can an undocked terrier still go to ground?

[man o kent 269]

Evenin everyone, i will appologise now if my ques seems daft, but im starting from scratch with no hunting background, and you has to start somewhere. After loads of reading, talking to people, and getting to know my local hunting folk, i may get the chance to take my tykes out and use the instinct they were bred with. Its been tough, as none of my family or friends have ever taken an interest in country pursuits, or even kept dogs before! I have a 4 year old patt bitch who i intended to work when i first got her as a pup, but family, life and work put paid to that! She is a calm steady girl, but is she too old to start going to ground now? (the local small shoot has pheasant pens, but no terriers). And now i have a patt/ russell pup who is undocked. Would it cause him tail damage or hinder him underground? I dont have a raging blood lust, i love my dogs, but i would love to see them do the job that they have been bred for, and want to do. Many thanks in advance

[patterdale666 1,620]

It doesnt matter what the dog looks like or if it has a tail or not if it wants to go to ground it will

[Tsayad 88]

I'm hunting one older docked (halftail) bitch and two young undocked terriers.

 

I can't recall seeing significant tail-damage on any of them.

AFAIK, the issue with terriers is not so much damage to the tail, as the potential to restrict their ability to manouvre in a tight spot or when faced by an aggressive fox and needing to retreat a little. The payoff may be in a few more bites to the muzzle, but you're unlikely to know what was the cause. Mostly, if a dog is getting bitten it's because the dog wants to get in the fox's face. and that isn't always a bad thing.

 

So the answer from me is, let your dogs do what comes naturally to them. My only suggestion is that you don't let two inexperienced dogs go to ground at once, as a keen dog can push the front dog into the fox and get it chewed more than necessary.

 

It also doesn't hurt if you can introduce your dogs to a shot fox or two above ground. Anything that builds their confidence before they are faced with that dark, tight hole.

 

Regards.... Peter

[MAIN MAN 277]

If the dog goes in the tail will follow!!

[samba 534]

foxes have tails they go to ground aswell

[bd hunter 25]

im trying not to laugh but A terrier normally goes to ground head first so don't worry about his tail being long r short lol

[snizle06 202]

It's a big no no the tail will get caught up in roots. As said before tail only follows rest of dog

[bobby blackheart 1,209]

dont worry about the tail-if the dog wants to get it will-please NEVER DOUBLE UP TERRIERS NO MATTER WHAT-give em a try-if they work it will be the best feeling in the world.atb bobby

[man o kent 269]

Thanks gents (sorry to any ladies), i get the point. Im afraid their may be a few more obvious (not to me) ques coming your way in the not too distant future

[GrCh 856]

Evenin everyone, i will appologise now if my ques seems daft, but im starting from scratch with no hunting background, and you has to start somewhere. After loads of reading, talking to people, and getting to know my local hunting folk, i may get the chance to take my tykes out and use the instinct they were bred with. Its been tough, as none of my family or friends have ever taken an interest in country pursuits, or even kept dogs before! I have a 4 year old patt bitch who i intended to work when i first got her as a pup, but family, life and work put paid to that! She is a calm steady girl, but is she too old to start going to ground now? (the local small shoot has pheasant pens, but no terriers). And now i have a patt/ russell pup who is undocked. Would it cause him tail damage or hinder him underground? I dont have a raging blood lust, i love my dogs, but i would love to see them do the job that they have been bred for, and want to do. Many thanks in advance

 

its not a stupid question if you dont know the answer mate

[BIG G wheton machine 1,594]

the tail should be ok as long as your dog isnt trying to fart in the foxes face insteada barking to stink him out

[christian71 3,187]

Evenin everyone, i will appologise now if my ques seems daft, but im starting from scratch with no hunting background, and you has to start somewhere. After loads of reading, talking to people, and getting to know my local hunting folk, i may get the chance to take my tykes out and use the instinct they were bred with. Its been tough, as none of my family or friends have ever taken an interest in country pursuits, or even kept dogs before! I have a 4 year old patt bitch who i intended to work when i first got her as a pup, but family, life and work put paid to that! She is a calm steady girl, but is she too old to start going to ground now? (the local small shoot has pheasant pens, but no terriers). And now i have a patt/ russell pup who is undocked. Would it cause him tail damage or hinder him underground? I dont have a raging blood lust, i love my dogs, but i would love to see them do the job that they have been bred for, and want to do. Many thanks in advance

 

its not a stupid question if you dont know the answer mate

 

Thats coming from the all new GrCh, the old one wouldnt of said that