ferreting lurchers

[watchman 256]

i have only ever had dogs for lamping,but this year im going to be bringing on a pup for the new ferreting season,just want some info really,what do you expect from the dog,how do you want it to work,obviously not expecting to much from a young dog but what sort of initial training do i need to give it,she well broken to the ferrets so no prob there but other than that im really starting from scratch,seen them on videos generally poking about the holes and marking,or in the perfect world do you want them to hang back off the warren,i suppose the list of questions is a bit long winded so any advice would be helpful cheers

rob

[Ideation 8,216]

Personal preferance i suppose, but ideally a dog that would do a bit of bushing and so drive rabs to ground or pin them in cover and also find holes. Once it has found a set i would expect it to do a little tour of the holes, have a sniff and give a good mark, preferably quietly rather than scrabbling down the hole if there is something at home. I would then want it to hang back while i was netting up and not get in the way or start sticking its nose down all of the holes. Once i was ready to enter the ferret i would want it to position itself above some of the suitable holes ready for any bolters / ones that slip the net. A good dog will also follow the action underground and position itself by the likely hole for when the rabbit bolts. AND NEVER EATS A FERRET!

 

Thats an ideal dog.

 

Jai.

[tb25 4,627]

well said thats the dog i wont lol

[watchman 256]

understand what your saying,although not sure of the bushing element she a 3/4grey 1/4collie

[cooper101 86]

ive said before that this is were my dog excels he started off ferreting i just used to position him and make him sit as a pup and never allowed him to sniff or poke his head down a hole!! as he got older if he moved he could as long as he walked around the set and not right into the middle!! and now i tell him nothing he marks, follows them with his ears and bang there usally grabbed as soon as they bolt!! i dont use nets on my sets, i let the dog work them and its a joy to watch!!

all i have to do is carry the rabbits and the ferrets and the dog does the rest!! just make sure your dog learns early on that its got to be were you are and not trying to hunt up and find other sets, good manners is the key to a good ferreting dog!!

[neil79 0]

well said thats the dog i wont lol

the more you take the dog the better it will get it will learn by its mistakes

[stroller 341]

ferreting dog needs to concentrate hard!! she needs to be able to get the basics of obedience easily and work with handsignals as time goes on, she needs to leave a netted rabbit once your there and get back to the job of covering. absolute priority for me is she needs to make strong and positive marks 100%.

 

i work a kelpie x (10month old Pup)and a saluki x and the pup is a better ferreting dog and easier to work with even though the saluki has ferreted all his life he just lacks that full on thing that collie bred dogs have. even at 10 month i can see the dog she will make.

 

good luck

[mighty celt 996]

HOWS IT GOING MATE I USE MY WHIPPET AND MY SAULKI/WHIPPET/GREY FOR LAMPING AND FERRETING AND EVERY THING ELSE ANYWAY.THEY SHOULD MARK MY WHIPPET IS AN EXELLENT MARKER HAS A GREAT NOSE BUT HE STAYS VERY CLOSE 2 DITCH AND FOLLOWS THE FERRETS UP AND DOWN THE DITCH AND CATCHES ALOT OF RABBITS IN THE FIRST FEW FEET OF THE BOLT BUT HE MISSES ALOT 2 IF YOUR ONLY RUNNING 1 DOG 2 FERRETS AT A TIME HE WILL BE FOLLOWING 1 AND THE OTHER WILL BOLT 1 A COUPLE OF YARDS AWAY AND HELL HAVE NO CHANCE OF CATCHING IT.WHERE MY SAULKI CROSS BITCH STAYS ABOUT TEN FEET BACK FROM THE DITCH AND WATCHES EVERYTHING AND SHE CATCHES ALOT NOT MUCH GETS PASS HER AT ALL AND U CAN RUN AS MANY FERETS AS YOU WANT WITH HER BUT I LIKE HAVEING 2 DOGS WITH DIFFRENT STYLES AS ID BE ON 1 SIDE WITH MY 2 DOGS AND MY MATE ON THER OTHER WITH HIS 2 WE DONT USE NETS AND RUN 3 BOLTING GILLS 2GETHER AND HAVE SOME GREAT FUN WITH A LOT OF BOLTS AND GREAT COURSES.BUT MY ADVISE 2 U WOULD BE GET HER USED 2 MARKING AND GET HER USED 2 STAYING A BIT BACK FROM THE DITCH EVERY THING ELSE WILL COME NATRUALL 2 HER HOPE THIS HELPS.ALL THE BEST WITH HER NEXT SEASON.ATB MC.

