ferreting dogs

[Jamie m 668]

It depends on the ground new permissions usually no need where I am , the following season handy , but I'm not going to turn down a days ferreting that's for sure ,

[muddy210 34]

ive got meself a 3/4whippetx !/4 beddy to go woth this year she seems to have the idea on her all ready she has a good nose and seems to be marking up the right burrows not bolted one for her yet but shes well in with the ferts and her retreive is good so hopefully she will pick it all up in her own good time. any of you guys do specific training for this work or like me let them develop it naturally over time

[Guest annette jackman]

mines a bearded collie grey, a mate i go out with has a beddie whippet only 13 months and shes a cracking little thing,both have alot of patients, (depends on how you teach the dog though) their coats have some protection from thorns, weather ect another friends whippet was for ever getting cut up on the field my med kit came in handy for him

[Ideation 8,216]

I wouldnt ferret with no dogs, unless it was for a large amount of money. f**k THAT!

Why not ????? The clue is in the word ferreting.: )

 

To be honest mate, for me 'ferreting' involves using a dog.

 

I know what you are saying and i think with you it's a little different. I think i probably WOULD do it with no dog a time or two, maybe, in order to secure new permission.

 

But i just can't really swallow the idea of heading off for a days hunting and leaving the dog in the kennel, i'd probably just rather go somewhere else with him, and catch less.

 

I love watching the dog work the land, and find the warrens, find which are occupied and where the rabbits are (i.e which part of the warrens he marks). And i really love watching the dog following the movement underground and anticipating whats going to happen.

 

It would do my head in a bit as well, watching the odd rabbit skip the net, or come out of an unetted hole and just walk off. And it makes life a lot easier when ferreting soo, if you dont have to run about like a oon, leaping on bunnies, because the dog is much, much quicker than you, and will get there first, and hod it, and be left if you are dealing with another.

 

Also on the occaision where a second rabbit follows the first, out of the same hole, he can drop the netted one and snatch up the free runner.

 

Mosty, i just really like my dogs company, and would miss him like feck.

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Dogs are proven earners,...and they work real cheap...

 

 

 

 

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[BEARINATOR 2,868]

Spot on Chalky , I use my deer/greys and pure greys for ferreting. They mark occupied warrens and will pick up any bolters

[lifelong cumbrian 1,826]

I dont like going ferreting without a marking dog, it is the best part of the day watching a dog work. I like taking a young dog out and watching its progress over a period of time. Personally i only like to have 1 dog out ferreting although most times my partner for the day will have their dog aswell. I personally think a good marking dog makes better ferrets aswell as the ferret will hunt better knowing that everytime it is put in a sett there is a rabbit/rabbits somewhere, i think constantly running ferrets in unocupied setts buggers them up and they get a bit half hearted in there hunting. I let a young dog learn to mark on its own and do not offer to much encouragement as that can lead to false marking, i just get out plenty, give the dog the hours and if the dog has it it will come out. Some dogs pick it up fast others take longer. All i want my dog to do (trained up) is mark well, good with ferrets, 100% on livestock and catch as many net slippers as possible and most of all do it in a controlled manner. Young dogs need time to settle aswell, i dont think you can be to hard on them when a little over keen, just keep as good of control as possible. They have loads to learn and that takes a lot of time so i am happy to see a little progress on each trip than expecting too much, you cant beat seeing a young dog turning into a decent ferreting partner, it is a great journey for you and your dog.

Edited July 6, 2012 by lifelong cumbrian

[Mick C. 229]

A dog will also find the rabbits that are sitting out

 

Really handy for marking holes that look crap that rabbits have gone into to avoid the dog.

 

Had plenty of sucessful days without the dog too.

 

Field craft comes into its own then.

 

Only drawback with a dog is that they can sometimes run in before the rabbit is fully pursed.

 

However i try not to leave home without the mutt

[skycat 6,173]

What dog you find the most useful will depend on your ground and whether or not you use nets. Little dogs for hedgerows and hedge bottoms, bigger dogs for open land and bolting without nets if the ground is flat and smooth like drilling or grass where the ground favours the rabbit, medium sized dogs for everything, though they all need a bit of early pace to snaffle up bolting bunnies. It's not so much the breeding of the dog but its attitude: I've ferreted with Saluki/Greys, Whirriers, straight Collies, and everything in between. Any dog with a degree of prey drive, taken early on in its life, as a pup, should pick up the game with no problem, though 'action' dogs, those with a real need to be actively hunting all the time, sometimes find it hard to settle to that waiting around for a bolt.

