Frozen ground

[bullmastiff 615]

For some of you on here the grounds been frozen for close to two months now, so do you run your dogs on it or do you rest them up until it finally thaws?

I know a lot of other countries run their dogs on frozen ground, so why don't we? do their dogs just have better feet?

[watchman 256]

been frozen my way for about a month mate,and no i dont run the dog in these conditions,did once when i first started lamping nothing but trouble that can be avoided but thats only my oppinion,broken toes and severe cuts was the outcome but to be honest rather not put the dog out of action for the sake of a few runs,more trouble than its worth

[nasher1 258]

I took mine out the other night but thats it now until the ground softens its like solid concrete out there at the moment it was minus seven this morning

[Huntmad 1]

iv kept runnin mine but alot dont like it but everyone to their own.

 

atb

[poacherkev 64]

On snow its not a problem but if the ground is that hard its just not worth smashing their toes up for the sake of waiting until it thaws out. No rabbit is worth fecking up a good dog but im sure a few will still run theirs and pay the price in the long run.

[bigliks 601]

dont run your dog on frozen land pal u might smash its feet and it will be of for another 2 month unless u can find some nice peaty land sometimes thats ok

[kirk224 10]

i dont run my dogs its just asking for cuts and broken toes i just road walk then

[bullmastiff 615]

Fair enough, Thank you for your comments, just interested how other countries can do it regularly but our dogs can get so beat up trying it?

I don't want to risk Roo's feet, it's just I've got the night to myself, the day off tomorrow, a brisk wind and the moon has a nice cover of cloud. So apart from the hard ground, it's a perfect night for it (plus I've only got 2 rabbits and a bag of minced beef fat left in the freezer!)

 

We've been forcast up to 12 inch's of snow for Thursday/friday so this will virtually rule out finding anything to run after that.

[heart of wales 19]

Done it once when I was Younger didnt half regret it cracking lurcher,me and a couple of mates who were mad for it went up to bromsgrove from south wales over hour and a half travelling,when we got there ground was frozen,place was bouncing with rabbits,thought we would give it a go,three runs two rabbits and a busted toe.

 

I run a GSD X Greyhound now on the subject of feet hers are faultless,but still wouldnt run her rather take the gun out for a couple of days.

[salclalin 240]

Sheer Madness to Run a Lurcher in the Conditions we have now.Roadwalking only for my Two.

[UphillDoc 278]

bullmastiff-We run on frozen ground. If we didnt we wouldnt get much use out of the dogs. Our dry ground is nearly as rough, with the rocks and such we run on. I cant say if our dogs have better feet, as I have never seen any from your side of the pond. I do know some fellas from over there that have seen both, and they say our stags do have the best feet...but dont know it first hand. I do know "hotbloods" and even many 1/2 crosses can not take this ground, but the stags seem to do fine most the time.

 

Take care.

Edited January 4, 2010 by UphillDoc

[bullmastiff 615]

Thank you for the reply Doc, I take it you don't get many broken toes or ripped nails when running your Staghounds?

I know the Russians run their dogs (including greyhound crosses) on Hares across the frozen Steppes and manage multiple runs each day when up their hunting.

[mickmck 716]

the ground hasnt been that bad round ours , so the dogs have been out a few times , we had lots of snow but it hasnt frozen real bad , but i wouldnt run em on frozen snow

[UphillDoc 278]

Thank you for the reply Doc, I take it you don't get many broken toes or ripped nails when running your Staghounds?

I know the Russians run their dogs (including greyhound crosses) on Hares across the frozen Steppes and manage multiple runs each day when up their hunting.

 

 

bullmastiff-Both can happen, but usually just scuffed stoppers. Have only ever seen a couple broken toes, and a ripped nail wont give them much trouble...they are a long ways from their heart. Folks just have to know what their dogs are really capable of, what they are comfortable with, and go from there. If I only had a single dog I may be more cautious, but I have 5 dogs, so if one is sore, the others will fill the gap. Durability is a big factor in the dogs we breed. I have no use for speed without it.

Also, dont know how others hunt, but I generally hunt 3-4 days in a row then 3-4 days off.

 

Take care.

Edited January 4, 2010 by UphillDoc

[stealthy1 3,964]

Been running mine in woodlands, soft for the dog, and a lot f**kin warmer for me