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skycat

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Everything posted by skycat

  1. skycat
    Any decently bred lurcher that has a bit of Collie or other pastoral breeds in its make up can be trained to the gun no problem. Just train it as you would a gundog, maybe being somewhat less heavy handed than you might need to be with a Lab or Springer. My old Deer/Grey was trained to the gun though I wouldn't say that was the ideal cross as a gundog. The big advantage with a lurcher is that it'll never lose a runner! Plus you've got a lamping/ferreting and gundog all in one. I know several people that use their lurchers in the beating line and a lot who shoot over their dogs too.
  2. skycat
    Invest in a little paperback book called The Book of the Bitch: it'll tell you everything you could possibly want to know about the whole process and caring for new pups as well. You should be able to get it from any pet type superstore, and most likely online as well. There you go: Visit My Websitehttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Bitch-J-M-Evans/dp/1860540236
  3. skycat
    In answer to Magpie's question: I've had 2 Hancock bitches, both 3/4 Grey, one was 1/4 Beardie, and t'other was by Taffy (1/8 Beardie, 1/8 the Border) the B/B was average at most things and weird: slightly bonkers and THE most intelligent dog I have ever had: too bloody intelligent. The Beardie one was simply one of the best lurchers I have had, all quarry pre ban s/h, worked her guts out until she was 8 years old then keeled over one night after an accidental particularly hard hunt on a fox, swimming a river and going God knows how far: she owed me nothing at all having been out working ne
  4. skycat

    FAO Molly

    skycat replied to Simoman's topic in General Talk

    :thumbs-up: to Molly: those are 2 of the best reared kits I've seen. And great to see the dogs getting on with them too. What sort of lurcher are you going for S?
  5. skycat
    You haven't said what sex they all are: that might play a big part in your pairings! And if they aren't all the same sex, have you though what you'll do with in season bitches? Logic dictates that the younger ones might like to live and play together, but it all depends on the dynamics of your pack, who is top dog, who is placid, etc etc.
  6. skycat

    More Rain!!

    skycat replied to bill88's topic in General Talk

    I can't remember the last time I had to put the lights on in the house during the day: and it's bloody well July!! FFS!
  7. skycat
    FACT: dogs do not need carbohydrate. They derive their energy from animal fats. Yes, they can convert carbs but not as efficiently as humans. Surveys done many years ago concluded that dogs can 'learn' to use carbs effectively but only if fed over a period of time which allows the body to 'learn' how to use it properly. My dogs haven't had carboydrates since I started to feed raw meat/bones/veg etc. And they are not exactly suffering from defficient energy levels, and if anything I have more problems keeping the weight OFF them rather than trying to keep weight on. Added: some Saluki t
  8. skycat
    Gotta say that is one of the best pieces of dog art I've ever seen. Just superb. Does your friend work commercially? If they don't they ought to!
  9. skycat
    Hi Waggi
  10. skycat
    Another strange thing about Chinese Water Deer is that their fur comes out in handfuls when grabbed: presumably a defence mechanism so the erm, predator, is likely to come away with just a mouthful of fur unless they know what they're doing. It's tusks are also hinged and can fold right back when grazing: maybe this has something to do with the fact that they don't like to use them in battle: don't know about that one, just wondering.
  11. skycat
    I shall NEVER get over that feeling of pride and happiness when a dog retrieves its catch to you: there it is, the total predator, as Chalkwarren says, it goes out, hunts and catches whatever it is after, then brings it in to you, and the look in the dog's eyes says it all: "Look what I've got for you" This was especially meaningful to me with my old coursing bitch who always retrieved, no matter how long she had run for and no matter how far she had to bring that hare back, over dykes and through fences. I'd encourage in when she got to hearing distance and call out to her "good dog", and e
  12. skycat

    PROBLEM

    skycat replied to a topic in Lurchers & Running Dogs

    Did I try to get her killing them? No, just as easy and quicker to finish them off myself as they weren't exactly lively. I just lived with the situation and she never lost any which was the main thing: she'd pull them out of bales and draw from an earth no problem, just didn't have the instinct to finish the job completely, though I honestly think she thought she had finished them off.
  13. skycat

    PROBLEM

    skycat replied to a topic in Lurchers & Running Dogs

    I had a dog that did exactly the same, and no matter how many times she got bitten she never actually killed them: just throttled them until they lay still, regardless of whether they were still breathing. She never did change in the 8 years she was used mainly for foxes. Funnily enough her daughter and grand daughter knew instinctively to keep the grip on the throat until the fox had actually stopped breathing: they'd even let go once it was dead and look hard at it to make sure it had really expired and wasn't just unconcious, going in on the throttle bite again if it wasn't. Not all dogs
  14. skycat
    I once had a bitch's shoulder laid open to the bone by a munty: many moons ago: the vet halved the bill for half the munty (oven ready) Someone I know had their dog almost paralysed when a munty bit almost through its spinal chord. Made an almost complete recovery eventually, but it was touch and go for a while. That's the only 2 severe injuries I know of, though a lot of my dogs have had their chests and front legs scored through the skin by their little sharp hooves.
  15. skycat
    Hopefully there will be more articles on this cross and the development of the pups.
  16. skycat
    quote:I have talked to mates of mine you have had dogs with there throats ripped out and still lugging and then they drop dead, You cannot hunt with a dead dog can you Kane? :unquote too right Mitch!
  17. skycat
    Sounds totally deeelicious: I've saved that one and will try it out when I've got a few spare half grown tender ones LOL
  18. skycat
    I'm with JDF on this one: not all my dogs are going to make out and out ferreting dogs: some would rather be hunting and catching and working their socks off all the time rather than waiting for a bolt or marking buries: so they turn into lamping specialists. Before the ban about 70% of my 'line' took fox s/h, and those dogs were obviously used largely for fox, either with terriers or on the lamp. Some of mine have thrown more to the Saluki in stamina than others too, so they were the ones that were used for hares. I guess I'm really lucky in having all sorts of work for them to do, and if
  19. skycat
    Couldn't afford an electric one! And I AM getting arms like Arnie! LOL It's really a total body work out: and it's not just that I'm a weak and feeble female: even Andy worked up a real sweat helping me do 2 full trays of chicken carcases and veg> I'll have put on at least 5 kilos in muscle by the time you see me in August! More productive and cheaper than going to a gym anyway.
  20. skycat
    Fair comment.
  21. skycat
    Drontal Plus: the best.
  22. skycat
    Is she out and out fighting with your bitches, or could it be that she's just snappy cos she's nervous and unsettled being as you've only had her 2 weeks. I've had similar situations bringing rescue bitches into the pack: it can take them quite a few weeks to find their place in the pack. Sorry, don't mean to doubt you, just wondering whether she is really a bitch hater, or very dominant, or just unsure of herself, or had a bad experience in the past? IMO 2 weeks isn't nearly long enough to suss a dog out completely, or for it to settle into a new environment.
  23. skycat
    Going for a jimmy............(short for jimmy riddle: piddle)
  24. skycat
    That Anglo/American dictinary is just brilliant: had me in stitches Edited to add: I just had to include some I found that made me laugh: knees-up n. A rather antiquated word for a bit of a party. I say "a bit" because any party referred to as such is more likely to involve some post-menopausal ladies singing around a piano than a bunch of bright young things doing lines off the coffee table. ickle n. One of the few rather sickly British "cutesy" words, ickle just means "very small" - very similar to the US equivalent "itty-bitty" / "itsy-bitsy". It would usually be seen in use rega
  25. skycat
    GREat response to an unexpected situation! I'd have been busy staring at it as well and forget to photo it. LOL
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