Advice needed for Lurcher pup please...

[Guest Buttermilk]

every qestion you have asked you been given an answer to . . . if you know it all why bother asking in the first place ??? not having a dig just curious.

...don't worry I know what you mean.

 

I suppose I just wondered what were the legitimate pitfalls in letting her 'look for rabbits'....and I wouldn't say I know everything...just trying to explain how the dogs are when they're out and about. It's good to hear what others think....I like to learn more about stuff. But we don't go out specifically 'to hunt'...we walk, sit, take photographs....have a picnic down by the river if the weather is nice and stuff like that. My two Lurcher bitches just live to rabbit, so it's hard to stop them....and I wondered whether I should stop the pup or let her carry on. As I said earleir, we're not out all day walking for miles....just mooching really.

[Irish Lurcher 1,013]

I would always have my pup off the lead when out in the field, I have always done it, and call it lucky but have never once had a problem regarding the development of the bones.

 

Since Sash was a pup she was always allowed to roam within a safe range, I suppose if you are confident with your pups training in particular the recall then there is no call for concern. I know accidents do and can happen at times, but regarding the issue with the pup coming across a Charlie, how many people do you know that this has happened too, I know of not one and I have been hunting since late 70's, but I do take your point, think I would be more concerned of a chav (spelling) walking his bull than meeting a Charlie.

[fitchet 788]

every qestion you have asked you been given an answer to . . . if you know it all why bother asking in the first place ??? not having a dig just curious.

...don't worry I know what you mean.

 

I suppose I just wondered what were the legitimate pitfalls in letting her 'look for rabbits'....and I wouldn't say I know everything...just trying to explain how the dogs are when they're out and about. It's good to hear what others think....I like to learn more about stuff. But we don't go out specifically 'to hunt'...we walk, sit, take photographs....have a picnic down by the river if the weather is nice and stuff like that. My two Lurcher bitches just live to rabbit, so it's hard to stop them....and I wondered whether I should stop the pup or let her carry on. As I said earleir, we're not out all day walking for miles....just mooching really.

well not bieng funny if you dont want your dogsto hunt then you shouldnt be on this site. if i was you i would let the pup grow up abit beforelettingher hunt.

[Guest Buttermilk]

every qestion you have asked you been given an answer to . . . if you know it all why bother asking in the first place ??? not having a dig just curious.

...don't worry I know what you mean.

 

I suppose I just wondered what were the legitimate pitfalls in letting her 'look for rabbits'....and I wouldn't say I know everything...just trying to explain how the dogs are when they're out and about. It's good to hear what others think....I like to learn more about stuff. But we don't go out specifically 'to hunt'...we walk, sit, take photographs....have a picnic down by the river if the weather is nice and stuff like that. My two Lurcher bitches just live to rabbit, so it's hard to stop them....and I wondered whether I should stop the pup or let her carry on. As I said earleir, we're not out all day walking for miles....just mooching really.

well not bieng funny if you dont want your dogsto hunt then you shouldnt be on this site. if i was you i would let the pup grow up abit beforelettingher hunt.

 

I don't mind the dogs hunting at all...they love it and I love to watch them work.

What I'm saying is...she joins in a bit and is taking an interest in rabbits....do you understand now?

[mick81 275]

OK,FIRST OF ALL THE PUP,S FAR TOO YOUNG TO BE OUT AND ABOUT ,MOOCHING AFTER RABBIT AT 4MTH OLD ,BONE,S HAVE NOT DEVELOPED PROPLEY,ECT,ECT,AND ALSO WHAT IF A RABBIT BREAK,S OUT OF THE COVER AND MAKES ACROSS THE FIELD ,PUP SEE,S RABBIT AND GIVES CHASE AS THE RABBIT GET,S OUT OF SITE OR OUT RUN,S THE PUP ,IT MIGHT START TO YAP IN FRUSTRITION ,THEN YOUVE GOT A PROBLEM ON YA HAND,S

[riohog 5,729]

im preety sure you know what your doing with the pup ,just take it easy.. one thing is for sure , it will learn alot more out and about than it will stuck in a kennel

[Irish Lurcher 1,013]

OK,FIRST OF ALL THE PUP,S FAR TOO YOUNG TO BE OUT AND ABOUT ,MOOCHING AFTER RABBIT AT 4MTH OLD ,BONE,S HAVE NOT DEVELOPED PROPLEY,ECT,ECT,AND ALSO WHAT IF A RABBIT BREAK,S OUT OF THE COVER AND MAKES ACROSS THE FIELD ,PUP SEE,S RABBIT AND GIVES CHASE AS THE RABBIT GET,S OUT OF SITE OR OUT RUN,S THE PUP ,IT MIGHT START TO YAP IN FRUSTRITION ,THEN YOUVE GOT A PROBLEM ON YA HAND,S

 

 

I dont think that buttermilk's pup yaps, dont think she would allow it to be honest.

