redpat1 225 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 I took my pup (8 months old) out last night when I was on my permission, I was shooting bunnies as although not my preferred choice I am trying to keep the population down so I dont lose my it. I thought it would also be a good way for her to be introduced to the quarry as they are usually either dead or on the way out when I shoot them. I managed to pop one off and I walked her over to it to show her it writhing around for a second before I put it out of its misery, she looked at it then at me as if to say "what did you do that for?" We then moved on to some marsh land and I let her off as we were approaching the car and she went in to cover and then came hurtling back out and hid behind me and a bunny she had chanced upon legged it in the other direction. I know she is only a baby but she has no interest at all at the moment. I am wondering if she is a bit of a nancy, not that it matters as if that is the case she will still stay with me. No harsh comments please as I am finding my own way in to all of this and dont have anybody to show or tell me anything. All Constructive and sensible comments are very welcome. Pat Quote Link to post
dymented 2,220 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 try taking it out with another dog bud Quote Link to post
troter58 1,711 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 still very young mate just keep taking the pup out with you. you should see the switch come on in a few more months and dont push the dog to hard nice and steady mate atb troter Quote Link to post
redpat1 225 Posted September 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Thanks, yeah I know she is still very young and I definately wont give up on her. Dymented, it is a great idea but one of the problems is I dont know anyone else with an older dog as there isnt many people (that I know of) around my area that are in to it. Quote Link to post
dymented 2,220 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 were abouts are you bud im sure there will be some one near you Quote Link to post
nottzhunter08 898 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 taking her out with another dog should sort her out mate. i suppose it will be a boost of confidence to see another dog doing it, never had the probem myself good luck tho pal Quote Link to post
redpat1 225 Posted September 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 I am down in Kent and I hardly ever see any lurchers or working terriers. If I do see anything they are not normally worked or owned by people who are not in to our sports. If there is anyone local I would be interested in hearing from them, I might even take them for a beer or two as I dont even get to talk about it with my usual crowd and their I-Pads. LOL Quote Link to post
Twitch 13 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 taking her out with another dog should sort her out mate. i suppose it will be a boost of confidence to see another dog doing it, never had the probem myself good luck tho pal where abouts in notts r ya? tried PMin u but it wouldnt work, Quote Link to post
banjo14 49 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 my dog didnt catch anything untill he was 14 months old. take it steady with him as hes only a baby. 1 Quote Link to post
skycat 6,173 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Pups go through various 'fear' stages in their development. Yours may be going through such a stage. If she hasn't ever seen rabbits before then the whole idea of chasing and being interested in prey is very alien to her. I would have taken the pup out in the field with me from an early age, getting her used to seeing rabbits about, seeing you shoot them. It is important to acquaint pups with fur at an early age, but in a controlled situation, not just letting them tear about after prey they have no hope of catching. Dry a rabbit skin, run around with it on a long piece of string: awaken her prey drive: get her interested in the fast moving object. Have fun, play with the pup.........if she is a timid, uncertain type of dog . Have you done too much obedience training or been too strict with her when young? It is easy to turn a confident lurcher pup into one which hardly dares breathe without permission if you are only used to thick skinned gun dogs! And lurchers are often a lot more sensitive than other breeds) Once she is chasing, pouncing on and catching the skin, do the same with a small dead rabbit. Don't try and 'train', just play and have fun: get the pup happy and free from commands and fear of doing the wrong thing. There's plenty of time to work on the details once you have a confident, up for anything pup. It is very difficult to give generalised advice over the internet as each dog is different, and really, one should see both owner and dog together in order to make the right suggestions. One of the best lamp dogs I knew, ran yelping in fear from a squealing rabbit in a net at 6 months old. He ran and hid under the owner's car! A few months later he was catching rabbits with the best of them. Quote Link to post
redpat1 225 Posted September 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 taking her out with another dog should sort her out mate. i suppose it will be a boost of confidence to see another dog doing it, never had the probem myself good luck tho pal where abouts in notts r ya? tried PMin u but it wouldnt work, I am down in kent mate, if I was in Notts there probably wouldnt be a problem Cheers Pat Quote Link to post
redpat1 225 Posted September 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Thanks Skycat, I was hoping you might chip in. I will start drying out a couple of pelts today starting at the beginning again and will try and make sure its fun for her. I an not very hard with her discipline as I felt with her temprament it could push her towards nervousness. I just find her hard to figure as one minute she seems full of gusto and the next she will just sit there and lick her backside.LOL. Pat Quote Link to post
skycat 6,173 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 What breeding is the pup? Roughly: lurchers are all different depending on what breeds they have in them. I have a very good friend in Kent who might be able to offer some pointers for you and the pup. I'll pm him and ask if he's willing to do this. Quote Link to post
redpat1 225 Posted September 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Thanks Skycat, the pup is a DHGH X Whip. She is a lovely little thing most of the time and I would love to turn her in to a really well rounded dog as I am besotted with her and would like her to have a long and happy life (but working). Thanks Pat Quote Link to post
skycat 6,173 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 You have all sighthound in the breeding, and those sort of dogs can take a lot longer to grow up and mature than some other types. They can also be a lot more sensitive. Each step of training needs to be completely understood before you take the pup to the next stage. Focus on getting her really confident in all sorts of different situations, but be aware that she may be going through the overly cautious stage where even familiar things might make her spook, out of the blue and for no apparent reason. Read some of the threads on here about training: there's some really good advice on building confidence and trust. 1 Quote Link to post
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.