rabbits, how much of a nuisance

[tearem 31]

How much of a problem are rabbits with you who want your dogs to mark to fox? What do you do about it, how do you make them rabbit steady? Do you keep them off them at all times?

How many of you have the all purpose terrier you can go bushing with to all that's in there and the next day to fox earths and will mark unfailingly?

Or does such a thing not exist?

I'd like to hear the opinion of the international terrier field here on this forum, to maybe learn or get valid new ideas from.

Harcombe, and local teriermen from here, always admitted rabbits were the everlasting problem, and they are for me, when I hunt in Dutch Limburg where they are omnipresent. Breeding terriers a bit bigger is no solution for if they want to get in, they fold up to get in. And the other issue is that especially vixens, can squeeze in such tight places almost where a rabbit can go and then the big dog has trouble following, especially in sand and clay.

I have dogs which are badger steady and will bolt the foxes (and wildcats) from among badgers, but I have no rabbit steady dogs at the moment (had one, old Duvel the white Fell, he cared not for them underground) although, when bunnies and fox are present they will certainly work reynard as long as he is present, first. The problem is in big earths when there is no fox but lots of rabbits and the dog behaves the same to rabbits as it does to fox.

All you often notice is they dig and scratch and the tone of their voice is higher pitched than with fox, but if they are in a tight tube toward a small vixen they might behave the same.

They used to have artificial earths with a pipe leading to a cage with a wild rabbit before the pipe going to a caged fox, and so they could punish the terrier if it would go towards the rabbit rather than the fox.

But we or I don't put my dogs in artificial earths any more.

The problem however as I said, is in big or smaller earths where the fox is not present just then, but the rabbits are. And the dog probably a bit frustrated after having found no fox in a few or many earths before on that day.

Let's hear your experience, what do you do with it?

[Molie1337 35]

I wouldn't mind hearing peoples opinions on this matter either! Very difficult when pretty much every earth near me is "rabbity"

[Irishmac 5]

I never have them free running in areas I know rabbits run about.

The only skins they get to rag are fox skins.

Access the burrow for size and signs of red boys before entering (and other things.

And I know the different barks of all my terriers, their guard dog bark is the one heard when at something biting back.

[wexford-digger 1]

i use to own a patterdale bitch that was mad into rabbits but when put to fox had absoloutly no problem marking or going to ground etc,she was 1 of the best cover dogs ive ever ownd,put most good beagles to shame aswell

[liamdelaney 2,587]

I allways gave out to mine if they went to follow rabbits that ran from cover and when i give out they take me serious if not they know what is comeing next.It has allways worked for me and like everybody else Ive had good doga and bad dogs down the years but they never dug to rabbit.

[harrylongears 19]

if the terrier has the oppurtunity 2 chase rabbits it will its there instinct u carnt change thousends of years of hunting instinct.

[judge2010 196]

How much of a problem are rabbits with you who want your dogs to mark to fox? What do you do about it, how do you make them rabbit steady? Do you keep them off them at all times?

How many of you have the all purpose terrier you can go bushing with to all that's in there and the next day to fox earths and will mark unfailingly?

Or does such a thing not exist?

I'd like to hear the opinion of the international terrier field here on this forum, to maybe learn or get valid new ideas from.

Harcombe, and local teriermen from here, always admitted rabbits were the everlasting problem, and they are for me, when I hunt in Dutch Limburg where they are omnipresent. Breeding terriers a bit bigger is no solution for if they want to get in, they fold up to get in. And the other issue is that especially vixens, can squeeze in such tight places almost where a rabbit can go and then the big dog has trouble following, especially in sand and clay.

I have dogs which are badger steady and will bolt the foxes (and wildcats) from among badgers, but I have no rabbit steady dogs at the moment (had one, old Duvel the white Fell, he cared not for them underground) although, when bunnies and fox are present they will certainly work reynard as long as he is present, first. The problem is in big earths when there is no fox but lots of rabbits and the dog behaves the same to rabbits as it does to fox.

All you often notice is they dig and scratch and the tone of their voice is higher pitched than with fox, but if they are in a tight tube toward a small vixen they might behave the same.

They used to have artificial earths with a pipe leading to a cage with a wild rabbit before the pipe going to a caged fox, and so they could punish the terrier if it would go towards the rabbit rather than the fox.

But we or I don't put my dogs in artificial earths any more.

The problem however as I said, is in big or smaller earths where the fox is not present just then, but the rabbits are. And the dog probably a bit frustrated after having found no fox in a few or many earths before on that day.

Let's hear your experience, what do you do with it?

you seem to have great quarry mate where you are.

 

any pics of these wildcats?