rock piles, and rock dogs

[alimac 882]

A proper rock pile wont be dug, little gay ones will, Worked some near Blair Atholl in perthshire next to loch ordie, scarey places for man and dog... For me a good rock dog is one at the top of its game, certainly a different ball game from working normal dens

 

 

what you on about mate, proper rock piles, and little gay ones, even proper rock piles as you say sometimes can be dug, depends on were your dog is in the pile, just because they look undigable doesent always mean they are, you can slit the big rocks with sledge hammer and a bar, lift rocks and move them with jacks mate,an sometimes get machines in to help

 

each to there own with meanings of words, but using sledge hammers, jacks, and machines dont come under the word digging in my book... foxs in places like that are killed or bolted the vast majority of the time, very rarely will man go down to the dog and quarry

[goldfinch2007 2,332]

i stated up on rockpiles before i was able to drive,it was more often than not a race to get round the local quarries and the most out of the way places you could think off only to get there to find somone had already beat you to it.i was out early one september morning went to a biggish rockpile what we had a lot of foxes out this was more often than not a half hour affair,the dog enterted about 6 oclock in the morning he could be heard on almost straight away,within twenty minutes a big cub bolted and over the top of the pile without the lurcher seeing it then another followed it shortly after it.the dog had gone quite by this time thinking that it was making his way back out,we waited allday and well into dark,luckily we got the dog back but it took five days to get him back and only with the help of the quarry owner who put a twenty ton machine on for three days free of charge.where ever we put our terrier we a risking losing it you can lose your dog in the shallowest earth to the biggest rockpile,all we can do is respect and care for our dogs and hope to get them out safely wherever they are.

glad you got it out mate,did it put you off rock piles?

[sounder 9]

i see lads have there say on rock piles dogs and say there not the same as earth dog i sort of agree with them again i think it's what there used to it a dog is used in rock mainly i think there master the art yes i think a leggy terrier is a step up when it comes to rocks but the think the nose play a big part,this was proved to me at a rock pile where a good earth dog past a fox where a other good earth dog used his nose more and found the fox, i am lucky enough to own a dog that can use it's nose in rock and earth,

i agree some rock piles can be a nightmare, but what is it foxes love them,i still feel that a terrier should be able to work rocks or earths but it down to the nose that makes a rock dog, as for trying to dig out , i also got caught one day at a rock pile where 9 time out of ten the bolt is done, the first bolt was missed by a lurcher into another pile, again the dog went and bolt a fox and was killed but the terrier show for a minute then drop back in after a bit he ment his fox and killed it it took me 18 hour to get out after useing air-lifting mat from the station and moved some big rock i got him out still stuck to his fox,

i have to say i think this is a great thread good honest talk well done lads some great pic

atb sounder

 

 

 

[Moby 0]

i stated up on rockpiles before i was able to drive,it was more often than not a race to get round the local quarries and the most out of the way places you could think off only to get there to find somone had already beat you to it.i was out early one september morning went to a biggish rockpile what we had a lot of foxes out this was more often than not a half hour affair,the dog enterted about 6 oclock in the morning he could be heard on almost straight away,within twenty minutes a big cub bolted and over the top of the pile without the lurcher seeing it then another followed it shortly after it.the dog had gone quite by this time thinking that it was making his way back out,we waited allday and well into dark,luckily we got the dog back but it took five days to get him back and only with the help of the quarry owner who put a twenty ton machine on for three days free of charge.where ever we put our terrier we a risking losing it you can lose your dog in the shallowest earth to the biggest rockpile,all we can do is respect and care for our dogs and hope to get them out safely wherever they are.

glad you got it out mate,did it put you off rock piles?

