Schuck makes a start on the lamp

[jarv5116 57]

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.

Yeah there was a airdale cross up ere few years ago. that was suppose be good dog and produced some good pups.

Neva seen or heard of the cross since.

I was quite intrested in the airdales on working airdales site in the states.

also there nice looking dog airdale x Apbt on working terriers at minute.

I think if you got proper airdale they maybe handy x.

cheers j

[whin 463]

good read thats no aidy with the big black and white collie lurcher from years back aidie g got pics of him and his furry colie type

[skycat 6,173]

I think you might be thinking of Aidy G? Didn't he used to compete in the NLRC obedience and field trial comps? He had a big David James bred Collie lurcher. Think he went into Saluki types later. Not seen him in years.

[bendrover 556]

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

[spen2dean 0]

yes mate will done i went out last night cus it was blowing like hell my bitch has just come off sesson so not expecting to much from her it was a bit light but was itching to get out she had a few runs and got two so i went home happy she tock her time to come back on the last one but shes still got a lot to learn good hunting mate

[Good Man 196]

grand reading that.

your pup must have good feet. ?

Edited October 8, 2011 by Good Man

[adeyhawk1970 0]

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.

I promise i will get a picture of him up this week...Im still stuck at 2 rabbits due to myxie hitting again but the buggar has caught 2 cock pheasants on the rise ..he thinks hes a hunting cat on the african planes the way he leaps at them lol

[whin 463]

ye he did sky cat liked a laugh to i never mention second names ye aidy g , saw his dog work not bad for a big lump of a dog great days and no law to harass you lol,was he from down your way or yorkshire

[LAZYBSTARD 225]

good read and a nice dog good luck with the rest of the season

[whin 463]

got some good pics of working aredales in texas they use them on cats bears and feral hogs along beside black and tan hounds but they take coons coyotes if giving the chance some of the male ardales are powerful dogs

[skycat 6,173]

got some good pics of working aredales in texas they use them on cats bears and feral hogs along beside black and tan hounds but they take coons coyotes if giving the chance some of the male ardales are powerful dogs

 

Any chance of seeing the pics? pm if you want.

[adeyhawk1970 0]

Sorry no idea how to post pictures on here

Edited October 14, 2011 by adeyhawk1970

[macca 83]

v

Edited October 14, 2011 by macca

[sandymere 8,263]

Good stuff, SC, should be a good winter.