what age should i giv dog rabbit

[birkychrissy 3]

just wondering what age should i give my pup his first rabbit and whats the best way to get him to start going after them?

cheers

birkychrissy

[arcticgun 4,548]

Why give the dog 'droppers'? let him catch a 'free range' one himself, I know people do it to get the dogs confidence up, a couple of my mates do it, but personaly I think its a waste of time, they hardly even make the effort to run, even if they do they don't know the area well enough to put a proper show on.

 

In the wild dogs have to learn to catch in order to survive, so I just let mine find there own way,there are no easy kills around our way (discounting the odd mixi victim)so they ain't ever gonna get it easy, so let em learn the hard way in my books,just my opinion likesay each to their own methods.

 

I also wouldn't enter a dog to the lamp unless it had caught rabbits daytime, again just my way. Good luck with entering your pup, take your time, that first catch is one you'll always remember, don't cheat yourself or your dog .

 

atvb Richard

[bullmastiff 615]

Is this too young LOL or did you not mean for their dinner?

[mcass123 6]

the lads pup is only a bit older than mine, i was gonna ask the same quiestion, i am going to give him a whole, dead rabbit for him to rag about and then let him eat it

cheers

mcass

[arcticgun 4,548]

the lads pup is only a bit older than mine, i was gonna ask the same quiestion, i am going to give him a whole, dead rabbit for him to rag about and then let him eat it

cheers

mcass

 

 

make sure the rabbit has been frozen for a couple of weeks first before letting the pup eat it mate , as they are full of worms

 

atb Richard

[bullmastiff 615]

or just keep up with their worming tablets, they should be wormed quite often as pups so it shouldn't really affect them

[skycat 6,174]

I wouldn't give any pup a whole dead rabbit to 'rag about': IMO that is just asking for problems later on when it comes to retrieving its catch.

 

By all means feed the pup rabbit, but not with the fur on. I must admit I do chuck in a previously frozen, gutted rabbit to a litter of tiny pups (3-4 weeks old) but only then, and never later in age. I don't want pups associating diving on to a rabbit with the intention of eating it when we're out in the field.

 

Probably some people do this and never have a problem with the retrieving, I just prefer not to take that chance. Skin the rabbit, feed the carcase to the pup, dry the skin and roll up to make a dummy to teach the retrieve with: that's the way I do it.

[Guest AngelicAcid]

Good advice Artic Gun and Skycat.

 

Let the dog free range them, take him ferreting if you can.

Dont let a dog rag the rabbit for worms, and also hard mouth, retrieve and leave will be out of the window, along with bruised and ruined rabbits.

Best of luck with the pup though.

[birkychrissy 3]

thanks alot. cant wait till hes got his second jag to take him out

[arcticgun 4,548]

thanks alot. cant wait till hes got his second jag to take him out

 

Exciting times ahead mate best of luck to you and the pup, loads to learn from each other, cannot beat it, atb Richard

[birkychrissy 3]

cheers mate

[pencoed hunter 7]

iiv just got my first pup and was wondering if i can feed it raw meet or would i have to cook it? pup hasent been wormed yet. if i can give her meat i wont have to pay for food then as i get free meat. i would probably mix it with grayhound food though

[Casso 1,261]

just wondering what age should i give my pup his first rabbit and whats the best way to get him to start going after them?

cheers

birkychrissy

 

For whats it worth i dont let the dog near a rabbit until i take him out lamping the first night, because i dont want him excited by the sight of one ,the dog will chase ,thats what he's bred for,all i'm interested in is the retrieve the first few nights out ,just be relaxed when the dog catches,easier said than done i know, recall and praise him, i never let the pup mooch in the day time for rabbits before i lamp him,too many bad habits just waiting to happen,good luck,

[skycat 6,174]

Everyone has their own way of doing things: personally I like my pups to be confident in the field by day before I lamp them at night: learning to run across rough ground is hard enough by daytime let alone by night on unfamiliar ground when chasing a rabbit.

 

Once a pup knows what the hunting game is all about then it should adapt to the night time part of things without a problem: as long as you have a good recall! I've been bushing with pups by day then introducing them to the lamp at night for many years and I've yet to have a problem.