[Guest Buttermilk]

This is all really interesting stuff....thanks for responding.

 

We live out in the sticks....and my dogs are rarely on the lead. Am I to understand that you chaps who say 'the pup shouldn't be off the lead' just don't let your pups off..? Ever? I've never come across that before, even our Nuttall terrirs were off the lead from the very beginning. How does that work?

[Guest Buttermilk]

OK,FIRST OF ALL THE PUP,S FAR TOO YOUNG TO BE OUT AND ABOUT ,MOOCHING AFTER RABBIT AT 4MTH OLD ,BONE,S HAVE NOT DEVELOPED PROPLEY,ECT,ECT,AND ALSO WHAT IF A RABBIT BREAK,S OUT OF THE COVER AND MAKES ACROSS THE FIELD ,PUP SEE,S RABBIT AND GIVES CHASE AS THE RABBIT GET,S OUT OF SITE OR OUT RUN,S THE PUP ,IT MIGHT START TO YAP IN FRUSTRITION ,THEN YOUVE GOT A PROBLEM ON YA HAND,S

 

 

I dont think that buttermilk's pup yaps, dont think she would allow it to be honest.

 

 

She doesn't yap. Never had a dog that does....but have heard of it before.

 

Thanks for your replies everyone...it's interesting to hear what works for everyone else.

[Malt 379]

My lurcher was mooching about with the terriers at the same age when we were out ferreting or wandering about. As long as it's getting plenty of rest when you get back I can't see what harm it will do. Most mooching isn't that much hard work for a dog, it's not as if it's constantly exerting itself with hard runs. It's learning to use it's eyes, nose and ears all the time it's out. I don't see any harm in it as long as you're not spending hours & hours out doing it.

Edited September 16, 2010 by maltenby

[Guest Buttermilk]

My lurcher was mooching about with the terriers at the same age when we were out ferreting or wandering about. As long as it's getting plenty of rest when you get back I can't see what harm it will do. Most mooching isn't that much hard work for a dog, it's not as if it's constantly exerting itself with hard runs. It's learning to use it's eyes, nose and ears all the time it's out. I don't see any harm in it as long as you're not spending hours out doing it.

 

Hmmmm....that's what we've always done with all our dogs too. I find it works really well. And she does get LOTS of rest, believe me....she's now flat out at my feet, having wolfed down a big dish of chicken and pasta.

What a life.....

[mick81 275]

OK,FIRST OF ALL THE PUP,S FAR TOO YOUNG TO BE OUT AND ABOUT ,MOOCHING AFTER RABBIT AT 4MTH OLD ,BONE,S HAVE NOT DEVELOPED PROPLEY,ECT,ECT,AND ALSO WHAT IF A RABBIT BREAK,S OUT OF THE COVER AND MAKES ACROSS THE FIELD ,PUP SEE,S RABBIT AND GIVES CHASE AS THE RABBIT GET,S OUT OF SITE OR OUT RUN,S THE PUP ,IT MIGHT START TO YAP IN FRUSTRITION ,THEN YOUVE GOT A PROBLEM ON YA HAND,S

 

 

I dont think that buttermilk's pup yaps, dont think she would allow it to be honest.

COULD YAP ,NEVER SAID IT DID,BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT,S YOUR DOG BUTTERMILK,SO DO AS YOU WISH

[ozzieowl 53]

leave the dog until its developed,starting too young can cause a lot of problems for the dog and can,cause yapping its like putting a 3 year old child on a 5 mile run you just wouldnt. |Let it grow theres plenty of time,all the best john.

[artic 595]

Just let the pup be a pup. You shouldn't be expecting anything from it whilst it's a pup. Just bond with it, and socialise it with basic training. No rush.

[Ideation 8,216]

I think the issue is that whilst most of the time it's fine if she put up a full grown, healthy rabbit and ran it full out across the field she could do some bone/ligament/muscle damage as she has not fully developed yet. It's like there is no problem taking your 5 year old to the jungle gym, but if you took it to a real gym and got it lifting weights etc it could easily damage itself. Also they do not have the brains or experiance to judge obstacles and are much more likely to have a collision whilst on the chase.

 

There is also the case of over matching the pup against a quarry that can easily out run it or against other older, bigger dogs that always get to the quarry first. It can start to yap out of frustration, not all will, but once started it's a real problem.

 

Also with regard to leads. I'm not sure why folk believe that having a lead on is the sign of an untrained or untrusted dog, whilst having no lead is the sign of a truly trained / trusted dog. A lead is an important part of training, asserts your control and dominance etc, and is a helpful tool in lots of training situations. But then i suppose you are really letting your dogs hunt themselves and just watching rather than actively 'hunting' your dogs if that makes sense? If I didn't have my pup on the lead some of the time he would probably do himself damage, he's very VERY keen.