1st Dig and BIG lesson learned!

[slingshot82 32]

Out on my 1st dig this afternoon with my 2 russels, Dogs done great. I was the let down, but ive learned my lesson and it wont happen again.

 

Collared up my 1st dog after he almost dragged me to the earth. Within a minute he had found and was baying at the fox, I located him at a depth of 7'. Being on my own, I wasnt pleased as I thought the earth would only be 4' or so. Nevermind, he was still baying at the same spot 10mins later so I began digging. Got down 5 foot after an hour and lost my mark, I turned round to find my russell standing behind me. I shouted him to get back in, and he flew back down the hole, but by that time the fox had moved. I got another mark- 5 foot deep, 6 foot from where I had already been digging :-(. Started digging and my russell must have pushed the ginger b*****d back to the stop end. Back to the location I 1st dug.

 

With only a foot or so to break into the tube, I started digging again. I broke into the tube right on top of the dog and covered him with earth. Blocking the tube with my spade, I removed the earth and uncovered the dog. He was going crackers so I lifted the spade and he flew at the fox, they battled for 5mins or so and all I could see was the arse end of my russell, I pulled him out to find the fox had a good hold of him on his upper snout. I went for the shotgun and my other russell got loose and dived in on the action and he quickly took hold of the foxes face which made it release my first russell. He stood off for a minute before lunging at the fox, I couldnt part the dogs from the fox and 10 mins later, since the fox hadnt moved I pulled the dogs and got the fox from the earth.

 

I laid it down on the ground on top of the earth for a photo, dead as a doornail, or so I thought! :-( Just then the damn thing got up and ran as fast as the wind with both my terriers chasing it.

 

F**K it, Ive learned the hard way, 6 foot for absolutely nothing. Until then I was absolutely buzzing!

 

Anyway its all experience and my dogs seem to be coming along ok.

Edited February 14, 2010 by slingshot82

[scent 509]

it wasnt for nothin pal your dogs got some work thats the main thing

[shaun dee 7]

haha nice read mate. and seems you had a nice day out with the dogs .shaun

[top terrierman 90]

Out on my 1st dig this afternoon with my 2 russels, Dogs done great. I was the let down, but ive learned my lesson and it wont happen again.

 

Collared up my 1st dog after he almost dragged me to the earth. Within a minute he had found and was baying at the fox, I located him at a depth of 7'. Being on my own, I wasnt pleased as I thought the earth would only be 4' or so. Nevermind, he was still baying at the same spot 10mins later so I began digging. Got down 5 foot after an hour and lost my mark, I turned round to find my russell standing behind me. I shouted him to get back in, and he flew back down the hole, but by that time the fox had moved. I got another mark- 5 foot deep, 6 foot from where I had already been digging :-(. Started digging and my russell must have pushed the ginger b*****d back to the stop end. Back to the location I 1st dug.

 

With only a foot or so to break into the tube, I started digging again. I broke into the tube right on top of the dog and covered him with earth. Blocking the tube with my spade, I removed the earth and uncovered the dog. He was going crackers so I lifted the spade and he flew at the fox, they battled for 5mins or so and all I could see was the arse end of my russell, I pulled him out to find the fox had a good hold of him on his upper snout. I let my other russell in on the action and he quickly took hold of the foxes face which made it release my first russell. He stood off for a minute before lunging at the fox, I couldnt part the dogs from the fox and 10 mins later, since the fox hadnt moved I pulled the dogs and got the fox from the earth.

 

I laid it down on the ground on top of the earth for a photo, dead as a doornail, or so I thought! :-( Just then the damn thing got up and ran as fast as the wind with both my terriers chasing it.

 

F**K it, Ive learned the hard way, 6 foot for absolutely nothing. Until then I was absolutely buzzing!

 

Anyway its all experience and my dogs seem to be coming along ok.

 

well done on your frist dig.but it wasnt for noting you got to broke throw to your dog working a fox. diging is not about killing everything its about enjoying watching your dogs work..everything we dig is let run for another day.

[andri 73]

Out on my 1st dig this afternoon with my 2 russels, Dogs done great. I was the let down, but ive learned my lesson and it wont happen again.

 

Collared up my 1st dog after he almost dragged me to the earth. Within a minute he had found and was baying at the fox, I located him at a depth of 7'. Being on my own, I wasnt pleased as I thought the earth would only be 4' or so. Nevermind, he was still baying at the same spot 10mins later so I began digging. Got down 5 foot after an hour and lost my mark, I turned round to find my russell standing behind me. I shouted him to get back in, and he flew back down the hole, but by that time the fox had moved. I got another mark- 5 foot deep, 6 foot from where I had already been digging :-(. Started digging and my russell must have pushed the ginger b*****d back to the stop end. Back to the location I 1st dug.

 

With only a foot or so to break into the tube, I started digging again. I broke into the tube right on top of the dog and covered him with earth. Blocking the tube with my spade, I removed the earth and uncovered the dog. He was going crackers so I lifted the spade and he flew at the fox, they battled for 5mins or so and all I could see was the arse end of my russell, I pulled him out to find the fox had a good hold of him on his upper snout. I let my other russell in on the action and he quickly took hold of the foxes face which made it release my first russell. He stood off for a minute before lunging at the fox, I couldnt part the dogs from the fox and 10 mins later, since the fox hadnt moved I pulled the dogs and got the fox from the earth.

 

I laid it down on the ground on top of the earth for a photo, dead as a doornail, or so I thought! :-( Just then the damn thing got up and ran as fast as the wind with both my terriers chasing it.

 

F**K it, Ive learned the hard way, 6 foot for absolutely nothing. Until then I was absolutely buzzing!

 

Anyway its all experience and my dogs seem to be coming along ok.

[andri 73]

Good start for your young dogs mate Wait for it though ,the bandwagon of "you should of had means of humane dispatch" crew will jump on you shortly. atb andri

[slingshot82 32]

Who says I didnt? I didnt think there was any need to shoot it, I thought it was dead. But lesson learned, next time it will get a cartridge spent on it whether its dead or not. And I think I will be taking a digging buddy from now on too. lol

[TOPPER 1,809]

the dogs got to do some work and you had a bit of exercise sounds good to me mate , craic on

[Guest eastmids]

I turned round to find my russell standing behind me. I shouted him to get back in,

welldone hope its the first of many

[fensaluki 35]

As the other guys say fella it certainly wasn't all for nothing,lessons learnt for you and a better understanding of your dogs has got to be a good thing and lets face it you got to break through to your dog doing as it should so every ones a winner.

I like many was lucky enough to acommpany some great terriermen on stacks of digs before I ventured out on my own which obviously makes things a lot easyer but by the sounds of things you and your dogs did good mate and just need to polish up a few bits and bobs which will sure come by getting out there and doing it buddy.

 

Also you know you probably still have another dig to him when you catch up with him below on another day mate.

 

Happy days

 

ATB

[slingshot82 32]

the dogs got to do some work and you had a bit of exercise sounds good to me mate , craic on

Aye it was bloody good excercise too, beats going to the gym! lol

[hogs head 19]

dony worry about it mate you done well mate and so bi the dogs good on ya :thumbs:

[gonetoearth 5,144]

WELL DONE MATE BUT ALLWAYS TRY AND TAKE SOME ONE WITH YOU

[cassshantia 16]

the red ones are good actors mate seen a few like you

life less after a dig and then soon as they know your relaxed

and stop consentrating on your job they break for cover

it wont be the last time the fox looks dead and tries it luck

BEWARE

[mbrydenuk 14]

well done mate,you got any pics of the russels.