Borders and Border Crosses

[pointer28 1]

Hi all,

 

A quick question for the border enthusiasts.

 

I have a border x fell terrier who is now rising two and a half years old. Up until now he has showed absolutely no interest in any kind of hunting (apart from trying to kill my ferrets).

 

Last Sunday he eventually entered a fox earth after the gundogs had marked it for a few minutes. He went in, barked half heartedly for a minute and came back out again (head first, so there was obviously room to turn around). I'm not sure if he was barking at a fox or just barking from frustration, which he does.

 

There are 3 or 4 very likely looking fox earths on my permission and he has entered all of them between last weekend and this weekend. Every time the same, he goes in ,barks for a minute and comes back out the same entrance. There has never been any marks on him, any signs of engaging quarry or any thumping below ground.

 

I'm stuck because I don't know whether he has met his quarry and backed off immediately or just barked from frustration. He has never come out any of the other entrances from an earth so he is obviously not travelling through the entire earth.

 

Because he has taken so long to come this far, should I give him more time and eventually he will start travelling further underground or is it possible that he has gone in, scented the burrow and decided its empty. Or is he a complete coward?

 

I have never had any border blood before and although they are lovely dogs, I find it really frustrating. My cousin got two new pups last weekend, a grey x whippet 4 months old, and a patterdale 4 and a half months old and they dug a rat and killed it during the week on their own. Talk about a kick in the teeth for me.

 

For the border enthusiasts, are they really that bloody slow to come on? Is he worth persevering with or should I just find him a nice home as a pet and get myself a Lakeland or Jack Russell.

[Lew 111]

i think nuvs the man to ask about borders mate

[LAKEYDUGS 0]

Pointer,

 

A freind of mine has bred borders for some time and granted they can be slow starters , His sire didn't start until 3 years old, He has a 15 mth old bred from his original line 3rd or 4th gen I think and this has already started I seen here kill her fisrt fox in under 10 mins stone dead throat hold, It taken her time in finding & entering usually dropped in at the end of a few digs to get her going, She now is working well and finding on her own, Just a pity season has ended for her as she could do with a few more under belt, I think with borders or any other terrier you have to have patinece and not all are text book to start when they are meant to, We have a black started at 9 mnth now 3 years under her belt, I had a cross started at 14 mnth now dead, We have the border started at 15mnth going well, I could go on and on people say 16-18 mnth is the best time to start a terrier my opinion let them do their own thing if they want to go let them if they dont have the patinece to to let them go in their own time if no patince then upto the individual on the dogs future.

 

Gash

[Shamo 319]

A tip for you mate is next time he goes in, barks and comes back out is to grab him and sit back out the way for a few minutes QUIETLY. Very often a Fox will leave an 'Earth' after having been disturbed. If he is going in and baying at a Fox, it may well bolt when he thinks the coast is clear. At least you may find out if the Dog is baying at anything, or just excited. Doesn't always work, but has worked many times before.

[pointer28 1]

Good tip Shamo

 

I'll try that next time.

 

I'm not going to give up that easily though, I'm not one of these people that believes in rushing things and getting rid of an animal the first minute something goes wrong.

[Guest REDROB]

next time out take a working dog along, let your border enter and if he bays and comes out try the worker. you will find out whats going on , a border or fell at that age should be mature enuff to run through, find and bolt .you say he has no interest in hunting. has he seen or been at any digging , if not try to get him at a dig or two, has he ever seen a shot fox to rag,

[kerryb 103]

I had a little border bitch a few years back and she self entered to fox at 12months by accident, this seemed to make her a little too hard as she prefered to grab hold as soon as she came in contact with her quarry and she usually ended a little banged up. I got her from a working breeder in Cornwall a mate had her brother and he was useless by all accounts. She was also a nuisance with the neighbours cats killed three which came into our garden so I was not that popular. So I believe yes there are probably lots of slow entering borders out there but in my experience there also some rather keen ones lurking about..

[nelson 0]

i'm no expert, nor am i bullsh*tter. I have not seen a Border not work, if you know what i mean , although i'm sure others have. As with any working dog, right lines,right entering and the opportunity to do this work is important.

 

 

 

 

14 Month old, first fox, self entered and bolted.