What causes mixi?

[isa hunt 3]

seen a thread on here about mixi, i was just wondering what causes it and would it harm the ferrets by feeding them a mixi rabbit?

[long dogs 580]

no idea what causes it pass on threw fleas i think rekon its safe for your ferret ive known a few folk that still hate them themselves i wouldnt my self

[rob190364 2,594]

it was introduced by farmers in the 50s (I think) to reduce the rabbit population. Not sure if it's passed on by fleas or just bacteria but it's not harmful to any other species apart from rabbits and it won't do your ferrets (or dogs) any harm eating a rabbit with mixi.

Edited August 25, 2011 by rob190364

[rob190364 2,594]

bit of info...

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myxomatosis

[isa hunt 3]

im going to get a couple of ferrets at the week end, got my hutches sorted. Got everything else sorted. My uncles taking me to a farmer that breeds working ferrets. My uncle has had a hob from him and its a cracking worker. So fingers crossed the pair I get will be good too. Rob did you see my question i asked about my dog?

[rob190364 2,594]

im going to get a couple of ferrets at the week end, got my hutches sorted. Got everything else sorted. My uncles taking me to a farmer that breeds working ferrets. My uncle has had a hob from him and its a cracking worker. So fingers crossed the pair I get will be good too. Rob did you see my question i asked about my dog?

no, what question?

[isa hunt 3]

I have a swiss shepherd, when i walk him through the fields near where i live, as soon as he sees a rabbit he's off. He's never actually caught one. He's done it since he was a pup. he's nearly 3 this September. How likely is it that he will actually catch one? He has come close a few times now. Will he get the hang of it and catch one or is he just not the breed to catch em? like is it bred into the dog to do it? sorry for my ignorance mate, i avn't got a clue. Just curious.

[rob190364 2,594]

I have a swiss shepherd, when i walk him through the fields near where i live, as soon as he sees a rabbit he's off. He's never actually caught one. He's done it since he was a pup. he's nearly 3 this September. How likely is it that he will actually catch one? He has come close a few times now. Will he get the hang of it and catch one or is he just not the breed to catch em? like is it bred into the dog to do it? sorry for my ignorance mate, i avn't got a clue. Just curious.

Is that the dog in the pic? doesn't look too heavily built so it might do, you never know. I'm just bringing on my first lurcher now so am pretty new to working dogs but when I was younger I used to go ferreting and mooching with my uncle and his dog. He had a pointer x shepherd that was shorter and slightly more heavily built than your dog. That dog used to catch them in cover but he used to just plough through even the thickest of brambles. If the rabbit broke free of the cover it would leave him for dead though, I would say out of all the rabbits he chased he'd lose probably 90% of them. We never used to lamp him though and he wasn't really disciplined enough when ferreting, didn't have the concentration and would just end up being a pain in the arse.

 

If I were you, and there's loads of people that can advise you far better than me when it comes to working dogs, but if he's quite obedient and OK with ferrets I'd use him mainly for ferreting as if he can read what's going on well enough, and has quick enough reactions he'll probably nail a few before they get into full stride. And maybe give him a go on the lamp to see how he gets on there. Personally, I wouldn't bother trying to catch daytime rabbits in the open with him because that's hard enough with a lurcher, you're just going to end up with one pissed off dog. The pointer x we had would always open up when chasing rabbits, in hindsight he was probably just frustrated to buggery seeing so many get away.

[isa hunt 3]

Ideation said: -

 

TO be fair, on a flat out run, open country, day time, i'd be surprised if he caught one. However, plenty of dogs, if they have the inclination, will catch them around or in cover. I used to have a corder collie who would do it and was a handy ferreting dog. Marked well, caught bolters at the mouth, held bunnies in the net etc. Depends on the individual dog, but it's worth persevering, even if just for his fitness. If you get him marking he will make your ferreting much easier! You could even try him on the lamp and he would probably catch a few there.

 

How do i get him marking? or he his just not the type of dog to use? i have no idea mate, i have some pics on my profile of my dog. He chases them and doesn't stop till the rabbits either down the hole or in the hedge bottom... and he has come close to getting one, he really does go for it.

[isa hunt 3]

I have a swiss shepherd, when i walk him through the fields near where i live, as soon as he sees a rabbit he's off. He's never actually caught one. He's done it since he was a pup. he's nearly 3 this September. How likely is it that he will actually catch one? He has come close a few times now. Will he get the hang of it and catch one or is he just not the breed to catch em? like is it bred into the dog to do it? sorry for my ignorance mate, i avn't got a clue. Just curious.

Is that the dog in the pic? doesn't look too heavily built so it might do, you never know. I'm just bringing on my first lurcher now so am pretty new to working dogs but when I was younger I used to go ferreting and mooching with my uncle and his dog. He had a pointer x shepherd that was shorter and slightly more heavily built than your dog. That dog used to catch them in cover but he used to just plough through even the thickest of brambles. If the rabbit broke free of the cover it would leave him for dead though, I would say out of all the rabbits he chased he'd lose probably 90% of them. We never used to lamp him though and he wasn't really disciplined enough when ferreting, didn't have the concentration and would just end up being a pain in the arse.

