Need advice on using dogs to 'mark' holes for ferreting

[Joejoe 1]

Hey everyone

 

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum but was my first logical guess! I was talking to a fairly drunk old fellow the other night and the topic turned to ferreting. He started to tell me how he used to use dogs to 'mark' holes. In short (and with out the bull he padded it with), his dog/s would point holes that had rabbits in.

 

I had to leave for my taxi but the next day I was keen to find out more. Does anyone know about this or have any kind of information on how its done, what its called or what dogs are used?

 

Thanks

 

JoeJoe

[Ideation 8,216]

The old guy was probably telling the truth.

 

Lots of folk use dogs to show them if rabbits are to ground. Pretty much any dog can do it, most use lurchers, whippets, terriers, gun dogs etc. Or just a cur.

 

The dog learns through exposure and practice, and learns to scent the rabbits below ground and indicate someway - a raised foot, or sniffing down the hole, or freezing above it etc.

 

It's called 'marking' and saves a lot of time.

 

[staffyspen 43]

iv seen dogs arking holes when searching on youtube for ferreting,

a shortish video with jack charlton years back,

has 2 ferreting blokes in it with 2 jack russels!!

[darbo 4,776]

this little dog has not let me down yet when ferreting. a very good marking dog.

 

[Ferret mad Dave 65]

I use a Staffordshire bull he has never let me down always rabbits at home plus he will also Mark foxs

Edited too say will try too get a pic up

Edited January 3, 2012 by Ferret mad Dave

[Kile 21]

yes mate the old fogey was right you can use any dog to mark holes it is called marking, a day out ferreting is easier with a dog that marks you can get through lots of sets .

there is nothing better than watching your dog work.. hope this is good info for you mate

 

 

atb kile

[Kile 21]

and this one

[staffyspen 43]

I use a Staffordshire bull he has never let me down always rabbits at home plus he will also Mark foxs

Edited too say will try too get a pic up

 

nice to see a stafford being used for something constructive today,

this loving breed needs a new purpose in life.

after read this i may try 1 of mine instead of looking at getting 1 of the usual breeds.

 

thanks

[The one 8,482]

Our lurcher bitch will mark occupied burrows by lifting her paw ,that's how i like to see it done ,the dog not touching the burrow or alerting the rabbits

[Country Joe 1,411]

Our lurcher bitch will mark occupied burrows by lifting her paw ,that's how i like to see it done ,the dog not touching the burrow or alerting the rabbits

 

My Whippet x bedlington was a superb marker, she would approach the bury quietly then tilt her head to the side, then she would go behind the bury and lie in wait, the way it should be, dont like to see dogs with head right in the bury, they could be snorting and telling the rabbits.

[Country Joe 1,411]

After marking the bury quietly, this whippet pup is waiting for the bolt.

[darbo 4,776]

i like to see a dog mark in the style of a raised paw or marking away from the burrow.unfortunatly mine marks with his head a little into the hole but does not snort down them. but in all honesty i probably alert the rabbits more than the dog due to the terrain i ferret woodland with plenty of brambles. plenty of leaf litter on the floor. have to use the secaters on most holes. so im sure i alert the rabbits. but luckly dont seem to do much digging.

[Ferret mad Dave 65]

I use a Staffordshire bull he has never let me down always rabbits at home plus he will also Mark foxs

Edited too say will try too get a pic up

 

nice to see a stafford being used for something constructive today

this loving breed needs a new purpose in life.

after read this i may try 1 of mine instead of looking at getting 1 of the usual breeds.

 

thanks

 

 

You just have to watch him he can get a bit nippy with the ferrets but will warn you pal they get like bombs onces there on something there on it till the end make good bulldoozers too never mind go round it go though it

[Ferret mad Dave 65]

heres my lad busy at work

[KittleRox 2,147]

aye a dog marking can be very obvious such as the ways which have been mentioned such as head down the hole, a lifted paw, laying/sitting by the hole etc but sometimes the sign a dog can give you can be very subtle and you have to learn to read the signs the dogs giving you

 

 

this is mines anticipating a bolt and she,s often correct, her marking is alot more subtle and is hard to explain to be honest, alot of collie types will mark with the raised paw though

 

my whippets marking is a bit more obvious

 

Edited January 3, 2012 by KittleRox