Schuck makes a start on the lamp

[skycat 6,173]

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

 

Lena is just as keen, but she's a lot more sensitive, and very sound shy. I'm dreading fireworks night, and she tenses when she hears guns in the distance. I'm playing the fireworks CD at home a lot at the moment hoping to desensitise her a bit. I think I'll be concentrating on ferreting with her more this season as we're less likely to be plagued by bangs at night: those thing always spook a dog more in the dark. Schuck is immune to noise, thankfully: just as well because it was battle of the Somme the other night. Loud bangs coming from all directions.

Lena just isn't as tough mentally as Schuck, though I know she's got what it takes: she will probably just need to mature a bit more yet, and needs a bit more confidence.

[munster man 118]

good read penny glad its all coming toghter for you

[inan 841]

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

Everything comes to those who wait, your patience has been rewarded P.A good beginning

[boyo 1,398]

good read penny dont fancy taking my saluki greyhound with you do you lol. see you shortly at the e e l c.

[Mars 42]

Sounds like a good start....and good luck with Lena getting her going to

[Rabbiting man 1,191]

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

 

Lena is just as keen, but she's a lot more sensitive, and very sound shy. I'm dreading fireworks night, and she tenses when she hears guns in the distance. I'm playing the fireworks CD at home a lot at the moment hoping to desensitise her a bit. I think I'll be concentrating on ferreting with her more this season as we're less likely to be plagued by bangs at night: those thing always spook a dog more in the dark. Schuck is immune to noise, thankfully: just as well because it was battle of the Somme the other night. Loud bangs coming from all directions.

Lena just isn't as tough mentally as Schuck, though I know she's got what it takes: she will probably just need to mature a bit more yet, and needs a bit more confidence.

She get there in time all the best with her keep us posted on how they getting on

[skycat 6,173]

I might have to revise what I said about Lena: just come back in from an hour's mooch, and she took off on the scent of a fox. I know it was a fox because old Starlight got all wound up: foxes are the only thing that wind her up these days: old thing that she is. Lena disappeared in the undergrowth just like her dam, the Airedale. And came back a while later, all excited and buzzing. Obviously she never got near it, but she seemed really excited about the hunt, and there was a sort of air about her which spoke volumes. She was really jealous that I'd taken Schuck out last night and not her, sniffing all round her sister's jaws, smelling the rabbits, so it didn't surprise me that she was hunting hard today.

[TOMO 26,248]

good start there p, i been intrested in these muts since you first had them, be nice to see what they do this winter, all the best TOMO

[skycat 6,173]

good start there p, i been intrested in these muts since you first had them, be nice to see what they do this winter, all the best TOMO

 

Once they've got going properly you'll be the first I'll contact Need a bit more practice yet, and get a bit fitter before they see numbers.

[shaunovderby 183]

well done skycat keep at them i also tomo wanted to see the out come of this breed

[Moll. 1,770]

Well done the both of you, i don't think there is a greater feeling in the world than your pup getting there

[adeyhawk1970 0]

Well done Penny im glad to see shuck is doing so well :thumbs:

[jarv5116 57]

Penny are the dogs first x cross airdales?

Is there still working airdales around?

cheers j

[skycat 6,173]

adey: stick a photo up of yours: I'd love to see how he's shaping up.

 

Jarv: they're out of my Redline Airedale from American working lines imported to the UK. And yes, they are first crosses to my Saluki/Grey lurcher. I believe there's a few dogs from those lines working in this country now, and some have been bred from to make lurchers.

[dodger 2,765]

Good thread sc glad your happy with them sounds like you will have a good season