Hello - Newbie Needing Help

[Ferret Andy 1]

Hello All ...

 

I'v been flicking through the forum for a little while now but thought it was about time i posted something.

 

Im 20, and been shooting pretty much all my life.

Currently i have an air rifle which i mainly use in the horse fields to keep the noise down, and 3 shotguns.

 

Last year i got into ferreting and now have 7 of the little buggers. Im still learning alot but have had some success.

 

Anyway, the reason i am posting in this forum is beacause not long ago, i rescued a Jack Russel pup.

My missus works in a vet's, and this pup was brought in by a breeder who didnt want her. All because her bottom row of teeth are ever so slightly infront of her top row. Not wanting her to be put down over somthing so minor, i agreed to re-home her.

 

She's about 7 months old now and called 'Milly', pretty much all iv been able to teach her so far is 'sit' on command. She's so hypo its hard to get her to concentrate on anything other than what she wants. Any tips?

 

Also, to me, she seems extreamly small. I know shes still young but she must only be 8-9 inches or so high, from floor, to the top of her back? She dosn't appear to have grown atall since i re-homed her.

 

Anyway, the reason i am writing this is beacause i would like to work her for rabbits. I know absolutly nothing about rabbiting with dogs so any information would be great!

 

Also, im struggling to get her to be 'nice' around the ferrets, she just growls at them and wants to bite them. Any ideas?

 

She seems to have a fair bit of instict, as the cats are always bringing mice into the house alive, and as soon as they drop them, Milly runs over, picks them up and kills them instantly.

 

Anyway, cheer's for any tips,

Andy.

[ant coe 0]

where abouts are you based mate. if your not too far away your welcome to come along with me

[Ferret Andy 1]

where abouts are you based mate. if your not too far away your welcome to come along with me

 

Thanks for the offer mate, im based in Kent?

[ant coe 0]

i'm near aylesbury. a bit of a drive away. still the offer is there.

Dose your dog stay fairly close to you if she's off the leash.

the best way to introduce your dog to rabbits is to take her ferreting but depending on how your dog is you may spend more time getting the dog out of nets rather than rabbits.

have you done any ratting with her? this will certainly get the kill into her

[benji benji 60]

dont feed that dog for a couple of days and get some bits of meat and train it to listen to you you will find it pays you more attention when its bellys empty an you have food lol make it work for the food and stop spoiling it mate will work alot better also dont worry about size good things come in small packages

[ashleybee 7]

aye thats right however i wouldn't not feed it at all but cut its feed ration in half untill iit starts paying you a bit of attention then start giving it the other half as treats when its doing what you tell it to. you wont be doing it any harm just catching it attention.

[Ferret Andy 1]

i'm near aylesbury. a bit of a drive away. still the offer is there.

Dose your dog stay fairly close to you if she's off the leash.

the best way to introduce your dog to rabbits is to take her ferreting but depending on how your dog is you may spend more time getting the dog out of nets rather than rabbits.

have you done any ratting with her? this will certainly get the kill into her

 

Thanks for the offer, like you say, its a tad far, but will deffo consider it if i get stuck...

 

To start with she was great off the lead, and stayed within about a meter of me. Now she tends to run into the bushes, out of sight, then come running back to me.

 

I'd love to take her ferreting, but as i say, im worried about the ferts, as all she seems to want to do is kill them

[Ferret Andy 1]

aye thats right however i wouldn't not feed it at all but cut its feed ration in half untill iit starts paying you a bit of attention then start giving it the other half as treats when its doing what you tell it to. you wont be doing it any harm just catching it attention.

 

 

Thanks for the idea lad's, will have to try it if i cant get her attention

[ashleybee 7]

to get her used to the ferrets asuming they are pretty well behaved try holding the dog and letting the ferrets around her feet maybe in a garage or shed but for christ sake don't let them bite her otherwise you'll never get them used to each other bare in mind that if your going to take her ferreting the ferrets need to be used to the dog as well.

by the way ant coe is my brother and we both work on the same farm.

 

atb Ash

[patterdale666 1,620]

sounds like the instinct is there so the best way to get her on rabbits is to feed her some and

then try her on a live one when out ferretin she should take to it quick enough. ATB mate

[hedz31 1,308]

Ive got some advice for you pal firstly if you want a dog for rabbiting dont use a terrier they are a liability especialy for someone who has little experience,and secondly buy yourself a locator and collar and make sure the terrier wears it when you go out with it and thirdly learn what quarry sign to look for when approaching holes in the ground

[Ferret Andy 1]

Ive got some advice for you pal firstly if you want a dog for rabbiting dont use a terrier they are a liability especialy for someone who has little experience,and secondly buy yourself a locator and collar and make sure the terrier wears it when you go out with it and thirdly learn what quarry sign to look for when approaching holes in the ground

 

Hello.

Thanks for your comments...

Why do you say a terrier is a liability?

I already have a locator, i use it for ferreting and managed to pick up a terrier collar that works with my box.

 

Andy.

[hedz31 1,308]

Ive got some advice for you pal firstly if you want a dog for rabbiting dont use a terrier they are a liability especialy for someone who has little experience,and secondly buy yourself a locator and collar and make sure the terrier wears it when you go out with it and thirdly learn what quarry sign to look for when approaching holes in the ground

 

Hello.

Thanks for your comments...

Why do you say a terrier is a liability?

I already have a locator, i use it for ferreting and managed to pick up a terrier collar that works with my box.

 

Andy.

Because once they get a taste for going to ground you wont stop it and rabbit holes can be very tight and a terrier can come unstuck also if your useing a terrier to flush from thick cover whos to say it wont come across burrows in thick cover and enter trust me mate ive seen it done a few times its really not an uncommon thing at all you would of been better of with a spaniel or small lurcher type for what you want

[Ferret Andy 1]

Ive got some advice for you pal firstly if you want a dog for rabbiting dont use a terrier they are a liability especialy for someone who has little experience,and secondly buy yourself a locator and collar and make sure the terrier wears it when you go out with it and thirdly learn what quarry sign to look for when approaching holes in the ground

 

Hello.

Thanks for your comments...

Why do you say a terrier is a liability?

I already have a locator, i use it for ferreting and managed to pick up a terrier collar that works with my box.

 

Andy.

Because once they get a taste for going to ground you wont stop it and rabbit holes can be very tight and a terrier can come unstuck also if your useing a terrier to flush from thick cover whos to say it wont come across burrows in thick cover and enter trust me mate ive seen it done a few times its really not an uncommon thing at all you would of been better of with a spaniel or small lurcher type for what you want

 

I see what you mean...

To be honest i have 3 springer spaniels in the household, trouble is there all 'pets' and far from true workers.

One comes with me sometimes when out decoying for pigeons, but seems to lack the intrest these days. She is getting on a bit now though.

As mentioned i aquired 'Milly' out of the blue, and as im into hunting/shooting, i would like to get her involved.

The farmer on who's land i shoot, has a barn stacked with straw bales, so was thinking of starting her ratting in there?

 

Andy.

[ashleybee 7]

Ratting under straw bales. Brilliant bit of sport the dog will love it just remember to tie some string around the bottom of your trousers LOL