ferreting dog

[albert64 1,882]

would'nt be without one a good ferreting dog is worth his weight saves loads of time, must be able to mark true, not a problem if they hold them in the nets never seen a dog rip a net yet, must be 100% with ferrets, most will stand over the hole the rabbit bolts from i prefer collie bred dogs personally but have owned beddy crosses that did the job well

[fitchet 788]

I'm with malt on the terrier front. To be fair more of our rabbits come from the terriers marking, being pushed to ground by the terrier working the hedges, ditches etc and some are even caught in the cover by the terrier. Mostly the lurcher stands about not doing much, as it should be in you lay your nets well etc. How often do you really get something slipping the net? Still both is ideal, nice whippet (initial acceleration is key where we are) and decent terrier.

i must admit i wouldnt like the dog grabbing them in the net if it was THAT hard mouthed . . .

[scothunter 12,609]

I'm with malt on the terrier front. To be fair more of our rabbits come from the terriers marking, being pushed to ground by the terrier working the hedges, ditches etc and some are even caught in the cover by the terrier. Mostly the lurcher stands about not doing much, as it should be in you lay your nets well etc. How often do you really get something slipping the net? Still both is ideal, nice whippet (initial acceleration is key where we are) and decent terrier.

i must admit i wouldnt like the dog grabbing them in the net if it was THAT hard mouthed . . .

 

its just the way i have trained every lurcher ive had not to grab them in the nets prob wouldnt rip my nets the more i think about it,but just dont like it personally.

[caterpiller 10]

You need a good marking dog otherwise you will end up wasting alot of time Ferreting empty Warrens

I like the Dog to cover the Rabbits in the Purse Nets.... he can get there far faster than me ( There's a difference between a Dog covering a bolt and a Dog where you have to pull the Rabbit and Purse Net from halfway down its throat just because a Dog is taken out Ferreting DOES NOT MAKE IT A FERRETING DOG!!!!!!!!!!

I have a Bitch here........ total waste of time Ferreting with her....... she will Mark,Bombproof around the Ferrets but she has a major fault.... once there is a lull in the action she will sneak off A FERRETING DOG MUST GIVE A 110% OF ITS ATTENTION TO THE JOB IN HAND so her Ferreting Days are a thing of the past and she is just a mooching/lamping bitch.

[Ideation 8,216]

I'm with malt on the terrier front. To be fair more of our rabbits come from the terriers marking, being pushed to ground by the terrier working the hedges, ditches etc and some are even caught in the cover by the terrier. Mostly the lurcher stands about not doing much, as it should be in you lay your nets well etc. How often do you really get something slipping the net? Still both is ideal, nice whippet (initial acceleration is key where we are) and decent terrier.

i must admit i wouldnt like the dog grabbing them in the net if it was THAT hard mouthed . . .

 

its just the way i have trained every lurcher ive had not to grab them in the nets prob wouldnt rip my nets the more i think about it,but just dont like it personally.

 

 

My issue with the dog grabbing the rabbit in the net is that...... the rabbit is IN THE NET. . .. . so does not need the dogs attention, if he runs to grab a netted rabbit and then another comes out of a bolt hole i've missed or kicks another net at the same time then he isn't going to be on hand to sort it out as he is holding onto a rabbit that was going no where anyway. For me a lurcher should be watching my back so to speak, so if a rabbit hits the net i'd go to it, not the dog, and while i'm untangling the rabbit or putting another net down he should be keeping watch on what i am no longer watching. If i'm engaged and another hits the nets a way away and looks like it might be a bit shaky, then he can always be sent to hold it, but shouldn't necessarily jump on every netted rabbit. Does that make sense? Each to their own tho, and it's what works for you. Best dog i ever had for ferreting was a pure collie, never trained him in much of anything but he could do it all. I'd go one side of the hedge and he'd go the other, he'd leave the rabbit if it was well netted and guard the un-netted hole, but off to one side slightly so he couldnt be seen. He was one smart dog. . . . .. always wish i'd bred him with a grey. . . . . .

