gonetoearth 5,144 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 I couldn't think of a better way of keeping a working terrier fit for digging than a bit of bushing. The secret is to know your ground. All my terriers see rabbits on a daily basis and none of them will mark to ground. Quote Link to post
goldfinch2007 2,332 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 agree macker they learn nowt in kennels.but bushing them for rabbits can ruin them. Quote Link to post
neil cooney 10,416 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 I couldn't think of a better way of keeping a working terrier fit for digging than a bit of bushing. The secret is to know your ground. All my terriers see rabbits on a daily basis and none of them will mark to ground. thats a brave statment neil but one i agree fully with some people wont agree but as long as terrier is fit who cares i have never once dug to a rabbit with a digging dog but it can happen with any terrier i think the worse thing for a terrier is being left in its kennel mack Macker believe me I've dug to terriers working rabbits in the past. But I'm a believer in that when a terrier gets to know it's proper quarry it will not bother wasting time on rabbits to ground. Pups ran on with good honest workers will learn to ignore them too. But while going through cover a terrier will put out rabbits, pheasants and anything else for that matter. If they veiw their rabbit they'll chase it, I'd be dissapointed if they didn't. I've had 4 or 5 terriers kill rabbits while exercising in cover and I could dig to any of them terriers on a days hunting with 100% confidence I wasn't digging to a bunny. However, I do think that there are some lines of terrier that are notorious rabbiters. They can be very game, brilliant digging dogs but need careful handling when rabbits could be an issue. I'm just lucky that the ones I keep don't do it. 1 Quote Link to post
conshie 5 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 well i have a good mate on here (terrierjohn) and he has a wellknown bitch about here called digger and this dog will do eny thing that is put infront of hur so the answer is yes mate ATB conshie Quote Link to post
cantona 310 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 even if a terrier is stopped from bumping bunnies out of cover it has got nothing to do with it digging on after one once it goes under. Quote Link to post
neil cooney 10,416 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 even if a terrier is stopped from bumping bunnies out of cover it has got nothing to do with it digging on after one once it goes under. Exactly. Quote Link to post
skycat 6,173 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 I use my digging dogs to work cover all the time: they go out with the lurchers every day, they never go to ground on rabbit, BUT I can't work them on top if there's bigger holes around. I have to be careful where I let them off and if they get on Charlie's scent and follow it to ground, well, we can be there a while LOL I stop my terrier pups going to ground on rabbit from a very early age, and whilst it is natural for a terrier to want to explore rabbit holes when its a pup, I pull them out, growl at them a bit and send them on their way. They soon realise that they will have more fun getting a rabbit out of a bramble than spending time trying to get to ground on one. I know that some people can't let their terriers work cover because of too many other big holes about, but in the right places they provide me and the lurchers with endless sport. I also use them for beating, not that I've managed to do a lot of that this season but they often peg birds as well: I've had this same line for over 20 years now and I've not had to dig a single one out of a rabbit hole: educate them right in the first place and there shouldn't be a problem. Quote Link to post
morton 5,368 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 Ive always used my terriers for bushing,it can cause problems but thats the price you pay with working terriers,the next time out could always be their last,youve got to know the lie of the land and work them with locators on.How many people with terriers worked solely off a lead have dug to bunny,s?.A Lakey dog i lost last year was a cracking busher,yet would enter where rabbits ran in always found his stuff,my Beddy as been dug to rabbits a couple of times,i saw it as a bonus[glorified ferreting]i like rabbit hunting.Some terriermen see it as a waste of a good terrier[bushing]but to me there are to many wasted hunting opportunities whilst walking from hole to hole with dogs on leads. Quote Link to post
busterbuster1969 313 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 I use my digging dogs to work cover all the time: they go out with the lurchers every day, they never go to ground on rabbit, BUT I can't work them on top if there's bigger holes around. I have to be careful where I let them off and if they get on Charlie's scent and follow it to ground, well, we can be there a while LOL I stop my terrier pups going to ground on rabbit from a very early age, and whilst it is natural for a terrier to want to explore rabbit holes when its a pup, I pull them out, growl at them a bit and send them on their way. They soon realise that they will have more fun getting a rabbit out of a bramble than spending time trying to get to ground on one. I know that some people can't let their terriers work cover because of too many other big holes about, but in the right places they provide me and the lurchers with endless sport. I also use them for beating, not that I've managed to do a lot of that this season but they often peg birds as well: I've had this same line for over 20 years now and I've not had to dig a single one out of a rabbit hole: educate them right in the first place and there shouldn't be a problem. Thats bang on my type of hunting and exactly how I do it Quote Link to post
gonetoearth 5,144 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 some great replies , NEVER SAY NEVER EH Quote Link to post
bbrindle 4 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 had my terrier bushing with lurchers and take it ferreting for marking up rabbits for two and half years. Dug to her last month for first time. Was the first shes seen, and went straight down Quote Link to post
.terrier man. 193 Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Seen some shit topics tonight but this one tops them all, ffs. Quote Link to post
Penda 3,341 Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 my russell bitch bushes and goes to ground she does stick her head down rabbit holes now and again but she,ll never stay on the hole Quote Link to post
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