Pup's ferreting debut .

[comanche 3,061]

I've just enjoyed reading Stealthy's neat write- up covering his victory over the 8 Hole Gang and it's reminded me that I meant to pop this little tale up .

Some time before Christmas I repaired a section of rabbit fence around a strip of woodland for a customer .I knew that there was a rabbit or two trapped inside the enclosure but suspected that they were lying up under huge randomly stacked log-pile .

When the call came saying that the logs had been moved and some small burrows exposed I decided that it was an ideal oppertunity to introduce my puppy to her first tast of ferreting.

It was snowing quite hard but undetered I boxed a couple of ferrets ,grabbed a side-pack full of nets and popped the puppy in the van . My older bitch was dancing with glee at the thought of a foray after the rabbits but I decided to leave her at home so that I could concentrate on the puppy .

It was really beautiful in the woods . Falling snow built up on the tree branches causing them to bend until the weight was released as huge white cascades that tumbled softly earthwards . Occasionally an ominous creeking noise followed by a worrying splintering sound and muffled crash could be heard as somewhere in the woods another branch surrendered to the weight of its glistening burden.A buzzard settled briefly only a few yards above my head but was gone before I could retrieve my camera from beneath my many layers of clothing .

A scout about revealed just two little buries one of which looked rather dead with its holes clogged with leaves and blown with snow . My old bitch would have told me if it had been tenented or not but as she was at home I decided to pop the nets down and enter a ferret just to eliminate any doubt . During this process the pup sat back in a somewhat bemused state. She glanced at the ferret as it emerged from various holes but at no time did she move from where she'd been asked to stay .

As expected the burrow proved to be empty so I upped -nets and blocked the holes with spadefulls of earth .

The next burrow looked more promising . There were tell-tale patches of orange snow around the five burrow entrances . Again the pup seemed totally non-plussed by events and settled where I placed her . I crouched next to her and felt her tense as a rabbit rumbled through the little burrow system. The snow must have muffled the exit of the rabbit. The dog spotted it but as she made no move toward it as it lay in the net it was a few seconds before I reacted to the situation .Old age dulling the reactions no doubt !

I gathered the netted rabbit but before I could block the now ungaurded hole with my foot another emerged and made a dash for freedom . I would like to report that at this moment my razor-sharp pup gave chase ,tripped the bunny as a cheatah might roll a gazelle and executed a perfect live-retrieve to hand . The truth is that she simply sat and watched it scuttle away. All was not lost however as the rabbit reached the burrow that I'd ferreted earlier . Thwarted by the blocked holes ,it ran back towards us and sought cover in the bury it had just vacated . Perfectly back-netted! With temperature dropping so much that the damp nets were starting to freeze it also seemed like a perfect time to think about going home .

Despite the fact that the pup had not shown any great emotion during her baptism into the world of ferreting I was very pleased with her steadyness . Things like catching runners and marking will hopefully come with a little more age and experience .

Failing that I'll just have to hire her out as a still-life model.

Edited January 20, 2010 by comanche

[pigeonphill 69]

great post as always if you wrote books i would be the first to buy them . how old is the pup and whats in the the make up ,collie ? all the best with its future im in the same boat with bringing on a pup fun times ahead best regards phill

[salclalin 240]

Cracking Read Comanche.Obviously a Well Trained Pup.Steady to Ferrets and Honouring the Nets.Keep us informed of her Progress.

[comanche 3,061]

great post as always if you wrote books i would be the first to buy them . how old is the pup and whats in the the make up ,collie ? all the best with its future im in the same boat with bringing on a pup fun times ahead best regards phill

Phil. How the devil are you ?.

If I wrote books no bugger would publish em and if they did I'd be on so many hit lists !

Pup is 8 months old now. Still very puppyish physically -all loose and gangly so she'll not really do much till next winter. Yes she is collie cross, cross collie cross, cross collie cross etc etc .Supposedly any way . As another Phil said "Don't believe a word".....

What's your pup ?

Edited January 20, 2010 by comanche

[y444tes 0]

Nice write up mate and nice pup

[pigeonphill 69]

hi kev i think i know who you mean nice and slow, and hes not wrong, same as you collie x hope it all turn out how we all hope it will all the best phill pics of mine, hope its as good as yours at that age

[comanche 3,061]

hi kev i think i know who you mean nice and slow, and hes not wrong, same as you collie x hope it all turn out how we all hope it will all the best phill pics of mine, hope its as good as yours at that age

Yours is better looking than mine and in trendy urban camoflague colours too ! We shall no doubt be comparing notes

good luck !

[stealthy1 3,964]

Good read Comanche, my lurcher is only 10 months old now, marks really well, runs a bit, she's just stating to pu a bit of speed on, she wont let me leave her at home, not if I want a home to go back to anyway

[The one 8,504]

Nice read and picts mate

[johnmac666 2]

good write up, i thought i was reading a section from your dissertation, hope the pup does what it says on the tin lol,happy hunting,

 

regards john

Edited January 21, 2010 by johnmac666

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Well done Comanche..

A concise report,.and a grand start to your young tyke's rabbiting career

 

There are a few of us in the same boat at the moment,...and although this is an exciting time,... it is also fraught with danger

 

Onwards and upwards bonny lads,...but always,...slow and easy....

 

All the best,.CHALKWARREN...