Edited September 18, 2010 by Ideation

[scothunter 12,609]

I'm with malt on the terrier front. To be fair more of our rabbits come from the terriers marking, being pushed to ground by the terrier working the hedges, ditches etc and some are even caught in the cover by the terrier. Mostly the lurcher stands about not doing much, as it should be in you lay your nets well etc. How often do you really get something slipping the net? Still both is ideal, nice whippet (initial acceleration is key where we are) and decent terrier.

i must admit i wouldnt like the dog grabbing them in the net if it was THAT hard mouthed . . .

 

its just the way i have trained every lurcher ive had not to grab them in the nets prob wouldnt rip my nets the more i think about it,but just dont like it personally.

 

 

My issue with the dog grabbing the rabbit in the net is that...... the rabbit is IN THE NET. . .. . so does not need the dogs attention, if he runs to grab a netted rabbit and then another comes out of a bolt hole i've missed or kicks another net at the same time then he isn't going to be on hand to sort it out as he is holding onto a rabbit that was going no where anyway. For me a lurcher should be watching my back so to speak, so if a rabbit hits the net i'd go to it, not the dog, and while i'm untangling the rabbit or putting another net down he should be keeping watch on what i am no longer watching. If i'm engaged and another hits the nets a way away and looks like it might be a bit shaky, then he can always be sent to hold it, but should necessarily jump on every netted rabbit. Does that make sense? Each to their own tho, and it's what works for you. Best dog i ever had for ferreting was a pure collie, never trained him in much of anything but he could do it all. I'd go one side of the hedge and he'd go the other, he'd leave the rabbit if it was well netted and guard the un-netted hole, but off to one side slightly so he couldnt be seen. He was one smart dog. . . . .. always wish i'd bred him with a grey. . . . . .

 

 

should have worded it like you.

[stroller 341]

For me a dog that holds in the net is essential with an arthritic spine and after knee surgery this year im not up to diving on netted rabbits. the little bitch i use has quickly learned to hold and let go as soon as ive got the rabbit she doesnt mouth the rabbit never tore a net and so far this season we have been out 3 times and accounted for over 100 rabbits. she covers bolters really well and at 17 months is like an old hand, she caught 3 out of the same bolt hole one after another as we were lifting netted rabbits so she has worked the process out.She does tip toe around the set which drives my lad wild but i like to see what she is working out and usually she is spot on and has made some mad catches. She is very reliable with marking and last time out marked a single hole set in the middle of the field that we thought was no more than a scrape anyway she wouldnt leave it until the lad put his arm down the hole and pulled out another rabbit!!

 

i will say that we are fortunate in the ground that we have at the moment is brilliant for bringing on a young dog she has seen a lot of action.

 

Maggie is kelpie x grew

 

She was about 9 months when this was taken and was already showing good marking skills

 

 

This was a few weeks ago, its early for us to start ferreting but it was a clearance job

[The one 8,463]

My bitch holds them in the net i dont have a problem with that if im dealing with another rabbit i want her to hold them till i get there ,but shes no fast enough to pick them up on top of the burrow she tends to get them as they bolt out the burrow.

[stealthy1 3,964]

I also dont mind my lurcher holding rabbits in purse nets until I get to it, saves a rabbit slipping the net if its not totally pursed, plus the job does'nt seem to stop her leaping into action when a rabbit makes a break for it from an un-netted hole

[socks 32,253]

i take this collie cur when i go ferreting ... she keeps me from getting lonely .......

 

 

[n8wjr 0]

i would say a whippet or a beddy whippet bud

[Neal 1,857]

If my ferreting dog was unable to come out, I think I'd be better off staying home too.

 

As has been said above, sometimes, despite all the usual obvious signs of habitation the dog will say, "Nope: nothing home!" and they're always right.

