what or who got you started in this game?

[alan626 305]

great tread

[lazycunt 59]

in the 70s and 80s working dogs just ran the streets so you picked up what was about an bypassed school

[martync1967 64]

the average cost of a lurcher was 20 quid back then,lurcher to lurcher that is.and the dearest dogs were the beddys greys and deerhound greys which were selling at 180

[gnipper 6,529]

Just a natural thing for me, rooting about the countryside and seeing stuff like rats and wanting to catch them using many different methods up until my parents let me get a dog. Nobody I knew got me into it but I met a few lads to show me the ropes afterwards. You learn more getting out there and doing it than being told by other people. One of my old mentors still reckons poleys are faster and stronger than albinos even if they're litter mates

[fieldsman 51]

My grandad allways had running dogs he lived on the fens every sunday my brother and I would walk his dogs I was only 5 or 6 at the time one sunday we were walking one of his dogs and we put a hare out of some cover the dog shot off I was sh*tting myself as the dog went out of site and seemed as as if she had run miles away.The thought of going back to my grandad and telling him his dog had run off ,he was a strict old bugger,.as we stood staring in disbelief the hare followed by the dog came back into the field where she began winding it down twisting and turning untill she seemingly effortlessly picked it up and trotted back to us dropping it at our feet the feeling I got watching her run and retrieve is something that has never changed.My brother and myself returned to my grandads with stupid grinning faces the hare still alive because we had no idea how to kill it and were"nt strong enough even if we did.One of the thingsI remember well was the amount of flees on it.My grandad took it from us and dipatched it without a word to this day I dont know wether he was pleased or pissed at us he was a man of few words.On rabbiting trips that lasted many hours he almost never spoke and often his only reply to a question was a clip round the ear and told to shut up.He told us many tales of his younger days poaching and of the differant dogs he had owned.The best he had owned was a long legged jackrussle x greyhound the dam was the russle when she came into season the dog tried many times to cover her but the size differance was to mutch so he did"nd seperate them he came back one day to find the terrier dangling from the greyhound how they managed it is anybodies guess but she had one pup it reached 24 tt and would tackle anything.So I suppose it was my grandads dogs that lurcher and his stories that got me hooked on running dogs.My first dog ran with his last .Bit long winded sorry .

[reavo2k9 20]

I was brought up round dogs and thought it wass the right thing to do , I started running rabbits at 11 years old with my mate ansd I've been into it ever since I've had good and bad dogs but I wouldn't stop hunting for the love of money its a way of life for me and my son will be getting brought into it as he gets older

[KittleRox 2,147]

something inside

[markmark.123 20]

Always been into shooting and has labs as a kid I lost interest around 15-20 years old (lasses and drink) then I started shooting again and was going to get a lab but then I seen a blue lurcher at one of the game fairs and I had to have one searched for about 4months for one read this forum every day and found a litter 8 miles from me and went to have a look came back with a little blue dog he is 18 weeks old now and coming on great not much different to a gun dog to train

[Bosun11 537]

Being a city kid, i wouldn't have had a clue until aged about 7 my dad came home with a Grew pup. Even then it took a year or two till on a caravaning holiday, she was nailing rabbits daily. I can still remember that little bitch breakneck over that ground. I was hooked, though I really didn't know what I was hooked on!

It all came clear, when I met a lad with a 'real' Lurcher. Jet was a big steel grey 'Deerhoundy' looking dog, I say 'Deerhoundy' as Jet was simply a Lurcher, what was in him really didn't matter back then, not like it does now!!

His owner John was a few years older than me, lived on the outskirts of the city and lived a life less ordinary, he really did know his stuff!!

I admired Jet, John admired my Grew and we became firm friends and hunting partners for many years after, he really did teach me so much.

We still run into each other from time to time, he ain't owned a Lurcher for about 20 years, into his shooting now but when we meet its all about those old days (and me forever trying to get him to get back into running dogs!), as it should be.

[longbow 14]

Had to be reading for me the likes of Jack Ivestor Lloyd & -let it be whisperred- David Brian Plummer. I am from a farming background and up untill I read those tales I thought you needed a 12 bore to catch rabbits! I actually knew nobody who hunted with dogs. I pestered my parents for a whippet but had to settle for a beagle/mongrel puppy, I hunted relentlessly with that dog, never caught a thing, Enjoyed every minute.

[THLpatrick 555]

Actually thinking back now, i met a few people by my house when i had first got my Whippet puppy, people said nice dog, etc you should try it, was skeptic, thinking back now, i remeber a man i met by a pump station, lovely pack, lurcher and a big bull x and i think another dog, not sure, the dog was huge and black, told me give the whippet ago, never seen him again for years untill i joined this site to find he only lived down the road!

[stealthy1 3,964]

my stepfather wouldn't let me have a dog, first time in my life with out one in the family, the old boys from the coal mines would pay me to walk, feed and clean their whippets and greyhounds, loved watching them lure racing on miners wellfare fields, one old boy gave me a pup from one of his litters after his collie nailed one of his bitches, they used to take me round the flap tracks and ferreting, I was about 8 when I was given the pup, back in the days of black n white TV

[Shazza 52]

As a kid i was mad about dogs and all things typical of boys interests, fishing, fixing things & finding out how things worked. I've never been without a dog since the age of 5 but got my own dog aged 12, i trained this little collie/heinz57 mutt to do loads of tricks and a high level of obedience and eventually ran out of ideas for her. I realised that a dog which had a role or job was far happier than a pet stuck at home.

I then went into training security dogs & personal protection dogs and one of the GSD's i had was mad keen on rabbits where we patrolled nights. After weeks of her desperate to 'have a go' i slipped her one night and was awestruck at her speed & agility during the chase. She got mighty close several times and i got this strange feeling that this is what it's all about.................i wanted a lurcher, something bred to do this. I also recalled my uncle was always into terriers and said they were bred to do the job (he ratted regularly with JR's but wouldn't let me go as i was a girl) so if i wanted a bunny catcher then it had to be a running dog (i also think they are incredibly beautiful & elegant).

 

It took another 8 years before i was in a position to seriously consider getting a lurcher and i joined THL to read up and get advice on where to start and decide what dog i wanted. It wasn't long before i was watching vids and that strange feeling returned, i just knew i wanted to do this more than anything else i've wanted in a very long time.

I got my Grew by chance, last pup left and she was local to me. I think it was fate that she was still there, both her parents worked so i took the plunge and bought her. I've never looked back, she is my best mate and one of, if not the best dogs i have ever owned. Bring on start of the season as we are both eagerly waiting to start.

I also hope to make some good friends and share some fun days/nights out, all this because of a dog, gotta be worth it, you can't buy this adreneline rush.

Atb everyone

[martync1967 64]

interesting read so far thanks for sharing guys

[speedie 329]

was born into it grandfather poached in ireland at the turn of the last centruary with his father .I was lucky enough to listen to his stories for many years he died in the eighties but am lucky to have him on film seeing us off in 1972 when i was a little lad .A rich cousin was over from australia had one of those old cameras that yea had to wined still have the film on video he added some crazy music when he went back to ozz .Get some funny reactions when yea show it to the young experts

Edited August 12, 2011 by speedie