prey drive vs brains

[boyo 1,398]

same response on here as was in the edrd which is what i expected when i put the post up and thats very raried which is good because it shows we all like a differant kind of runner . what i cant understand is people calling a dog stupid because it has a massive prey drive and catch at all cost regardless of the consequence. and to the person who thinks i like them like that because i only go out now and again believe me your way off the mark theres plenty on here know me and a few that have hunted with me over the years and at one time i lived the life day and night and to the person that thinks i like them because i need to kill kill kill atitude your even further off the mark read some of my other posts i would rather watch them than kill them nowadays . one of the reasons i dont do so much lamping as i did when i was younger .

[comanche 2,954]

Seems to me this question is not one of brains versus balls but the age old chesnut of the difference between a simple "running dog" and a lurcher .

A dog that will course through the fires of Hell to get to its prey is fine if you have the need or preference for that type of dog and the country to safely work it over .

A lurcher though is a different animal .It hunts as much by brain as speed . In short it has to be able to multi-task and respond to its owner in a way that a coursing dog might not be required to do.

A lurcher does'nt rely on its own mouth to put game in the bag and for me half the fun is in the handling and seeing the dog truly work both mentally and physically for its prey .

That does'nt mean i can't appreciate a stirring course from a fearless dog . Just that i'd rather not own it .

As usual each to his or her own.

[wirral countryman 2,110]

i think there may be another word no-one seems to have mentioned and thats fieldcraft,is that prey drive or brains?where does that fit in ?I've had thick dog's that could catch and work out situations whilst on the run ,but could'nt be taught to even sit and stay,yet had good fieldcraft skill's whilst out working and I've owned clever dog's that have trained easilly and not done very well with because they've already made their mind up it's not worth the effort,I personnally prefer a dog that has prey drive and will go that bit extra; these are the special dog's we will all remember when recounting stories to anyone that listens,we are the ones holding the leads with enough brains to know when the dogs knackered,so put me on the list for prey drive as that does'nt mean the dog has no brains it just has better fieldcraft,yis,wirral countryman

[whin 463]

had both fearless hunters who will stop at nothing and dogs who are clever and can go up the gears i have room in my kenel for both full stop ,but when im out at nite no leashes i like a dog that knows the score and works with you not doing your head in

[Guest fence_hopper]

i like a dog that has drive, seen so many dogs jog half the lamp with rabbits next to the hedge and turn back, makes my blood boil

just because a dog wont run at rabbits next to the hedge dont mean they have no prey drive it just means there brainy, why fight a endless battle.we all know that some of them come back in to the field but more of them get through.my dog does it and at times you think stop pissing about and run that beam but it aint that bad because she picks squaters out of the seat just walks to them a dog that runs the beam flat out will be tired quicker than the one that walks so i can live with missing the odd one on the edge just my oppinion

 

exactly, especialy at the end of the season non come back into field they know exactly where they going.

 

 

ffs you never seen a dog turn a rabbit from a hedge my whippet catches loads next to the hedges turns them straight into the field easy as that. if i had a dog that did it, well lets just say it would go to a better place. also why would the dog tire if you have give them plenty of road work and field work to increase there stamina nothing like a fit dog

Edited February 14, 2010 by fence_hopper

[whin 463]

you cant beat adog that goes in wood or hedge pulls the game out full stop ,but ive saw some bad injuries buts all in the game , as dogs get older some any way they rate there qaurry if they have had hard work just the way it is , my collie types are abit do or die no messing even when they are old and f****d every bit of fur was riun if it was there last but not a good way to run if on big land with good hares as it can come unstuck especaily when the goings soft

[adamb20 22]

i like a dog that has drive, seen so many dogs jog half the lamp with rabbits next to the hedge and turn back, makes my blood boil

just because a dog wont run at rabbits next to the hedge dont mean they have no prey drive it just means there brainy, why fight a endless battle.we all know that some of them come back in to the field but more of them get through.my dog does it and at times you think stop pissing about and run that beam but it aint that bad because she picks squaters out of the seat just walks to them a dog that runs the beam flat out will be tired quicker than the one that walks so i can live with missing the odd one on the edge just my oppinion

 

exactly, especialy at the end of the season non come back into field they know exactly where they going.

 

 

ffs you never seen a dog turn a rabbit from a hedge my whippet catches loads next to the hedges turns them straight into the field easy as that. if i had a dog that did it, well lets just say it would go to a better place. also why would the dog tire if you have give them plenty of road work and field work to increase there stamina nothing like a fit dog

 

bet you any money it wouldnt where i go. i know what you mean my dog does start/middle of season but when the rabbits been lamped that many times theres only one place they gona go and they get through like lightening. she does still turn some but she seems to know if its worth it or not. i wonder how long your super whippet lasts on a night out lamping running like that

[Guest fence_hopper]

you cant beat adog that goes in wood or hedge pulls the game out full stop ,but ive saw some bad injuries buts all in the game , as dogs get older some any way they rate there qaurry if they have had hard work just the way it is , my collie types are abit do or die no messing even when they are old and f****d every bit of fur was riun if it was there last but not a good way to run if on big land with good hares as it can come unstuck especaily when the goings soft

