Rabbiting lurcher bitch at 20 months

[Cochyn 0]

Snowed in here and so thought I'd share some thoughts on my 20 month old whippet collie greyhound that a mate bred. I use her mainly for ferreting (twice a week in season) although I do take her lamping (2-3 times per week when weather good) even though all the bunnies are lamp shy for 20 miles around me. The places I ferret, a good bag would be 15-20 rabbits, average about 10-12. Lamping, the best bag we've had is 15 (with another dog as well), average 4 or 5.

 

Positives:

Marking very well - I can't remember a false mark (and I occasinally 'test' a bury that she hasn't marked).

Totally stock and ferret broken.

Good recall.

As I often ferret alone, she holds rabbits in the net without marking them (many of the rabbits go to a butcher).

Catches more than she misses day and night.

Very keen, will run herself to a standstill if I let her and will try to pressure the most difficult rabbits.

Her feet are pretty good so far (touch wood). I often run her over uneven, hard ground and stubble.

Works well with long nets and stop nets.

 

Negatives:

She sometimes whimpers a bit when she's excited, mostly when marking an above ground rabbit in cover when there are no terriers or spaniels or until she sees I'm going to net the first couple of burys that she's marked.

When I take her out with other lurchers, if I let her, she'll dive down to beat the other dogs to the rabbit before it's hit the net.

Can be a bit too keen and competitive to the detriment of her work.

If she misses her first rabbit on the lamp, she may try to scent hunt for another.

Her smooth coat means that she cuts easily and has HAD to be stapled or stiched three times already.

She's very friendly and would go with anyone.

The mrs has grown to love her...

 

I'm pretty happy as she does most of things I want and is a real tryer. She seems to be a better ferret dog than lamping dog, but this is probably because I show her more ferreting than lamping and that the lamping in these parts is pretty poor. I am still hopeing that she'll become a little bit more steady, but I can't complain as she's still improving.

 

Appreciate thoughts, particularly on the negatives.

 

ATB Cochyn

[wuyang 513]

Sounds a good dog, no dogs perfect and theres always going to be a bit of jealousy when more than one dogs woked together. As long as you are happy with it thats all that matters. If i listed all the faults my dogs have i would be here all day.

[s.e.s.k.u 1,893]

Snowed in here and so thought I'd share some thoughts on my 20 month old whippet collie greyhound that a mate bred. I use her mainly for ferreting (twice a week in season) although I do take her lamping (2-3 times per week when weather good) even though all the bunnies are lamp shy for 20 miles around me. The places I ferret, a good bag would be 15-20 rabbits, average about 10-12. Lamping, the best bag we've had is 15 (with another dog as well), average 4 or 5.

 

Positives:

Marking very well - I can't remember a false mark (and I occasinally 'test' a bury that she hasn't marked).

Totally stock and ferret broken.

Good recall.

As I often ferret alone, she holds rabbits in the net without marking them (many of the rabbits go to a butcher).

Catches more than she misses day and night.

Very keen, will run herself to a standstill if I let her and will try to pressure the most difficult rabbits.

Her feet are pretty good so far (touch wood). I often run her over uneven, hard ground and stubble.

Works well with long nets and stop nets.

 

Negatives:

She sometimes whimpers a bit when she's excited, mostly when marking an above ground rabbit in cover when there are no terriers or spaniels or until she sees I'm going to net the first couple of burys that she's marked.

When I take her out with other lurchers, if I let her, she'll dive down to beat the other dogs to the rabbit before it's hit the net.

Can be a bit too keen and competitive to the detriment of her work.

If she misses her first rabbit on the lamp, she may try to scent hunt for another.

Her smooth coat means that she cuts easily and has HAD to be stapled or stiched three times already.

She's very friendly and would go with anyone.

The mrs has grown to love her...

 

I'm pretty happy as she does most of things I want and is a real tryer. She seems to be a better ferret dog than lamping dog, but this is probably because I show her more ferreting than lamping and that the lamping in these parts is pretty poor. I am still hopeing that she'll become a little bit more steady, but I can't complain as she's still improving.

 

Appreciate thoughts, particularly on the negatives.

 

ATB Cochyn

 

very honest write up pal , i think as long as you are happy with the dog then the negatives you listed can be worked on and improved. sounds a handy dog to me atb to you both

[Cochyn 0]

Cheers lads. Handy enough for me, we'll not go hungry. One of the things I've enjoyed the most over the last year is helping the bitch improve. Hopefully we can keep going!

[heart of wales 19]

As long as Your happy which it sounds You are You got a good one,the negatives You have put down I would put down to keeness give me a dog that is keen over one that is not,at least You can work with that,I had a dog My mates called him The White shark,because whenever or whatever dogs were around him when something hit the net hedge or cover he would always be the first there CCI12022009_00000.bmp

[stroller 341]

Mate its harder to train a good ferreting dog than it is a good lamp dog and it takes time for a dog to be good at antyhing. at 20 months old she is doing well and still hasnt matured fully and hopefully she will still be ferreting at 12 years old!!

 

she is just doing the work well that your showing her the most of and as you say the ground around you is well lamped so nowt to worry about, dogs will always be competitive with each other so unless your working different sides of the hedge with another lad and his dog its never going to be different.

[3 Turns 326]

SOUNDS A WEE FLYER YOUVE GOT MATE .ITLL COME GOOD SOON ITS JUST AT THAT AGE .ANOTHER 6MTHS ITLL PROBLY BE DIFFERENT .SOUNDS AS IF ITS GOT IT.ATB.

[welsh_hunter12 119]

Sounds the spit of my bitch mines the same cross roughly the same age I think where did you get her ? I got mine from a lad in st.Asaph north wales

[Cochyn 0]

As long as Your happy which it sounds You are You got a good one,the negatives You have put down I would put down to keeness give me a dog that is keen over one that is not,at least You can work with that,I had a dog My mates called him The White shark,because whenever or whatever dogs were around him when something hit the net hedge or cover he would always be the first there CCI12022009_00000.bmp

 

I agree. Lurchers are selected for their prey drive so I won't complain too much when they're a bit overkeen for the quarry. White Shark sounds a good dog.

[Cochyn 0]

Mate its harder to train a good ferreting dog than it is a good lamp dog and it takes time for a dog to be good at antyhing. at 20 months old she is doing well and still hasnt matured fully and hopefully she will still be ferreting at 12 years old!!

 

she is just doing the work well that your showing her the most of and as you say the ground around you is well lamped so nowt to worry about, dogs will always be competitive with each other so unless your working different sides of the hedge with another lad and his dog its never going to be different.

 

Never a truer word about it taking time mate, but that's half the game for me. The competitive issue is only really a problem on open banks or in woodland when the dogs are together, I do work alot of ground with hedges and you're right. Let's hope she's still going at 12!

Edited December 21, 2010 by Cochyn

[Cochyn 0]

SOUNDS A WEE FLYER YOUVE GOT MATE .ITLL COME GOOD SOON ITS JUST AT THAT AGE .ANOTHER 6MTHS ITLL PROBLY BE DIFFERENT .SOUNDS AS IF ITS GOT IT.ATB.

 

Fingers crossed. Cheers.

[Cochyn 0]

Sounds the spit of my bitch mines the same cross roughly the same age I think where did you get her ? I got mine from a lad in st.Asaph north wales

 

She's from down here mate. It doesn't look to me like a lot of boys breeding these lines down my way anymore. Bull crosses are popular alrounders and I see quite a few beddie whippet fetteting dogs.