locator

[burrowman 6]

My border dog is mute and hard when workin only happy when he gets up to his game and locks on, i still test meself before turning on locator but admit im rarely close at anything over 3 foot. The man i learned from was brilliant he would let dog settle then ask me to pick a spot then laugh at how far out i was he would get it right everytime,but he had one secret weapon instead of a locator....a good lurcher, he would make a series of holes with the t bar then his lurcher[3/4 bed x grey] would check every one and only paw at one if it was over the game,100% everytime. But even he had his failures, he lost and never found one of his best dogs aground, another time he lost 3 terriers aground for four days in a dangerous sand hole then when he had just about give up hope they got out and made their way home themselves [half mile]. I reckon sand is the worst soil type for carrying sound but using a locator i have sucessfully dug this sandhole twice, once to 8 foot. I can see what the older members mean "the locator ruined the terrier" but the terrierman can decide how long to test his dog, unfortunately low quality dogs can be dug to quickly before they jack and the kill is bragged about by their bullshit owners, these dogs would not be tolerated in the old days for their true colours would be seen. a.t.b. Burrowman

[stormrider8 59]

Dug since i was a child with the old timers first box i seen was about twenty years ago.Mute dogs were not tolerated at all.First thing you would ask about a dog whats his bark like.As it was mostly badger digging we done noisey dogs were valued greatly.Golden rules were complete silence at the dig(well almost)or you got a kick in the arse.Keep tied up dogs well away from the dig if they were noisey or some old timer would silence him.It was an art that you learned from been at it all the time and learning from the old heads.Sometimes it could take two to three hours just to locate a sound in big places(shows the quality of whats dogs had to be)On windy days experienced men lying on the ground with heavy coats over their heads to keep out the noise of the wind.Very colourfull language if somebody was coughing or breaking the silence in any way this was a serious game to those men and bored children were not tolerated.Another trick the experienced men had was straight timber sticks put to the ground and held lightly they could feel the vibrations through the stick(I could never master it)Boreholes and t bars and sticks and ears and knowledge of their dogs and every set in the country was what these men had and passed it on to those who would listen and loved this old digging game as much as they did.With all the high tech locators now I still love the sound of the old grey box they have their faults but I still find them great for pin point accuracy and can still remember the pride and the joy on receiving my first one in the post from England.And I still hate mute dogs and dont think they should be bred from a working terrier is supposed to bark.And as a foot note.There is nothing as nice and peacefull as a dig by yourself listening to every little sound of under ground work and the sound of the countryside around you.That to me is still heaven.

 

This sounds like a proper days digging to me. Would have loved to have seen the old ways and the quality terriers had to be.

[dean 11]

My border dog is mute and hard when workin only happy when he gets up to his game and locks on, i still test meself before turning on locator but admit im rarely close at anything over 3 foot. The man i learned from was brilliant he would let dog settle then ask me to pick a spot then laugh at how far out i was he would get it right everytime,but he had one secret weapon instead of a locator....a good lurcher, he would make a series of holes with the t bar then his lurcher[3/4 bed x grey] would check every one and only paw at one if it was over the game,100% everytime. But even he had his failures, he lost and never found one of his best dogs aground, another time he lost 3 terriers aground for four days in a dangerous sand hole then when he had just about give up hope they got out and made their way home themselves [half mile]. I reckon sand is the worst soil type for carrying sound but using a locator i have sucessfully dug this sandhole twice, once to 8 foot. I can see what the older members mean "the locator ruined the terrier" but the terrierman can decide how long to test his dog, unfortunately low quality dogs can be dug to quickly before they jack and the kill is bragged about by their bullshit owners, these dogs would not be tolerated in the old days for their true colours would be seen. a.t.b. Burrowman

if anyone can show you how to don can learnt that from him on many a time dog always found cant beat experience hey don

[Waz 4,252]

Old thread on this here,,,,,,,, http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/index...=109501&hl=

never saw it first time round -- posted coz i just got fed up with the latest round of plummer threads

 

I can undertsand that, especially when I read, ratting will test a terriers mettle,,,,,,,amyway! I only posted the link because I remember posting on it and couldnt be bothered to copy and post what I wrote. Agree about hearing anything through a tree trunk, but it can give you a hint of where you terriers at, but dont trust them for thinking your terrier is maybe digging on, could be the branches in the wind !

["Earth!" 503]

never had a locator when i started out which was by accident.my border/lakey went to ground in a rabbit place,when i eventually broke through and was geated by a pissed fox with the terrier holding it chops it switched me..i was out dropping my terrier in every hole i came to and on my own..wasnt until i met another digging chap who had the kit and knowledge that i purchased a locator(and a new terrier as seeing decent terriers work made me notice what a waste mine was )

[scent 509]

id always try locate the dog first without using the box ,what happens if some day your box packs it in and all your left with is your knoweledge and wits

["Earth!" 503]

id always try locate the dog first without using the box ,what happens if some day your box packs it in and all your left with is your knoweledge and wits

 

goes without saying,it depends on the places in which you are working..wouldnt even hear a baying terrier in some of my spots but other places are that shallow my grandmother could find the terrier and shes been dead many years..

[the_stig 6,614]

id always try locate the dog first without using the box ,what happens if some day your box packs it in and all your left with is your knoweledge and wits

happens mate i dug a pet russell out that had been on a sunday afternoon walk - hence no coller . the owner got my number from the local police -- which is a scary thought ... baying like fook fox backed up - little 11 inch prick eared 4 year old russell 5 foot dig had her out in an hour easy one but you never know when that knowledge comes in ..