Youngest you have seen

[Hepher 86]

I LIKE TO LET A YOUNG DOG WATCH FOR AS MUCH OF A SEASON AS POSSIBLE, I'LL LET YOUNG GODS RUN EMPTY EARTHS AFTER AN EXPERIENCED DOG HAS BEEN THROUGH THEM TO GET THEM USED TO TRAVELING. I LIKE TO LET THEM ENTER FROM AROUND 14 MONTHS ON QUARRY BUT ONLY IN HANDY PUPPY EARTHS, I DON'T LIKE TO GIVE A YOUNG DOG TOO MUCH IN IT'S FIRST SEASON, PLENTY OF EASY DIGS TO GIVE THEM CONFIDENCE. 2ND SEASON GIVE THEM 1 OR 2 HARDER TESTS IN MORE TRYING EARTHS MID TO LATE SEASON. JUST MY OPINION.

[jpnixon 7]

I would be of the same train of thought, its the same as a boxer he will be shown the ropes, trained up then given easy fights to get his confidence up and so he knows what to do then when he is confident and looking for it himself he will have more trying fights, I know its not the best comparison but thats the way i see it like, same for working dogs you never take them out until they have healed up right and are ready for more work altough they would work anyways its better to look after them right, just IMO.

[top terrierman 90]

i meet a man the other day with a friend of mine and we were talking about this and he said something truthful but funny he said starting a terrier at a young age is the same thing as bringing a young lad down to the pub when his 14 and a 20 year old lad gives him a box whats he going to do only back off into the coner but bring him back when he is 20 whats he going to do his going to stand his ground and hit back isnt he.

[diggerman 0]

Well age is unimportant, mentality and physically formed is what matters, I've seen dogs of 2 yrs that werent ready, on the other hand I've seen and own/owned dogs that have been ready and allowed to dig at 7-8 months old, I have one at the moment first dig at 7 months. Where people go wrong is they give too much too quick and the dogs get sick and jack. If you know your dogs well enough, and you have the experience with dogs to understand them, then you know when a dog is ready, age becomes unimportant. My best dog ever was first dug to at 8 months old, and his last dig was at 12 years old, never did he walk, never did he fail to find, and he was used in some of the most difficult digs you could imagine. All the best ones I've had have been mentally and physically ready at an early age. I also dont believe in running them through empty earths, this teaches them to go to ground even if nothing is at home.

Look at humans, they dont all reach 13 years old and start pubity do they? Some will be alot younger than 13, others alot older, same with mental maturity. Same goes with dogs.

[artful212 394]

i had pup enter at 6 mths [bANNED TEXT] it happen i near sh*t cos had no collar on him

but wos handy to get to unfortunately he wos to mad and at 10 mths started a kennel

fight wif a bull lurcher bitch and she killed him while i wos at work

[slips 114]

Well age is unimportant, mentality and physically formed is what matters, I've seen dogs of 2 yrs that werent ready, on the other hand I've seen and own/owned dogs that have been ready and allowed to dig at 7-8 months old, I have one at the moment first dig at 7 months. Where people go wrong is they give too much too quick and the dogs get sick and jack. If you know your dogs well enough, and you have the experience with dogs to understand them, then you know when a dog is ready, age becomes unimportant. My best dog ever was first dug to at 8 months old, and his last dig was at 12 years old, never did he walk, never did he fail to find, and he was used in some of the most difficult digs you could imagine. All the best ones I've had have been mentally and physically ready at an early age. I also dont believe in running them through empty earths, this teaches them to go to ground even if nothing is at home.

Look at humans, they dont all reach 13 years old and start pubity do they? Some will be alot younger than 13, others alot older, same with mental maturity. Same goes with dogs.

when there out diggin stock and not throphy winner you dont need wrapin em in cotton wool every digger too there own

[Hepher 86]

Well age is unimportant, mentality and physically formed is what matters, I've seen dogs of 2 yrs that werent ready, on the other hand I've seen and own/owned dogs that have been ready and allowed to dig at 7-8 months old, I have one at the moment first dig at 7 months. Where people go wrong is they give too much too quick and the dogs get sick and jack. If you know your dogs well enough, and you have the experience with dogs to understand them, then you know when a dog is ready, age becomes unimportant. My best dog ever was first dug to at 8 months old, and his last dig was at 12 years old, never did he walk, never did he fail to find, and he was used in some of the most difficult digs you could imagine. All the best ones I've had have been mentally and physically ready at an early age. I also dont believe in running them through empty earths, this teaches them to go to ground even if nothing is at home.

Look at humans, they dont all reach 13 years old and start pubity do they? Some will be alot younger than 13, others alot older, same with mental maturity. Same goes with dogs.

 

ALL YOUR DOGS GO EARLY!! I'VE NOT SEEN MANY TERRIERS 7-8 MONTHS OLD PHYSICALLY READY TO WORK REGULARLY, THEY ARE NOT FULLY DEVELOPED. AS YOU SAY ABOUT PUBERTY AND REFERED TO YEARS, IN DOGS 7-8 MONTHS OLD IS JUST A PUPPY AND HAS BARELY LOST IT'S PUPPY TEETH, THEY'RE BONES HAVEN'T FULLY DEVELOPED NOR THEY'RE MUSCLES, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THE PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES TO HOLD A FOX THAT'S FIT TO DISH IT OUT, BUT THEN YOU MUST HAVE SOME LINE IN YOUR YARD.

[blackpack 70]

my old terrier who is now gone saw his first fox at 6 months and did well accidently of course and went on to be a true earth dog.

[diggerman 0]

Never said all my dogs go early, as it happens, yes I have one that has, but I also have one the same age that isnt ready.