Ferreting dogs, respecting nets

[weasle 1,119]

Just wondering lads opions on ferreting dogs,Should they grab netted rabbits or only stand over them.Only grabbing them if they slip nets.

[reddawn 2,173]

i expect my dogs to guard over a netted bunny until it either slips the net or i tell it to hold it, nowt worse than a dog runnin away way a netted bunny above all else it makes you look as tho you no control over the situation :censored:

[J.DOG 1,355]

I myself prefer a dog to stand over a net and only pick up if the bunny bolts but I'm alright having a dog that holds down a netted bunny as long as they leave when told and don't run off with it lol

[Rolfe 2]

Horses for courses you accept what YOU want of your dog.......Me... I expect my net-dog to hold a pursed rabbit in a net till i can get to it ,the same as he will secure a rabbit in a long net, but i am involved in full time rabbit control so that may make a difference. My dog is very soft mouthed so never kills a rabbit in a net..........I find it a bonus that he understands the way a rabbiting team should operate.........as a team....!

[reddawn 2,173]

Horses for courses you accept what YOU want of your dog.......Me... I expect my net-dog to hold a pursed rabbit in a net till i can get to it ,the same as he will secure a rabbit in a long net, but i am involved in full time rabbit control so that may make a difference. My dog is very soft mouthed so never kills a rabbit in a net..........I find it a bonus that he understands the way a rabbiting team should operate.........as a team....!

 

so do you exoect ye dog to grab each an every bunny that hits a purse net rolfe? i tend to tell mine to hold 1 if its pinging about at other end of a big bury or side of a hedge, or if im busy un netting another bunny

[The one 8,493]

i count on my dog grabbing them and holding them till somebody gets there and kills them you cant be everwhere on a burrow and your response will never be as fast as a dog

[beast 1,884]

i expect mine to hold one till i get there, but drop it and look up IMMEDIATELY i say, so it doesnt miss any that might bolt elsewhere. i find that the main problem ive had over the years is teaching a pup to retrieve the rabbits it catches but not the ones in nets!! can take a while to sort this out

[wharrier 39]

Good ferreting dogs r hard to come by a bet only a fraction of lurchers in this country r textbook at ferreting n they will most probs be the same type cross

[Fat-Ferret 857]

The best way it was ever summed up was by Phil Lloyd:

 

There are dogs that go out with ferrets, and there are ferreting dogs....So true

Edited February 29, 2012 by Fat-Ferret

[Ideation 8,216]

We like them to hold them in the nets, a lot of the land we do is rough and nets very rarely purse anyway, so i dont see the point of waiting for the rabbit to kick out, when it would be quicked for the dog to just grab it. Obviously the dog doesnt run off with it, it just holds it until you get there. My lad, will usually use his feet if the rabbit isnt bouncing about like mad.

 

Interestingly a friend of mine doesnt peg any of his nets, preffering to let the dogs grab every one.I

 

I'm also of the opinion that it gives the dogs something to do, rather than stand about all day waiting for the odd chance a of one skipping a net.

[weasle 1,119]

Cheers lads some good points there.To me it never seems right to see perfectly netted rabbits grabbed.

[stroller 341]

if it doesnt hold in the net its not worth it for me. i have arthritis so i specifically need a dog to hold until i get there as long as it doesnt crush it.

[undisputed 1,664]

I'm old fashioned when it comes to ferreting, I dont expect my dog to touch a rabbit in the net she's there to mark the warren and chase any that get out of the net or a hole I might have missed. It does my head in when a dog grabs at a netted rabbit, but everyone's different

[Mick C. 229]

Work a lot of places on my own

 

 

I need the dog to hold them until i can get there

 

Once that pegs pulled out bunnys got a second life

[darbo 4,776]

i ferret on my own. in woodland often on bramble covered banks. a dog can often get there quicker than me. so i prefer it if it holds it in the net.