 

If I were you, and there's loads of people that can advise you far better than me when it comes to working dogs, but if he's quite obedient and OK with ferrets I'd use him mainly for ferreting as if he can read what's going on well enough, and has quick enough reactions he'll probably nail a few before they get into full stride. And maybe give him a go on the lamp to see how he gets on there. Personally, I wouldn't bother trying to catch daytime rabbits in the open with him because that's hard enough with a lurcher, you're just going to end up with one pissed off dog. The pointer x we had would always open up when chasing rabbits, in hindsight he was probably just frustrated to buggery seeing so many get away.

yea he can't stop quick enough and runs straight through the bramble, luckily he's got really thick fur. Although there as been the odd ocasion iv had to pic thorns out of his pads he is really obedient, doesn't leave my side till i raise my arm and tell him to bugger off. he comes right back when called too. so i might give him ago. My uncle has never used dogs befor, he was joking about useing cass.. maybe we will take him out next. Ideation mention marking the hole with him. do you know what he ment by this?

[rob190364 2,594]

Ideation said: -

 

TO be fair, on a flat out run, open country, day time, i'd be surprised if he caught one. However, plenty of dogs, if they have the inclination, will catch them around or in cover. I used to have a corder collie who would do it and was a handy ferreting dog. Marked well, caught bolters at the mouth, held bunnies in the net etc. Depends on the individual dog, but it's worth persevering, even if just for his fitness. If you get him marking he will make your ferreting much easier! You could even try him on the lamp and he would probably catch a few there.

 

How do i get him marking? or he his just not the type of dog to use? i have no idea mate, i have some pics on my profile of my dog. He chases them and doesn't stop till the rabbits either down the hole or in the hedge bottom... and he has come close to getting one, he really does go for it.

When he checks out warrens keep your eye on his body language. If he just has a quick glance and shows no interest then there's probably nothing down there, if he has a good old sniff and ears cock forward, or he stays for a bit longer, put dog on slip and enter ferret (assuming the dog's OK with them), try and position him so if something bolts you can slip him near to the rabbit and give him a chance. Sooner or later he'll get the idea and you can leave him to his own devices to wait for the bolters.

 

Or better still get a longnet so he can pin them as they get caught in the net.

 

Make 100% sure he's OK with the ferrets first though or it'll all end in tears!

[rob190364 2,594]

I have a swiss shepherd, when i walk him through the fields near where i live, as soon as he sees a rabbit he's off. He's never actually caught one. He's done it since he was a pup. he's nearly 3 this September. How likely is it that he will actually catch one? He has come close a few times now. Will he get the hang of it and catch one or is he just not the breed to catch em? like is it bred into the dog to do it? sorry for my ignorance mate, i avn't got a clue. Just curious.

Is that the dog in the pic? doesn't look too heavily built so it might do, you never know. I'm just bringing on my first lurcher now so am pretty new to working dogs but when I was younger I used to go ferreting and mooching with my uncle and his dog. He had a pointer x shepherd that was shorter and slightly more heavily built than your dog. That dog used to catch them in cover but he used to just plough through even the thickest of brambles. If the rabbit broke free of the cover it would leave him for dead though, I would say out of all the rabbits he chased he'd lose probably 90% of them. We never used to lamp him though and he wasn't really disciplined enough when ferreting, didn't have the concentration and would just end up being a pain in the arse.

 

If I were you, and there's loads of people that can advise you far better than me when it comes to working dogs, but if he's quite obedient and OK with ferrets I'd use him mainly for ferreting as if he can read what's going on well enough, and has quick enough reactions he'll probably nail a few before they get into full stride. And maybe give him a go on the lamp to see how he gets on there. Personally, I wouldn't bother trying to catch daytime rabbits in the open with him because that's hard enough with a lurcher, you're just going to end up with one pissed off dog. The pointer x we had would always open up when chasing rabbits, in hindsight he was probably just frustrated to buggery seeing so many get away.

yea he can't stop quick enough and runs straight through the bramble, luckily he's got really thick fur. Although there as been the odd ocasion iv had to pic thorns out of his pads he is really obedient, doesn't leave my side till i raise my arm and tell him to bugger off. he comes right back when called too. so i might give him ago. My uncle has never used dogs befor, he was joking about useing cass.. maybe we will take him out next. Ideation mention marking the hole with him. do you know what he ment by this?

yes it means that he's showing you which warrens are occupied, saves faffing around with empty warrens

[isa hunt 3]

Ideation said: -

 

TO be fair, on a flat out run, open country, day time, i'd be surprised if he caught one. However, plenty of dogs, if they have the inclination, will catch them around or in cover. I used to have a corder collie who would do it and was a handy ferreting dog. Marked well, caught bolters at the mouth, held bunnies in the net etc. Depends on the individual dog, but it's worth persevering, even if just for his fitness. If you get him marking he will make your ferreting much easier! You could even try him on the lamp and he would probably catch a few there.

