grafter-man 43 Posted May 16, 2011 Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 if they are under 20 months for there first season, i think once a month is enough allow them to fully heal and keep them winning, many young dogs will be classed as rubbish in there first season but this sometimes tells you more about the owner than the dog I agree with an easy first season but after the first one and the terrier has fully matured and had his eyes truly opened I dig as much as their body can physically handle without comprimising their health. Helps you to find out just what kind of workers you have. Quote Link to post
sounder 9 Posted May 16, 2011 Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 Working a "hard" dog lightly in it's first season only encourages that style and does nothing to help that dog find all their gears, it's a common mistake. Every dog is different and need bringing on differently to get the best out of them, 20 digs might crack one animal but make another. I wouldn't have any fixed number in my head but just work an animal on it's own merit. Bryan i agree with that atb sounder Quote Link to post
fat man 4,741 Posted May 16, 2011 Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 Working a "hard" dog lightly in it's first season only encourages that style and does nothing to help that dog find all their gears, it's a common mistake. Every dog is different and need bringing on differently to get the best out of them, 20 digs might crack one animal but make another. I wouldn't have any fixed number in my head but just work an animal on it's own merit. Bryan If you work a hard dog twice a month allowing it to heal properly for a 6 month season as we start september finish in febuary thats in or around 12 digs as was stated at the start,why work a dog sore when all that will happen is it will jack,different story with sounders. Quote Link to post
wilko tango 50 Posted May 16, 2011 Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 If you put the dog in a deep earth then 2 deep digs is more than 10 shallow easy ones IMO i have to disagree mate. and i think afer 10 handy enough digs the young terrier would be busting wit confidence. personally id prefer my own terriers 5 or 6 on first season and left off to mature for the next season. i also think quarry that was dug before and released could be a big factor in testing a young terrier. obviously you would expect your terrier to do the job but am sure theres been plenty of unfortunet young dogs that had there carreers cut short by encounters with there experienced enemies. good topic kev Quote Link to post
wipeout 80 Posted May 17, 2011 Report Share Posted May 17, 2011 i would be happy with half a dozen under there belt for a first season work them 2 or 3 weeks to heal then back out again if the dog is a sounder i would want aleast double that Quote Link to post
Grinder 102 Posted May 17, 2011 Report Share Posted May 17, 2011 10 ish digs in the first season... Depends on how easy.. how much stick the dogs take... But I do find it invaluable to use a t bar during them digs... As it helps me to find out it's work style .... Most decent lads know there ground and earths so it's quite easy to find a slightly more testing place if needs be... Quote Link to post
Grinder 102 Posted May 17, 2011 Report Share Posted May 17, 2011 (edited) Double post sorry Edited May 17, 2011 by Grinder Quote Link to post
Tassa 64 Posted May 17, 2011 Report Share Posted May 17, 2011 Good post Kevin Em, i think a young dog should have it easy for 4/5 digs in nicely chosen spots you know there ain't going to be any problems. After these 4/5 digs the anti should be upped and taken to a couple of bigger tests, (i do not mean huge sprawling places were stuff will run alday). Places were the dog will have to search that bit more and stay that bit more than he did in the previous 4/5 digs. 12 or so digs is sufficeint in a first season. Hard dogs can be a different proposition but heres a question 'Do you work the dog one week and let him heal fully and a month later go out and let him take the same punishment again' or do you try and work him regular even if he is a wee bit sore to try and get him too use his voice. Can be the making or the breaking of the dog Quote Link to post
Waz 4,274 Posted May 17, 2011 Report Share Posted May 17, 2011 Depends on the age when your season starts, dog might only seem ready at the tail end of the season, which then means he/she is busting for it the next season and would have had a taste already. But it would be nice to get at least a half dozen digs in to a youngster in its first full season, does depend on the individual though, along with what workload you have got and what other terriers are in your kennels. You might only be digging deep tough spots, which means a nice peach for a youngster is rare, what do you do? tip them into a deep difficult place? or hold them back and wait for a peach? Quote Link to post