 

 

sounds like you got some handy dogs whin, just how i like them

[whin 463]

talking about super whippets fence hopper when you coming out for a nite out with him to see how he does against my slo colie type it would be nice to see the whippets perform mate

[bendrover 556]

i wrote a article in the edrd a few years ago asking what people prefer in their lurcher drive or brains and it started a huge debate with varying arguments and when ime talking about drive i diont mean the average line of lurcher but the lines with exceptional prey drive who want to catch at all costs . i had a line out of buck the famous foxing lurcher and she the bitch and all her litter when i bred her had unbelievable drive and their aim in life was to catch whatever they ran at all costs bella my bitch caught all prey pre ban both day and night and is the best lurcher ive ever owned for putting the catch in the bag so to speak but you would want a big bag for some she caught if you know what i mean. she was threequarter greyhound quarter pit bull and would catch day or night with the same determination big stuff or small she went after them all the same. i have had running dogs all my life and never had a line with the drive that these had . the downfall with this line is the obvious they were injury prone and very used to the vets .but given the choice and as anyone who knows me will know all my running dogs must listen and behave .i would still prefer drive over brains.

both .and youv got it cracked

[adamb20 22]

at the end of the day i want a dog thats calm and nice natured in the house, easy to train, can take any where without a lead and will just walk by my side. can take out mooching during the day and work the woods/bushes to put stuff out, be game for bigger stuff, and can work the lamp and get reasonable bags,but have the sence not to get injured. ive seen bull crosses nearly knock themselvs out 3 or 4 times in one night and come back cut to bits scraping there way through barbed wire after a poxy rabbit, like some one said earlier nice to watch if you not paying the vet bills. my collie cross has never had an injury to date, and although only 20 month her best bag this season was 21 rabbits and two hares (on lamp). obviously depending on what work you do and where you do it your dog type should suit but ive got what i need in a collie cross and cant see any other breed suiting me as well. atb adam.

[brock1 2]

i would have drive all day over brains u can teach most dogs tricks like cutting game off on the lamp even dogs with a high pray drive but u cant make a dog whant to catch that dosent wont to.

[Catcher 1 639]

i like a dog that has drive, seen so many dogs jog half the lamp with rabbits next to the hedge and turn back, makes my blood boil

just because a dog wont run at rabbits next to the hedge dont mean they have no prey drive it just means there brainy, why fight a endless battle.we all know that some of them come back in to the field but more of them get through.my dog does it and at times you think stop pissing about and run that beam but it aint that bad because she picks squaters out of the seat just walks to them a dog that runs the beam flat out will be tired quicker than the one that walks so i can live with missing the odd one on the edge just my oppinion

 

exactly, especialy at the end of the season non come back into field they know exactly where they going.

a dog that wont go to a rabbit thats close to the hedge is not being clever,because they are some of easyest to catch

 

FLINT08 Are you for real.Any dog with half a brain would never attempt to run a hedge rabbit.Maybe the question we should ask.Has your dog got more brains that you

[watchman 256]

i like a dog that has drive, seen so many dogs jog half the lamp with rabbits next to the hedge and turn back, makes my blood boil

just because a dog wont run at rabbits next to the hedge dont mean they have no prey drive it just means there brainy, why fight a endless battle.we all know that some of them come back in to the field but more of them get through.my dog does it and at times you think stop pissing about and run that beam but it aint that bad because she picks squaters out of the seat just walks to them a dog that runs the beam flat out will be tired quicker than the one that walks so i can live with missing the odd one on the edge just my oppinion

 

exactly, especialy at the end of the season non come back into field they know exactly where they going.

a dog that wont go to a rabbit thats close to the hedge is not being clever,because they are some of easyest to catch

 

FLINT08 Are you for real.Any dog with half a brain would never attempt to run a hedge rabbit.Maybe the question we should ask.Has your dog got more brains that you

completely agree with you catcher,waist of time and a good way to f**k a young dog up as well, imo.

[adamb20 22]

i like a dog that has drive, seen so many dogs jog half the lamp with rabbits next to the hedge and turn back, makes my blood boil

just because a dog wont run at rabbits next to the hedge dont mean they have no prey drive it just means there brainy, why fight a endless battle.we all know that some of them come back in to the field but more of them get through.my dog does it and at times you think stop pissing about and run that beam but it aint that bad because she picks squaters out of the seat just walks to them a dog that runs the beam flat out will be tired quicker than the one that walks so i can live with missing the odd one on the edge just my oppinion

 

exactly, especialy at the end of the season non come back into field they know exactly where they going.

a dog that wont go to a rabbit thats close to the hedge is not being clever,because they are some of easyest to catch

 

well they obviously not because its the dogs brains that tell it the last 20 times it went to get a rabbit in that position it slipped throguh the fence or what ever like a shot.