no not at all mate i had a fair few foxes out of the same pile after

Edited November 28, 2009 by Moby

[Running 7]

exclent thread thanks for the pictures stories

[BobHope 13]

couple pics my bitch marking rocky earth

[goldfinch2007 2,332]

couple pics my bitch marking rocky earth

nice pic s bob

[Guest digbert]

had a good do today lads,put my old bitch in a pile on a keeperd estate, which i thought was a small pile , droped her in an she found him streight away, dog enterd at at in the morn, could hear her at it then suddenly nothing, i lisend in the pile, and i just about could hear her, little pile justbgoes to show they can go deep aswell, 2 oclock first fox bolterd, and was shot by the keeper, i expecterd her to come out but when i went to lisen i could hear her with another, it went dark an still nothing, i tryed shouting her out as i can shout her out but she wouldent come, i bloked up an went for a flask and some light, went back to the pile and i could hear her shed moved him up in the piled, i decided to drop a hole for her, i starterd lifting rocks out an baring the big ens out of the road with my dad, got down 5 ft and could see her in down a crack my dad squezed in and picked her up and pulled her out, looked back in the crack and i could see another fox which the keeper dispace, ill go back tomor and put the pile back as i all ways back fill evern the rocks, so good day all in all, got home at 8. oclock bitch is in front of the coal fire no, not bad for a old bitch at 13 , cheers lads digbert

[gonetoearth 5,144]

while i admire any terier that goes to ground,the rock dogs are the best,but i personally would steer weell away from working gallant tykes in rock piles.I have spent more times outside rock piles,sometimes 3 or 4 days compared to diggable ground, on average diggable ground is mostly 1 or 2 day affairs(there are extremes i know but i have never been on week long vigils for terriers)i'll only put a dog in a well known rock pile if i know dogs have been able to get back out unaided or the occasional deep diggable earth if there is a very good chance my dog can get himself out alive.I value my terrier(s) more than the sport itself,getting the quarry should always be a bonus,i feel a terrierman should put his dog first,too much emphasis is put on the terrier to get his quarry,but hey,before you knock any terrier get in the ground yourself and see what they are up against,a mediocre terrier is ten times worth his master,

Higgins.

[goldfinch2007 2,332]

had a good do today lads,put my old bitch in a pile on a keeperd estate, which i thought was a small pile , droped her in an she found him streight away, dog enterd at at in the morn, could hear her at it then suddenly nothing, i lisend in the pile, and i just about could hear her, little pile justbgoes to show they can go deep aswell, 2 oclock first fox bolterd, and was shot by the keeper, i expecterd her to come out but when i went to lisen i could hear her with another, it went dark an still nothing, i tryed shouting her out as i can shout her out but she wouldent come, i bloked up an went for a flask and some light, went back to the pile and i could hear her shed moved him up in the piled, i decided to drop a hole for her, i starterd lifting rocks out an baring the big ens out of the road with my dad, got down 5 ft and could see her in down a crack my dad squezed in and picked her up and pulled her out, looked back in the crack and i could see another fox which the keeper dispace, ill go back tomor and put the pile back as i all ways back fill evern the rocks, so good day all in all, got home at 8. oclock bitch is in front of the coal fire no, not bad for a old bitch at 13 , cheers lads digbert

good pest control job,fairplay

[Guest digbert]

thanks for the good posts lads, keep em cummin

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

the scene of last weeks action with Jamie2004.... very nearly caused a nasty rock fall above us.... were lucky lads!!

[stabba 10,745]

Top marks to a TOP MAN for an excellent thread. Keep at em DIGBERT. atb stabba.

[J Darcy 5,871]

I have some good memories of rocks from wheni was younger. I worked my apprenticeship on the huge rock piles that had been there since the days monks were in the area. I used to love the piles and after a while could have a good guess as to where the fox would bolt from. I havent worked piles for a number of years now, but on occasion still have a wander through the woods to see the scar we once left from a vey hard dig....great thread chaps.....JD

[ferreter.al 22]

not very often i read a thread start to end but i just have with that.some real grate pics and stories.cheers lads.atvb alex