[iworkwhippets 12,543]

What that lady just said

[Ideation 8,216]

What dog you find the most useful will depend on your ground and whether or not you use nets. Little dogs for hedgerows and hedge bottoms, bigger dogs for open land and bolting without nets if the ground is flat and smooth like drilling or grass where the ground favours the rabbit, medium sized dogs for everything, though they all need a bit of early pace to snaffle up bolting bunnies. It's not so much the breeding of the dog but its attitude: I've ferreted with Saluki/Greys, Whirriers, straight Collies, and everything in between. Any dog with a degree of prey drive, taken early on in its life, as a pup, should pick up the game with no problem, though 'action' dogs, those with a real need to be actively hunting all the time, sometimes find it hard to settle to that waiting around for a bolt.

 

I agree, except that some of us ferret all of the above . . . . and more.

 

I still think, it's very hard to beat a colie based lurcher for the ferreting, they just have the patience and brains required.

[derbylad1 293]

What dog you find the most useful will depend on your ground and whether or not you use nets. Little dogs for hedgerows and hedge bottoms, bigger dogs for open land and bolting without nets if the ground is flat and smooth like drilling or grass where the ground favours the rabbit, medium sized dogs for everything, though they all need a bit of early pace to snaffle up bolting bunnies. It's not so much the breeding of the dog but its attitude: I've ferreted with Saluki/Greys, Whirriers, straight Collies, and everything in between. Any dog with a degree of prey drive, taken early on in its life, as a pup, should pick up the game with no problem, though 'action' dogs, those with a real need to be actively hunting all the time, sometimes find it hard to settle to that waiting around for a bolt.

 

I agree, except that some of us ferret all of the above . . . . and more.

 

I still think, it's very hard to beat a colie based lurcher for the ferreting, they just have the patience and brains required.

 

Couldn't agree more. I've got coco (collie/grey/whippet), not the best lamping dog as she thinks too much, but by feck a great day time dog. I've been out with other lines/breeds and really missed her whens shes not there. Good nose, patience, stability and a real good mark.

Edited July 6, 2012 by derbylad1

[lifelong cumbrian 1,826]

What dog you find the most useful will depend on your ground and whether or not you use nets. Little dogs for hedgerows and hedge bottoms, bigger dogs for open land and bolting without nets if the ground is flat and smooth like drilling or grass where the ground favours the rabbit, medium sized dogs for everything, though they all need a bit of early pace to snaffle up bolting bunnies. It's not so much the breeding of the dog but its attitude: I've ferreted with Saluki/Greys, Whirriers, straight Collies, and everything in between. Any dog with a degree of prey drive, taken early on in its life, as a pup, should pick up the game with no problem, though 'action' dogs, those with a real need to be actively hunting all the time, sometimes find it hard to settle to that waiting around for a bolt.

 

I agree, except that some of us ferret all of the above . . . . and more.

 

I still think, it's very hard to beat a colie based lurcher for the ferreting, they just have the patience and brains required.

 

Couldn't agree more. I've got coco (collie/grey/whippet), not the best lamping dog as she thinks too much, but by feck a great day time dog. I've been out with other lines/breeds and really missed her whens shes not there. Good nose, patience, stability and a real good mark.

 

She is a nice looking bitch mate, very strong build, should e able to take a few knocks. Great type of ferreting dog.

[nothernlite 18,080]

What dog you find the most useful will depend on your ground and whether or not you use nets. Little dogs for hedgerows and hedge bottoms, bigger dogs for open land and bolting without nets if the ground is flat and smooth like drilling or grass where the ground favours the rabbit, medium sized dogs for everything, though they all need a bit of early pace to snaffle up bolting bunnies. It's not so much the breeding of the dog but its attitude: I've ferreted with Saluki/Greys, Whirriers, straight Collies, and everything in between. Any dog with a degree of prey drive, taken early on in its life, as a pup, should pick up the game with no problem, though 'action' dogs, those with a real need to be actively hunting all the time, sometimes find it hard to settle to that waiting around for a bolt.

 

I agree, except that some of us ferret all of the above . . . . and more.

 

I still think, it's very hard to beat a colie based lurcher for the ferreting, they just have the patience and brains required.

i thought the same and still do but must say got a we beddy whipp grey and he is as good as any colliex ive had or seen he has brains an patience very loyal and eager to please the blue dog in the pic

[xHOUNDx 33]

cheers for your input lads decided to go with beddy x whippet