Keeps gettin so close!

[lurcherterrierferret 2]

Took my 10 month old pup out at the weekend with the lamp - only just getting him going really, he's had a couple of runs through the day but this is only his 2nd time out with the lamp - keeping him to maximum 1 hour out for now. Not much about, but he had a couple of runs but nothing close enough for him to catch, so we carried on through the next couple of fields, slipped him on one thought he'd seen it but did't til the last minute when it was too late and bunny went back into hedges.

 

We then had to climb over the wall and walk down the road to the next set of fields, saw 2 foxes out on the prowl in the field so thought they may have ruined our chances, but they must only just have been on their way in to where we were going and they hid back when they saw us. Anyway, shone the lamp out, couldn't believe it big rabbit sat right out in the middle of the field, dog saw it straight away, walked him up on it a bit then let him go just as it started to run(rabbits getting quite lamp shy now round here), it went straight for the hedge with dog on its heels, where we lost sight of it because of a dip in the field, anyway thought Eli might have caught it, he followed it into hedge row where I heard him bark (he has a habit of doing this when he is extremely close) but he came back with nothing gutted lol desparate for him to catch his first, he's taking quite a bit of maturing, he was easy to train but seems to be going through a daft streak where he thinks everything's a game lol, hopefull for this weekend though, going to give him another shot, he's proving to be a good ratter anyway lol.

 

BTW he's 1/2 whippet, 1/4 beddie, 1/4 collie and just under 23"TTS will get pics up as soon as my computer is back working properly!!

[Moll. 1,770]

If i were you i would not run him again till late summer on the young novice rabbits. He is already starting to yap a bit, and it will get worse if he don't get any easy catches soon.

[DogMagic 461]

I agree with moll. They open up out of frustration cos they cant catch the rabbits. If you keep running him on rabbits he cant catch he will open up everytime you slip him soon regardless how easy or hard they are. The seasons over now anyway, just walk him untill next season. Maybe give him the odd half grown rabbit thats strayed to far from home on a windy, rainy night but dont work him now till next season and then let him have a few easy catches by netting up a warren and ferreting it.

Edited February 23, 2011 by DogMagic

[lurcherterrierferret 2]

Thanks for the advice guys, think I need to build his confidence a bit, think ratting him is helping. I agree with you, I'm going to leave him now til early next season, don't want him losing his confidence and not wanting to do it anymore, he has really high prey drive just need to hone it in the right direction at the right time. Going to get my ferret shed re-done this summer and get a locater so I can ferret more next season with the little guys as they're only young as well

[lurcherterrierferret 2]

Frustrating as I really wanted him to get one before the season is out, but would rather hold off and have a better dog at the end of it all. Will be doing a bit of racing with him at the shows anyway so that will keep him going.

[turbotyke 62]

id be carefull with the raceing too this might make him bark wile another dog is running. iv seen it whilst out with the lamp while one dog is running the lamp the other barks the filed down