 

How do i get him marking? or he his just not the type of dog to use? i have no idea mate, i have some pics on my profile of my dog. He chases them and doesn't stop till the rabbits either down the hole or in the hedge bottom... and he has come close to getting one, he really does go for it.

When he checks out warrens keep your eye on his body language. If he just has a quick glance and shows no interest then there's probably nothing down there, if he has a good old sniff and ears cock forward, or he stays for a bit longer, put dog on slip and enter ferret (assuming the dog's OK with them), try and position him so if something bolts you can slip him near to the rabbit and give him a chance. Sooner or later he'll get the idea and you can leave him to his own devices to wait for the bolters.

 

Or better still get a longnet so he can pin them as they get caught in the net.

 

Make 100% sure he's OK with the ferrets first though or it'll all end in tears!

not comparing cats with ferrets but he's fine with me mams cat... never introduced him to the ferrets so we will see. im picking a couple up this weekend. will let you no the out come. Hopefully the ferrets dont kill my dog ay?

[isa hunt 3]

Ideation said: -

 

TO be fair, on a flat out run, open country, day time, i'd be surprised if he caught one. However, plenty of dogs, if they have the inclination, will catch them around or in cover. I used to have a corder collie who would do it and was a handy ferreting dog. Marked well, caught bolters at the mouth, held bunnies in the net etc. Depends on the individual dog, but it's worth persevering, even if just for his fitness. If you get him marking he will make your ferreting much easier! You could even try him on the lamp and he would probably catch a few there.

 

How do i get him marking? or he his just not the type of dog to use? i have no idea mate, i have some pics on my profile of my dog. He chases them and doesn't stop till the rabbits either down the hole or in the hedge bottom... and he has come close to getting one, he really does go for it.

When he checks out warrens keep your eye on his body language. If he just has a quick glance and shows no interest then there's probably nothing down there, if he has a good old sniff and ears cock forward, or he stays for a bit longer, put dog on slip and enter ferret (assuming the dog's OK with them), try and position him so if something bolts you can slip him near to the rabbit and give him a chance. Sooner or later he'll get the idea and you can leave him to his own devices to wait for the bolters.

 

Or better still get a longnet so he can pin them as they get caught in the net.

 

Make 100% sure he's OK with the ferrets first though or it'll all end in tears!

not comparing cats with ferrets but he's fine with me mams cat... never introduced him to the ferrets so we will see. im picking a couple up this weekend. will let you no the out come. Hopefully the ferrets dont kill my dog ay?

And thanks for the advice mate, you not a tosser after all much appreciated!

[rob190364 2,594]

Ideation said: -

 

TO be fair, on a flat out run, open country, day time, i'd be surprised if he caught one. However, plenty of dogs, if they have the inclination, will catch them around or in cover. I used to have a corder collie who would do it and was a handy ferreting dog. Marked well, caught bolters at the mouth, held bunnies in the net etc. Depends on the individual dog, but it's worth persevering, even if just for his fitness. If you get him marking he will make your ferreting much easier! You could even try him on the lamp and he would probably catch a few there.

 

How do i get him marking? or he his just not the type of dog to use? i have no idea mate, i have some pics on my profile of my dog. He chases them and doesn't stop till the rabbits either down the hole or in the hedge bottom... and he has come close to getting one, he really does go for it.

When he checks out warrens keep your eye on his body language. If he just has a quick glance and shows no interest then there's probably nothing down there, if he has a good old sniff and ears cock forward, or he stays for a bit longer, put dog on slip and enter ferret (assuming the dog's OK with them), try and position him so if something bolts you can slip him near to the rabbit and give him a chance. Sooner or later he'll get the idea and you can leave him to his own devices to wait for the bolters.

 

Or better still get a longnet so he can pin them as they get caught in the net.

 

Make 100% sure he's OK with the ferrets first though or it'll all end in tears!

not comparing cats with ferrets but he's fine with me mams cat... never introduced him to the ferrets so we will see. im picking a couple up this weekend. will let you no the out come. Hopefully the ferrets dont kill my dog ay?

be careful the other way round aswell, my jill won't tolerate dogs at all, she just goes for them straight away. Are you getting kits or full grown? If kits give them daily handling for a good couple of weeks before you even think about introducing them to the dog, they need to get used to you first. And see what his reaction is like looking at them through the front of the hutch first. Personally, to be one the safe side, I'd muzzle the dog on the first meeting, that way even if the dog's OK but the ferret bites it, at least you're not going to end up with a dead ferret when the dog reacts. Just take it all nice and steady, don't try and cut corners and rush to get them used to each other.