Pup and bunnies, advice please?

[The Duncan 802]

Hi folks, just looking to pick brains.

 

A couple of times when walking the youngster, she's disturbed a group of rabbits and as she's a pup, she's been bewildered by the number of them and herded them back to their burrows. She obviously wants to chase and catch, but doesn't know how to yet.

Now, my gut says to avoid direct contact with bunnies like the plague with her til shes older (she's only 20 weeks) because i don't want her to miss rabbits repeatedly and give up trying to catch them.

Am I right?

 

Also, in another spot tonight, I spotted a youngish bunny at 30 yards away head off, flashing its white scutt as it went but Roxy missed seeing it totally. However, 5 minutes later she did spot a black lab 500 yards away and was off like Fenton!

 

Oh to be young and foolish! Still very, very pleased with her as she's come on great in all departments to date

 

Some pics whilst I'm here

 

 

 

 

and yes....that is cabbage in her bed! she nicked it and was eating/shredding it! Good thief, bad target selection

[123456 146]

she may start using her nose if she chase to many daytime mate, hunt up when you start her on the lamp i mean

[paulus 26]

shes brindle she will be fine

[paulus 26]

she may start using her nose if she chase to many daytime mate, hunt up when you start her on the lamp i mean

dances are you saying a dog that uses it nose to hunt daytime will hunt up on the lamp

[123456 146]

not necessarily but there is always the chance, especially i think if started alot more doing things like what he has described

[The Duncan 802]

Do you guys think I should avoid her seeing rabbits when I take her out walking/training?

I don't want to mess her up!

 

123456 - she's always been a very 'nosey' dog if you know what I mean. Hope she does well.

[mackay 3,400]

Contrary to misguided belief, a dog that hunts during the day can also be lamped as well and not put it's nose to the ground.

[123456 146]

i know that mackay but its having the discipline ingrained in the dog,the bitch here can be a nightmare. didnt get her til she was 12 mnths old and she was hunting up and even now at the age of 6 if she goes out in the day(for a walk) and comes across a scent shell hunt up the next time she is lamped, well the first field anyway

[paulus 26]

not necessarily but there is always the chance, especially i think if started alot more doing things like what he has described

as a 20 week old pup i would think running towards another dog and turning a deaf ear is natural dealing with it is what matters, however i wouldnt let the pup get to the stage where it thinks it carnt get near them. rabbits that is

[123456 146]

i was referring to the bunnies mate not the fenton moment

[paulus 26]

i know that mackay but its having the discipline ingrained in the dog,the bitch here can be a nightmare. didnt get her til she was 12 mnths old and she was hunting up and even now at the age of 6 if she goes out in the day(for a walk) and comes across a scent shell hunt up the next time she is lamped, well the first field anyway

ive got one out of 3 here the same mate, the other 2 will switch from day work to lamping without a problem

[newcomer88 86]

My pup is just over 4 months now and she will retrieve dead rabbits well happy is this good practice ?? Cheers

[The Duncan 802]

not necessarily but there is always the chance, especially i think if started alot more doing things like what he has described

as a 20 week old pup i would think running towards another dog and turning a deaf ear is natural dealing with it is what matters, however i wouldnt let the pup get to the stage where it thinks it carnt get near them. rabbits that is

So try and avoid rabbit contact til she's older?

 

Not worried about Fenton moments with her - normal for most pups I think, it'll be trained out of her with time (I hope! has with every other dog I've ever had)

 

Pretty dog isn't she? Her nickname by the wife and kids is 'Womble'!

[The Duncan 802]

My pup is just over 4 months now and she will retrieve dead rabbits well happy is this good practice ?? Cheers

Roxy's been retrieving well, pretty much since her jabs - first tennis balls, then rabbit skin covered tennis balls and the odd recently shot pigeons too. She retrieves from cover pretty well and always to hand - well pleased with her for that

Can't be bad practise to teach her retrieving game can it?

[paulus 26]

not necessarily but there is always the chance, especially i think if started alot more doing things like what he has described

as a 20 week old pup i would think running towards another dog and turning a deaf ear is natural dealing with it is what matters, however i wouldnt let the pup get to the stage where it thinks it carnt get near them. rabbits that is

So try and avoid rabbit contact til she's older?

 

Not worried about Fenton moments with her - normal for most pups I think, it'll be trained out of her with time (I hope! has with every other dog I've ever had)

 

Pretty dog isn't she? Her nickname by the wife and kids is 'Womble'!

do any of your other dogs catch them daytime?