Schuck makes a start on the lamp

[skycat 6,174]

Don't expect tales of big bags! But Schuck has made a start on the lamp. We went out the other night: it was actually blowing a gale, well almost. Just a quick look out on some dragged up stubble: the ground is dry and hard as hell round here. And the local midnight cowboy was doing his rounds on the fields all around our permission. The air was thick with bang, bang, bang, engine roaring, lights everywhere, more bangs and so on. :censored:

 

But I found one dopey rabbit which sat out, walked up to it, filter off, rabbit jumped and Schuck, whose eyes were out on stalks trying to see into the darkness, took off after it: only 30 yards from the hedge. Rabbit dives into the hedge, dog sticks her head in the hedge and rabbit comes back out next to her, she spins round, runs rabbit for another 15 feet or so and nails it perfectly. Gets the right grip, and comes back to me with it almost as fast as she went out. OK, so a short moment when she didn't really want to give it up to me, but a firm "Give" and it was in the bag.

 

And that was it for the night! Next field, more hares than I could shake a twig at Definitely not for the pup tonight, besides which, with the cowboy just over the hedge, who's to say he wouldn't have potted the dog if she came through on the back of a long ear: he hates me and my lurchers with a vengeance. He's burning up and down the fields with multi spotlights blazing at all angles.

 

Then last night, with only a pathetic bit of breeze, I decided to go again, just local and quick. Practically tropical conditions. Shirt sleeves only, ground like concrete and dust. Back of the sewage farm the rabbits were only around 20 yards out maximum: more shooters they hammer the ground until it gets too wet. Schuck ran 4, missed 4: though even an experienced dog would have been hard pushed to catch even one of them: they fly straight to ground without missing a beat. I didn't want to leave it without a catch, so back to the other couple of fields we have local. By now the wind has dropped completely: each footstep rings hard on the dry earth, when I'm not crunching through the young rape sounding like a herd of cattle on the move!

 

3 rabbits lose their nerve at the sound, then more bloody hares, ambling about without a care in the world. Very tempting, but no, the pup needs more practice on things that won't take her into the next county, besides which it is bloody hot! Finally spot a pair of ears trying not to be seen in the rape. Walk out, rabbit jumps, dog runs, up and down the hedge a few turns, nails it well, and another almost faultless retrieve, this time giving it up immediately. Then spot a red eye a bit further out in the rape, which is already nearly a foot high despite the drought. Again, walk out, crunch, crunch through the rape: dopey early season rabbit, or just one that is destined never to breed as it missed out on the extreme survival instinct needed round here. Bunny jumps, same scenario, and the pup is fast up to it, turns it twice along the hedge and wallop. Straight back to me, and although they were only two short runs she's panting hard, and me, in shirtsleeves and jeans, am wet through: It really is tropical conditions.

 

So, although she's not run many, I'm very pleased with her. Very focused, desperately keen, great retrieves, and although not spotting them before they move (bit hard when I can't see them either in the long rape ) she's quick on to them, turning very tight on hard ground, and most importantly, coming straight back to a hiss when she's missed.

 

Was I worried that she'd be a loose cannon with all that mad drive? You bet! Had visions of dog disappearing for hours running about in the dark like a loon, deaf to my shouts: her dad is a bit like that sometimes, all that Saluki, and although her dam, the Airedale is biddable, she can throw a deaf 'un when hot on the scent of something. So I reckon I had every right to be just a wee bit worried

 

But I know I did the right thing in waiting with this pup: she's now got over the 'up yours' stage. I could have taken her out at 10 or 11 months old, right in the middle of the 'up yours' stage, and I know that I would have regretted it. Now, she's ready to listen to me, work with me, and fingers crossed we could have some serious fun this season.

 

Two rabbits, one very pleased Schuck and one happy old bird

[bird 10,004]

well done mate, keep at it nice+steady thats trick

[FUJI 17,328]

Excellent stuff ..i did much the same Skycat with the bitch i have off Tomo,she was mentally immature when all her littermates were doing all and more even fully seasoned "pro's" were capable of doing..mine in truth was a backward teenager but i just let her be until i personally thought that she'd "switched on" to the game and i'm glad i did,she too is "almost" faultless in her work where as i believe if i'd went ahead and started her younger i may just of ruined her..my bitch was 13 months old when i started her and her sire was 14 months as he too needed time..what's the hurry at the end of the day? Patience and a bit of knowledge goes a long way in this game? Great read and hope it's the beginning of a "bountiful" career for the young dog Shuck!! ATB Andy.

[alan626 305]

well done to u and the pup

[watchman 256]

a good read well done

[davehunter1 14]

good read good to see somone starting pups out the right way

[moonlighter 1,164]

Nice one penny. How old is she now?

[Born Hunter 17,828]

Great news Penny.

[KittleRox 2,147]

Well done the pup

[skycat 6,174]

She's 14 months old now, and has more or less got over the AWOL stage. I'm really glad I waited: if I'd taken her out at 10 or 11 months I'm sure I'd have had recall problems. As it was, a quick hiss of "get here" and she was straight back to me, even after losing rabbits. Mind you, it does help that the fields aren't lifting with rabbits. If I'd tried to start her in fields with rabbits all over it might have been a different thing! As it is, there is little temptation to gallop all over the fields as there just isn't enough scent to push a nose driven dog on and on. Even with so much light pollution.

 

I honestly think she's one of the smartest dogs I've ever had, picks things up instantly, but I've been training her and her sister with a few big differences; guess I've finally learned a thing or two. Very little negative reinforcement, and loads of play training, and not a lot of boring stuff like sit and stay. I'm just lucky that Schuck is so full on, wants to play, and is very intense, very driven. Had I owned a dog like her, even ten years ago, I think I would have struggled. Never too old to learn: that's my motto! That's me I'm talking about by the way: not the dog!

[Rabbiting man 1,192]

Good read penny you been waiting for the time to come im happy for you how is the other bitch doing

[Charlie bull X 11]

Skycat.. Do you write in the countrymans weekly? I only ask cause im sure there was something in there about a dog called schuck a few weeks ago

[Guest vin]

nice one Penny ..you know what your doing with your own dog. good luck for the winter.

[s.e.s.k.u 1,893]

a good read well done

spot on

[Tyla 3,179]

Well done Schuck and Penny! Excellent start