Collie X for bushing and rabbiting?

[longbow 14]

Pretty much ANY dog will enjoy chasing/hunting rabbits given half a chance

Cheers

[Whitby_Sam 4]

Pretty much ANY dog will enjoy chasing/hunting rabbits given half a chance

Cheers

I think youre right. My Old English Sheepdog would love to chase rabbitsbut sadly he's too slow and about as agile as a cruise ship LOL!

 

Going to take the collie and a patterdale/russell out for their first rabbiting tonight(if all goes to plan)so will let you know how they get on.

[wuyang 513]

Worked two full border collies, a bitch and a dog. Both were first class rabitting dogs. The bitch took to bushing like a duck to water, i got her off a milkman man at the age of one. Bye this time she had already had a litter of pups and just been kept most of her life in a stable. An amazing working dog. Ive found if you want a dog for mainly hunting up rabbits a good border collie is capable of doing just as good a job and in most cases better job than most lurchers, although it won't catch as many on the run.

[Whitby_Sam 4]

Well I took her out on wednesday afternoon and she was right on the money! Easily fast, agile and game enough for a bit of rabbiting

[shepp 2,285]

She's very obedient in every way except she won't sit still. She jumps up sometimes and she's very excitable. I've tried all sorts but can't seem to calm her down. Any ideas?

 

Have you tried giving her a slap?

[Whitby_Sam 4]

She's very obedient in every way except she won't sit still. She jumps up sometimes and she's very excitable. I've tried all sorts but can't seem to calm her down. Any ideas?

 

Have you tried giving her a slap?

To be honest no...

I rescued her after she'd spent 10 months (solid) in a dog crate. She'd never been walked, didn't know what toys were and was made to eat, drink, shit and piss in the same space only being cleaned out when her owner couldn't stand the smell any more. Because of this I'm probably a bit soft with her so if there's another way then I'll try that first. Don't get me wrong, a short sharp shock comes in handy when training a dog but I'll try every other way before I try that with her. If she turns out not to be a good worker that's fine as I know she's a good guard dog, a good companion and a great pet.

The way I see it is that if she's happy chasing rabbits around a field and it fills my pot then great, if she's happy chasing rabbits around afield and it doesn't fill my pot then that's great too! Just means I'll be back on at the missus for a terrier LOL!

[Whitby_Sam 4]

Off again tomorrow. Hopefully come back with a few rabbits for the pot. Can anyone recommend any Rabbit recipes? I'm more into curries than pies but will give anything a try once!

[Whitby_Sam 4]

Well we went out yesterday to one of my permissions that is totally over-run with rabbits but caught nothing! She seems to be a little slow off the mark. When she finally sets off after a rabbit she gains on it pretty quickly, she's agile enough to match its twists and turns but by the time she's anywhere near close enough to strike they're disappearing down their holes. How do I get her to be quicker off the mark? Its so frustrating, we could've had 20 rabbits yesterday if she'd cottoned on a bit quicker.

 

Should I maybe have another dog flushing them to her? Would that work better? So frustrated!

[CarraghsGem 92]

Well we went out yesterday to one of my permissions that is totally over-run with rabbits but caught nothing! She seems to be a little slow off the mark. When she finally sets off after a rabbit she gains on it pretty quickly, she's agile enough to match its twists and turns but by the time she's anywhere near close enough to strike they're disappearing down their holes. How do I get her to be quicker off the mark? Its so frustrating, we could've had 20 rabbits yesterday if she'd cottoned on a bit quicker.

 

Should I maybe have another dog flushing them to her? Would that work better? So frustrated!

 

im having the same problem with mine, shes almost too obedient, think she needs another lurcher hunting with her to teach her the ropes, she'll learn, i'll have to just get her even fitter!

[Rory4 267]

if your just after few rabbits and collie not enough speed for bolters, why not rescue a whippet or little lurcher, tell mrs found tied up or summit? does your collie bush?

[CarraghsGem 92]

if your just after few rabbits and collie not enough speed for bolters, why not rescue a whippet or little lurcher, tell mrs found tied up or summit? does your collie bush?

 

i am the mrs! lol, shes fast enough, problem is she thinks its a game + also loses a lot of opportunitys gazeing up at me walking to heel when i want her looking at the rabbit 30ft in front of her, she also seems to be taking her lead from the bushing terrier, i am looking for an older maybe semi-retired whippet that knows its job on daytime rabbits and maybe the lamp to teach her the job + hunt along with her to start with. to buy, beg or borrow!

[Whitby_Sam 4]

She prefers to chase, it seems that when I want her to go off on her own and bush she sticks by my side and when I want her to stay close she's off somewhere LOL! I think she'd benefit from a terrier flushing rabbits to her, pretty sure she'll cotton on then. Just need to persuade the missus that a terrier is a good idea.

[Whitby_Sam 4]

if your just after few rabbits and collie not enough speed for bolters, why not rescue a whippet or little lurcher, tell mrs found tied up or summit? does your collie bush?

She's easily fast enough, just seems to be looking at me instead of at the rabbits she's meant to be chasing

[Whitby_Sam 4]

Gonna see if I can try a couple of options...

 

1) Take a terrier to flush the rabbits to her and see if she's any better.

2) Take a lurcher and see if she can flush the rabbits to it.

 

I'll then be in a better position to decide which way to go with her or maybe just give up LOL!

[Whitby_Sam 4]

Took delivery of 2 JRTs from a "good working line" this afternoon. They're 9 months old and seem to be settling into their palatial run very well. Will wait a few weeks before I show them any rats or rabbits, build a bit of trust between us first.

 

They've not been worked so far so I'd be grateful of any tips on how to take the first steps with them. I'd like to do it right first time!