hunting age

[kent hunter 15]

Hi,Ive just brought a 3/4 whippet 1/4 beddy which is 9 weeks old can anyone tell me around which age i should take her rabbiting and should i start to prepare now and how should i do it.thanks joe

[rob190364 2,594]

I'd forget about actual hunting for now and concentrate on getting the training and stock breaking bang on....then late in the summer get hier started on mixi rabbits and start breaking her in slowly to healthy rabbits (if she's ready) at the start of next season. Mine wasn't quick enough to catch a healthy adult rabbit til she was about 11 months old!

 

From what I can gather beddy/whips can easily become yappers if you try and enter her too early aswell so you don't want that.

Edited March 10, 2012 by rob190364

[kent hunter 15]

ok mate cheers have you got any tips on training her you look like you know your stuff ?

[rob190364 2,594]

ok mate cheers have you got any tips on training her you look like you know your stuff ?

I'm no expert bud, I've had dogs all my life but this is my first lurcher so there are people far better than me at advising you.

 

If I was to offer any advice though, I'd say spend loads of time with her to build up a strong bond, get the basics sorted sit, stay, recall etc. Take her in fields (on a lead) with livestock and correct her every time she even has a look at one of them, get her used to being around them.....build up to using an extension lead and if she makes a dart for the sheep/cows etc., even in a payful way, give her a proper firm bollocking, keep on and on at that until you're confident she knows not to chase them.

 

Get a rabbit skin dummy and work on fetch/retrieve once you've got the basics sorted. Like I say, get her on mixi or young uns late in the summer, then when you introduce her I'd start by letting her mouth ferreting rabbits in the nets, and then when you're fairly confident she's quick enough give her bolters from warrens in the middle of fields, or easy slips on lamped rabbits if you don't have ferrets. Teach her to jump once she's fully grown, starting with small obstacles and building up until she can clear gates. Don't worry about fitness training until she's fully mature and even then don't overdo it until she's a couple of years old.

 

That's the way I've been trying to do it anyway.....and one more thing, listen to all the advice you get....but take it with a pinch of salt, apply a bit of common sense and make your own mind up on things

 

Good luck bud, any pics of your pup?

Edited March 10, 2012 by rob190364

[kent hunter 15]

thanks so much mate ill put some pics up when i get the chance thanks again!

[troter58 1,711]

get your self the dvd called purdys progres it will show you how to get your pup started on the right road atb troter

[kent hunter 15]

do you know where i can get myself a copy?

[troter58 1,711]

do you know where i can get myself a copy?

p m a lad called mr pitt off here he will sort you one out atb troter

[kent hunter 15]

sorry mate im new to this forum how do i find him ?

[troter58 1,711]

click on members at top of the page and search the name click on the name takes you to profile send the message to him for dvd atb

[kent hunter 15]

can find him mate can u send him a message ask him to contact me sorry to be a bother

[kent hunter 15]

cant

[NEWKID 27,382]

As has been said mate take it slow and get the basics as right as you can, don't get frustrated everyone will make out they have a perfectly trained dog the reality is usualy different, work on re-call and retrieve but make everything short and fun for the pup. If you've got ferrets or a friend with ferrets start her early season around them she'll soon work out the game. I started mine around 8mnths on the lamp nothing serious just a walk out 1 or 2 runs on easy rabbits, early season young ones are ideal. I've got a 3/4 whip 1/4 beddy too they are cracking little rabbit dogs mate just take it slow and don't expect to much too soon.

 

3/4 1/4 to the right 1stx beddy whip on the left

 

ATB

Kev

[kent hunter 15]

nice dog there mate.does anyone know where i can get a nice collar f?ck the ban ext

[beast 1,884]

ok mate cheers have you got any tips on training her you look like you know your stuff ?

I'm no expert bud, I've had dogs all my life but this is my first lurcher so there are people far better than me at advising you.

 

If I was to offer any advice though, I'd say spend loads of time with her to build up a strong bond, get the basics sorted sit, stay, recall etc. Take her in fields (on a lead) with livestock and correct her every time she even has a look at one of them, get her used to being around them.....build up to using an extension lead and if she makes a dart for the sheep/cows etc., even in a payful way, give her a proper firm bollocking, keep on and on at that until you're confident she knows not to chase them.

 

Get a rabbit skin dummy and work on fetch/retrieve once you've got the basics sorted. Like I say, get her on mixi or young uns late in the summer, then when you introduce her I'd start by letting her mouth ferreting rabbits in the nets, and then when you're fairly confident she's quick enough give her bolters from warrens in the middle of fields, or easy slips on lamped rabbits if you don't have ferrets. Teach her to jump once she's fully grown, starting with small obstacles and building up until she can clear gates. Don't worry about fitness training until she's fully mature and even then don't overdo it until she's a couple of years old.

 

That's the way I've been trying to do it anyway.....and one more thing, listen to all the advice you get....but take it with a pinch of salt, apply a bit of common sense and make your own mind up on things

 

Good luck bud, any pics of your pup?

 

this is all good advice.

 

you will get out of the dog what you put into the pup. dont rush it and dont listen to dickheads. even if you wait till the dogs a year old before you think its ready, no problem