Two Lurchers while Ferreting

[rob190364 2,594]

I've got a ferreting DVD where they're using two collie/greys to catch the bolters. Every time there's a bolter both dogs chase the same rabbit and then there's a tug of war as they're retrieving.....can't help thinking how pointless it is!

 

How do people get round that when using two dogs for ferreting? Surely it'd be better to train the dogs not to chase the same rabbit.....and if one runs the other waits to see if any other bolt?

 

I must admit on this DVD there's a few instances where the bloke has a few games of tug of war after they've retrieved it so I think it might be a case of bad training in this instance, the dog is just flatly refusing to let go of the rabbit. That would really do my head in!

[Sirius 1,391]

If your doing hedges, one each side of the hedge.

 

I am not keen on too many dogs out on a serious day's ferreting and I find it pretty off putting for youngsters to.

[Ideation 8,216]

To be fair rob, if you can train two dogs to sit there, and when a rabbt bolts, have only one chase it and the other sit there and wait for the second bolt, you are doing well as a trainer.

 

If you are not using nets, in open ground, i would hold onto the dogs collars and let one go at a time, if it was sport i was after.

 

But where we are using nets, it's only those that slip the nets that make a run for it and with the short distance to cover, obstacles etc, we're happy letting 2/3 dogs try to stop the bunny, it's about putting rabbits in the bag, it's the same as day time bushing with the pack.

 

But like has been said, we usually are doing spots where the warren is spread out, or there are fences, trees etc, so stick different dogs at different points to cover different escape roots.

 

Yesterday, we usually took one dog each to cover our area of the warren, or put young tom out on the wings with a dog or two if anything made it out into the open.

[rob190364 2,594]

To be fair rob, if you can train two dogs to sit there, and when a rabbt bolts, have only one chase it and the other sit there and wait for the second bolt, you are doing well as a trainer.

 

If you are not using nets, in open ground, i would hold onto the dogs collars and let one go at a time, if it was sport i was after.

 

But where we are using nets, it's only those that slip the nets that make a run for it and with the short distance to cover, obstacles etc, we're happy letting 2/3 dogs try to stop the bunny, it's about putting rabbits in the bag, it's the same as day time bushing with the pack.

 

But like has been said, we usually are doing spots where the warren is spread out, or there are fences, trees etc, so stick different dogs at different points to cover different escape roots.

 

Yesterday, we usually took one dog each to cover our area of the warren, or put young tom out on the wings with a dog or two if anything made it out into the open.

Fair point. On this DVD though they're ferreting on the moors and in open fields, some of the time with no nets. I suppose if you're just doing it for pest control it doesn't matter as long as they catch it between them. What do your dogs do when one catches the rabbit? do the others grab it aswell? Just seemed a bit wierd to see two lurcher running back both holding the rabbit, must have been black and blue when they skinned it!

[Ideation 8,216]

To be fair rob, if you can train two dogs to sit there, and when a rabbt bolts, have only one chase it and the other sit there and wait for the second bolt, you are doing well as a trainer.

 

If you are not using nets, in open ground, i would hold onto the dogs collars and let one go at a time, if it was sport i was after.

 

But where we are using nets, it's only those that slip the nets that make a run for it and with the short distance to cover, obstacles etc, we're happy letting 2/3 dogs try to stop the bunny, it's about putting rabbits in the bag, it's the same as day time bushing with the pack.

 

But like has been said, we usually are doing spots where the warren is spread out, or there are fences, trees etc, so stick different dogs at different points to cover different escape roots.

 

Yesterday, we usually took one dog each to cover our area of the warren, or put young tom out on the wings with a dog or two if anything made it out into the open.

Fair point. On this DVD though they're ferreting on the moors and in open fields, some of the time with no nets. I suppose if you're just doing it for pest control it doesn't matter as long as they catch it between them. What do your dogs do when one catches the rabbit? do the others grab it aswell? Just seemed a bit wierd to see two lurcher running back both holding the rabbit, must have been black and blue when they skinned it!

 

My argument would be rob, if you are doing it for pest control,in open land, and using two lurchers, no nets, what happens when the second rabbit bolts? Do you just watch it run off? In that situation, much better to slip the dogs, by holding their collar.

 

To be fair with ours, it's usually only one dog that makes the catch, the others might run over, but usually are more pre occupied with what else is going on, once the rabbit is caught, butt when one bolts free they will all run it and try to catch it.

 

If the less dominant dogs catch it, the more dominant may relieve them of it and bring it back.

[The one 8,505]

Aye no too clever if they run into each other at thirty miles a hour and ive seen one put off retrieving due to the top dog getting all the retrieves

[Sirius 1,391]

I have always found it advisable to check that the dogs taken ferreting get on well, and a youngster will always do much better on its own, until its confidence has grown.

[theferreter 311]

one good ferreting dogs plenty for a days ferreting