was back as if nothing had happened. and was flawless for four more seasons. . before she was forced to retire due to injuries sustained over many digs /bolts. an old fella told me that it would be hormones due to the bitch loseing a litte
i'm not bigging up SS collars but my lurcher snapped a leather collar and broke a lead at the swivel. he was hit by a car the second time so i sourced stronger collar and leads. had them for years now they are 100% what he says. and worth every penny. especially if you have a powerfull dog peace of mind is worth an extra pound .
i'm surprised not so many folk have mentioned that on a lot of occasions you would have to dig more than once and often trench in or tunnel to your dog. in wooded area's sound can travel along tree roots. and that could be deceiving spent many hours laying halfways down a hole with my jacket pulled over the back of my head listening for the muffled sound of a baying dog with the blood running to my head and beasties crawling in my ears. lol. it was'nt nice when you entered a dog in an (easy) earth to find you just couldnt get a mark. from the mouth of any hole or on top despite laying spread
ive seen it with a lakie and a russell. the lakie would get all exited in its pen. jumping up and down on its back legs tale wagging like mad then down it went. she was put down .
the russell was an odd one and it wasnt brought on with exitement it could fit in its sleep. was never up nor down after. lived to a good age in a pet home. years ago we had a german shepherd that took to fitting turned out she had a tumour.
its good to hear all the differing opinions and as far as im concerned everyone has a right to the idea's they hold.. everyone who takes up a terrier and makes the effort to breed or buy in a pup then rear it and enter it below is on the side of working terriers.. often the difference of a good or great working terrier is the man that owns it. and the way they go about working it. if i wanted to dig i would only have to change the way i work terriers a little. and the very same dogs would have to work harder for there corn. the difference between a good bolter and digging dog is often as littl
That just throws another question though..If it dont bolt then you have to dig LOL so its now a digging dog..Or do some block up??
this when i have to dig but only as alast resort.