How to start?

[Gkeeper111 22]

Hello all-

 

My Lakeland bitch is 4 1/2 months old now and as this is my first terrier I'm abit miffed on how and when to start her off on work.

 

She comes around with me on the shoot but as there are poults all over the place at the moment mooching with her isn't going to be easy. On walks she stays very close and she is just starting to use her nose more than her eyes for things.

 

Naturally I know she is still very very young to do much with and I don't want to rush her hence putting up a post about it. I've seen plenty of rats about the place but at the moment they are half the size of the bitch.

 

How do you guys go about starting off your pups? I'm sure a terrierman on here has a general rule or plan?

 

Cheers Gk

[long dogs 580]

start it on with a few rats mate,and go from there

[huntmad. 67]

What u going to be use in the terrier for ground work bushing or ratter , not saying u can't use it for all of them but terriers are all funny I got a bitch at 7 an a half month and my mate got a litter brother to her an he's a dopey little thing no obedience no keenes nothin can't get it to do sod all but the bitch I got I fell lucky with cause she's do switched on an keen ain't a problem with her , I got a feild with a lovely 3 holler rabbit warren and at 14 weeks old she went to ground just on a walk and came out attached to the back of a rabbit an now I can't stop her goin to ground so she on the lead allot but at 6 month old me being careless she goes to ground under a rock I didn't even know there was a set there and starts going for it so I pulled the rocks away and she on a wild ferret it was giving her hell but she an my older dog killed it then but I couldnt grab her without her going for me cause she wanted to keep shacking it I know ur not supposed to hunt them but it was a freak accident I would never let her of seen teeth that age on perpous but now I'd give her rats without a second thought because I know the aggression in her wa I'm tryin to say is every terrier is different as u will learn off others experiences so just take ur time with her and either she will show u she's ready or ul just know urself but ground work flushing foxes I usually start then at 12-13 months as longs thier keen if not I hold them back a little longer

 

 

Atb

[houstyify 22]

i have a wee terrier here its about 13 months old caught him yesterday goin mad at a cat but any time i try to get him interested in the holes he refuses to go down. Not that i was tryin to force him but i would love him to be working !!!

Any ideas,tips and opinions on my situation as i would love to have him as a working eathdog

[alimac 882]

Patience..

[richlee 73]

my best dogs have been the ones i've spent the most time with , if he is from hunting stock & you are patient , things will work out just fine........richlee

[coonboy 160]

Houstify maybe ther nothing in the holes if u keep tryin him at empty holes trying to coax him in u will confuse him best off getting a tail or even a old skin let him get the scent of wat ever [bANNED TEXT] looking for and make it fun for him

[houstyify 22]

he's not from working dogs, he is actually the missus dog fs lol just seen him out the back the other day going mad at a cat on a fence. i have took him out for the walk with me when heading out with the ferrets a few times. i've came across a few setts along the way but he shows no interest really. any ideas? cheers

[Gkeeper111 22]

Cheers for the replies. I will be using her as an earth dog and after the shooting season on some rats by my ponds etc. (we release a lot of duck) she has caught a young rat and is starting to use her nose a lot more. Gonna keep her away from earths untill she is a lot older. Will put some more pics up of her soon.

 

Cheers Gk

[ARRAN 22]

get it out with other experienced terriers pal let it watch, if it was me id set a live rat trap and let the pup see it in the cage, and when shes old enough let the rat out if she is keen, or let it out for another dog and let yours watch