[Ideation 8,216]

Aye - straight from the time its had it jabs (season willing) you take the pup out on the lead and just let it watch and learn. . . . it's amazing how quick they pick up. And i NEVER reward them for marking or it can encourage false marking.

 

Jai.

[cooper101 86]

hers some pics from a set he was working when a mate came to take pics!! there the only ones he managed to get a couple of stages on as it all happened to quick for him lol!!

hes listening and the it bolts and its over in seconds as per usal lol

hiope you like

[watchman 256]

HOWS IT GOING MATE I USE MY WHIPPET AND MY SAULKI/WHIPPET/GREY FOR LAMPING AND FERRETING AND EVERY THING ELSE ANYWAY.THEY SHOULD MARK MY WHIPPET IS AN EXELLENT MARKER HAS A GREAT NOSE BUT HE STAYS VERY CLOSE 2 DITCH AND FOLLOWS THE FERRETS UP AND DOWN THE DITCH AND CATCHES ALOT OF RABBITS IN THE FIRST FEW FEET OF THE BOLT BUT HE MISSES ALOT 2 IF YOUR ONLY RUNNING 1 DOG 2 FERRETS AT A TIME HE WILL BE FOLLOWING 1 AND THE OTHER WILL BOLT 1 A COUPLE OF YARDS AWAY AND HELL HAVE NO CHANCE OF CATCHING IT.WHERE MY SAULKI CROSS BITCH STAYS ABOUT TEN FEET BACK FROM THE DITCH AND WATCHES EVERYTHING AND SHE CATCHES ALOT NOT MUCH GETS PASS HER AT ALL AND U CAN RUN AS MANY FERETS AS YOU WANT WITH HER BUT I LIKE HAVEING 2 DOGS WITH DIFFRENT STYLES AS ID BE ON 1 SIDE WITH MY 2 DOGS AND MY MATE ON THER OTHER WITH HIS 2 WE DONT USE NETS AND RUN 3 BOLTING GILLS 2GETHER AND HAVE SOME GREAT FUN WITH A LOT OF BOLTS AND GREAT COURSES.BUT MY ADVISE 2 U WOULD BE GET HER USED 2 MARKING AND GET HER USED 2 STAYING A BIT BACK FROM THE DITCH EVERY THING ELSE WILL COME NATRUALL 2 HER HOPE THIS HELPS.ALL THE BEST WITH HER NEXT SEASON.ATB MC.

how would you go about getting the dog used to marking?is it just about knowing your dog,the signs ect,i mean how can i encourage this

Edited March 29, 2010 by watchman

[watchman 256]

hers some pics from a set he was working when a mate came to take pics!! there the only ones he managed to get a couple of stages on as it all happened to quick for him lol!!

hes listening and the it bolts and its over in seconds as per usal lol

hiope you like

im hoping thats the way for us,

[watchman 256]

is there any decent books that would help?

[mighty celt 996]

WHEN MY 2 WERE PUPS I JUST BROUGHT THEM FOR WALKS AT THE CRACK OF DAWN WHEN ALOT OF RABBITS R STILL OUT AND ABOUT SHE WILL CHASE THEM 2 GROUND AND GET USED 2 THERE SCENT AND THE REST WILL JUST COME NATURAL IT WORKED FOR ME AND MY WHIPPET IS THE BEST DOG I EVER HAD FOR IF HE MARKS THERES RABBITS THERE.YOUR BICH HAS COLLIE IN HER SO U SHOULD BE OK AS THERE GOOD MARKERS.

[cooper101 86]

is there any decent books that would help?

 

they learn through experiance honestly i take mine out and make them watch as soon as i got manners out of them they can come!! they learn the sounds and smells as they go along i dont suggest letting the dog try and mark sets when you start just let them watch and learn whats going on and make sure they stay silent!!

its experiance really ive not seen a bad ferreting dog that was brought on this way!!