how much time/what age

[bird 10,013]

To many pups are never giving the chance to grow up and mature lot off people see pup big in size and think that because it has the height and weight it should be doing fox like and older dog and that is why you see so many pups in the for sell section from 12 till 18 months old and most are bull cross push on to things that bit back far two young.

IMO a pup should have full season on rabbits learning ditches gates livestock etc and then when it is 2 year old or so then let them watch old dog do the job let pup have shake few dead ones see if it takes a disliking to them but as we all know most running dogs will bring down a fox but its all about taking a bit stick and not backing off.

 

And the bit about a good fox dog will never make good rabbit dog will that bull shit because know few cracking fox dogs that are also good lamping dogs live back too hand a lucher should know the prey its after and change its game for that prey

 

 

spot on , i think regards catching rabbits with your fox dog, it comes down to size not so much breeding. a good size for all quarry is 23-26in 50-65lb, when they get heavier they can still catch, but loose agilty to the lighter dog. And agilty is what you need to catch a 2lb rabbit or a 16lb fox, as foxes are fast and can turn as good as hare if they are pushed

[mikeyboy 7]

thats spot on that is really mate. agility is the key to catching the stuff. the dogs must will be quick and sharp on the turns thats why running rabbits is good for any fox dog and running them regular. like you say a fox will turn just as sharp as a hare when pushed.

 

atb mike