Tassa 64 Posted May 17, 2011 Report Share Posted May 17, 2011 Think a young dog that is too hard for his own good should be dug regular to try and get him to come away from his hardness, as i said it will make them or break them. I would hope and like to think that eventually they will bark and learn from the errors. Defination of deep can vary from man to man GD Waz. Too me you should know exactly were you are putting your young dog into, last year i made the mistake of putting a young dog into a spot which i did not know, Luckily enough it faired out in the end. Quote Link to post
brendy73 12 Posted May 17, 2011 Report Share Posted May 17, 2011 maybe 10 digs in there first season but never when there sore Quote Link to post
Shamo 319 Posted May 17, 2011 Report Share Posted May 17, 2011 Working a "hard" dog lightly in it's first season only encourages that style and does nothing to help that dog find all their gears, it's a common mistake. Every dog is different and need bringing on differently to get the best out of them, 20 digs might crack one animal but make another. I wouldn't have any fixed number in my head but just work an animal on it's own merit. Bryan spot on bryan hit the nail on the head i also think that most of these so called rock hard dogs would benifit from a bit more work and would soon learn how too use there voice . I AGREE WITH THE ABOVE...... I think the 'modern' Terrierman is afraid to give their dogs the opportunity to 'jib'. We here all the cliches like "they are not machines" and "they are only made of flesh and blood" and several more besides. The truth is these Terriers have been bred for generations after generations, to do a specific job and they should be given EVERY chance to prove their worth as individuals. Some bay and mix when they have to, some just get stuck in whether mid tube or not and others go in frantically and bay and bay forcing the prey into a 'stop end'. There are other styles of work in between and a mixture of all. That is where we try to find the type of Terrier which suits us. I personally have always looked for a Terrier which adapts to whatever style is necessary.......this is where culls come in....the owners personal standards and expectations. 'One mans Meat is another mans poison' as they say, another cliche..lol. Unless out with the 'Hunt' I have only come across Foxes by accident, even allowing them to show a pair of clean heels. The responsibilties of the owner is to bring a well socialised, level headed, healthy, and fit Terrier to the dig from its first dig and EVERY time you take it out. The Terrier should then be given EVERY opportunity to back up its breeding. The first season is a learning process, the second season is to confirm what he has learned in the first and every season after that there is the EXPECTATION he should be only as good as his last dig. How many digs the dog has is irrelevant really, it is the standard required to complete those digs. Is a dog which goes into a big place and gets to grips mid tube until dug to, a better dog than one which has worked a big place and worked the prey to a chamber and bayed and made the prey stay until dug to? That is up to the owner. Don't be fixated on numbers, it's HOW THE JOB GETS DONE, NOT JUST THAT THE JOB GOT DONE. I always end up rambling on.......that's what you get for me going on here bored, nothing better to do right now!...sorry Quote Link to post
Tassa 64 Posted May 17, 2011 Report Share Posted May 17, 2011 Is a dog which goes into a big place and gets to grips mid tube until dug to, a better dog than one which has worked a big place and worked the prey to a chamber and bayed and made the prey stay until dug to? That is up to the owner. Don't be fixated on numbers, it's HOW THE JOB GETS DONE, NOT JUST THAT THE JOB GOT DONE. I always end up rambling on.......that's what you get for me going on here bored, nothing better to do right now!...sorry Another good question Shamo Quote Link to post
kevin em 342 Posted May 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2011 i dont think it a question of people been afraid of workin there first season dogs hard in case they jib dont forget its still there first season lots of time to test them in their second season if your that confident in the breedin behind the dog surely you can wait another eight or ten months to test him and if it fails then at least you know you gave it every chance i think their are to many macho men in the game waitin for a dog to blip and then its dead just my opinion im no expert but its my thoughts on it Quote Link to post
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