 

In my own case there's another reason for bringing the dog, like Socks I enjoy the company (canine). To be honest, I'd even go so far as to say that I don't have kelpies because I go ferreting but rather I go ferreting because I have kelpies. I have a sneaking suspicion that the middle bitch would still prefer me to live on a farm and be surrounded by sheep instead, but the other two are firmly of the opinion that rabbits are more fun.

 

However, if I was being 100% honest I'd have to admit mine aren't what a lot of people would call ferreting dogs simply because their success rate on bolters isn't as high as a lurcher's would be.

Edited September 19, 2010 by Neal

[runforyourlife 361]

I also dont mind my lurcher holding rabbits in purse nets until I get to it, saves a rabbit slipping the net if its not totally pursed, plus the job does'nt seem to stop her leaping into action when a rabbit makes a break for it from an un-netted hole

 

 

Yep, there speaks some wise words... I dont think i have ever seen a dog that has just stood their when a rabbit hits the net... As far back as i can remember(some 30yrs) The dogs i have had, and other peoples who i have ferreted with... It would be quite strange to see a dog just stand and watch, i would personnally think there something up with the animal... I thought it was instinct, like it is with us.

 

Anyway, lots of good points, and a very true statement about taking the dog for company... I have 2, and use then both on the warren. Luckily they both took kindly to ferreting and the rigmarole that comes with it....It really is good to watch a dog using its brain in the fashion of hunting. Atb Russ

[scothunter 12,609]

I also dont mind my lurcher holding rabbits in purse nets until I get to it, saves a rabbit slipping the net if its not totally pursed, plus the job does'nt seem to stop her leaping into action when a rabbit makes a break for it from an un-netted hole

 

 

Yep, there speaks some wise words... I dont think i have ever seen a dog that has just stood their when a rabbit hits the net... As far back as i can remember(some 30yrs) The dogs i have had, and other peoples who i have ferreted with... It would be quite strange to see a dog just stand and watch, i would personnally think there something up with the animal... I thought it was instinct, like it is with us.

 

Anyway, lots of good points, and a very true statement about taking the dog for company... I have 2, and use then both on the warren. Luckily they both took kindly to ferreting and the rigmarole that comes with it....It really is good to watch a dog using its brain in the fashion of hunting. Atb Russ

 

its called training mate.my dogs do as their told cant be f****d with a dog that does as it likes.got a new pup and that will be trained exactly the same way.as i said before thats just how i do it.always have done.not saying my way is right,but to say their something wrong with a dog that does as its told is just f*****g stupid!I think your actually pretty sound,but also think you post stuff to cause arguements.Cause someone who claims to be a dog man,you do come out with some strange stuff!

[Richie10 345]

I also dont mind my lurcher holding rabbits in purse nets until I get to it, saves a rabbit slipping the net if its not totally pursed, plus the job does'nt seem to stop her leaping into action when a rabbit makes a break for it from an un-netted hole

 

 

Yep, there speaks some wise words... I dont think i have ever seen a dog that has just stood their when a rabbit hits the net... As far back as i can remember(some 30yrs) The dogs i have had, and other peoples who i have ferreted with... It would be quite strange to see a dog just stand and watch, i would personnally think there something up with the animal... I thought it was instinct, like it is with us.

 

Anyway, lots of good points, and a very true statement about taking the dog for company... I have 2, and use then both on the warren. Luckily they both took kindly to ferreting and the rigmarole that comes with it....It really is good to watch a dog using its brain in the fashion of hunting. Atb Russ

 

its called training mate.my dogs do as their told cant be f****d with a dog that does as it likes.got a new pup and that will be trained exactly the same way.as i said before thats just how i do it.always have done.not saying my way is right,but to say their something wrong with a dog that does as its told is just f*****g stupid!I think your actually pretty sound,but also think you post stuff to cause arguements.Cause someone who claims to be a dog man,you do come out with some strange stuff!

 

I guess you are talking about collie crosses.