Yapping!!

[crorider 174]

Just started my 12 month old on the lamp 2 weeks ago. I've been impressed with with what ive seen so far considering his breeding and peoples opinions on how he'd do but theres one potentially big problem, yapping.

 

A lot of you know what breed he is, hate to keep bringing it up but im wondering if the chorkie in him is causing him to yap? I know whippets entered too early can become prone to yapping aswell so am i hoping in vain that he'll grow out of it?

 

I've tried to stick to squatters and easy runs although i have to admit a few times after seeing nothing after being out walking for hours the temptation to slip him on a rabbit where the odds were never in the dogs favour got too much. But it really has been no more than 3 times that ive done that and oddly enough those have been the times he hasnt yapped. Hes made 5 kills in 15 slips so his ratio is 3 to 1 atm. Is this too low? could it be the main problem? tbh the conditions have been far from ideal since ive started and ive only slipped him on 3 squatters as thats all ive found, 2 of which he over shot and missed anyway.

 

Should i just not rush and wait till the conditions look almost perfect before taking him out this season and literally only give him piss easy runs?

 

Also should add that im pretty sure the yapping is frustration, not excitement as it either happens when theres another dog about (on or off the slip) or when he's close but narrowly misses.

 

Any helpful suggestions much appreciated

 

cheers

Edited October 1, 2012 by crorider

[crorider 174]

[Ideation 8,216]

To be honest mate, you seen to be really keen, which is good, but pick your rabbits, rather than slipping on whats there. I saw the other day you were out on a still and clear night . . . . not the way to go.

 

Good luck, and take it steady.

[weasle 1,119]

Down to frustration,Only take it out on good dark nights slip on easy ones stop on a catch you might stop it.Ive had pups do it in the past normally after catching one or two and been able to stop it from doing that.

[morton 5,368]

By the look of the dog,its always going to have the potential to be a sounder,if it catches 1 out of 3,thats not to bad and id be happy,it will hunt,flush and mark for you as it gains experience,thus making it even more useful.Accept the mutt for what it is,not what it is,nt,it will become a more than useful hunting companion,it won,t make the best,so what,be happy.

[crorider 174]

Thanks people,

 

yea i have been out twice on a clear bright night and saw nothing as the result. didnt realise how much difference it would make, i do now though.

 

When you say a sounder do you mean a yapper?

 

And yea im hoping he's going to be a useful multi purpose dog. He's always in cover, bolted a fair few so far, he's actually had a couple in cover aswell. Definitely has a half decent nose, ive seen rabbits that he didnt but he always finds his way to where they escaped with his nose. Plus i think he's going to be mainly a ferreting dog, surely he'll be pretty handy in that department after a few seasons.

 

And i know he wont be the best but i'm not bothered. he's primarily a pet who's interest in hunting led me down the same route to which im grateful for so anything he catches is a bonus

 

[NEWKID 27,176]

Thanks people,

 

yea i have been out twice on a clear bright night and saw nothing as the result. didnt realise how much difference it would make, i do now though.

 

When you say a sounder do you mean a yapper?

 

And yea im hoping he's going to be a useful multi purpose dog. He's always in cover, bolted a fair few so far, he's actually had a couple in cover aswell. Definitely has a half decent nose, ive seen rabbits that he didnt but he always finds his way to where they escaped with his nose. Plus i think he's going to be mainly a ferreting dog, surely he'll be pretty handy in that department after a few seasons.

 

And i know he wont be the best but i'm not bothered. he's primarily a pet who's interest in hunting led me down the same route to which im grateful for so anything he catches is a bonus

 

 

Fair play to you getting him out there and having a go mate...... As said pick your nights and pick your runs for the minute give him the best chance you can..... Shake the lamp when the rabbit nears the hedge it often puts them off and they make mistakes, they'll hit the hedge,bank, fence whatever if your dogs up their ass it'll work to his advantage, I don't know what land you run but if you've got some small paddocks around with tight hedges or sheep netting concentrate on these they'll suit him more as I would think. I run a fairly small dog mate and she don't miss a lot if you stack the odds in her favour.......

Good luck

[Ideation 8,216]

Don't know if you have picked this up, so sorry if its stating the obvious, but the best night to go lamping is a dark night (moon down), with a decent bit of wind and cloud cover and a nice light drizzle, it seems to make the rabbits feel safe and they feed out in the middle, away from the warrens, they also dont hear or see you coming as well.

 

Try to walk with the wind blowing on your face, as that means your scent isnt being carried to them.

 

Spot the rabbit and walk up on it, keeping the dogs head up with the slip, maybe hissing to give him and idea of whats down the been. If its a squatter, walk right up to it as close as possible.

 

Try to position yourself between the rabbit and where its heading, and if its a squatter i try to walk up so its facing me, so its automaticlly on a back foot when it gets up, having to turn or run toward the dog.

 

As has been said, when they near the fence or hedge, rock / shake the lamp, it often puts them off going through, and a lot of rabbits are caught on the fence.

 

Dont slip him on silly ones, as he may lose confidence, and yap or stop running. Also it will make them lamp shy, better to leave it and hope to find it in a better position on another night.

 

And a good fence is your best mate when starting young dogs.

[crorider 174]

Cheers lads, ill bare it all in mind. Think ive just been a bit too keen if anything. Need to keep reminding myself theres no rush.

[South hams hunter 8,922]

Ideation has it spot on but I would add a few more things.

 

Make sure the fields you run have good solid hedges for a minute, try not to run on fields with fences. Fences and hedges that aren't tight and well pack make it easy for the rabbit to escape

[crorider 174]

Ideation has it spot on but I would add a few more things.

 

Make sure the fields you run have good solid hedges for a minute, try not to run on fields with fences. Fences and hedges that aren't tight and well pack make it easy for the rabbit to escape

cheers, dont seem to be many of them about down here tbh. i know 1 like that ill be trying as soon as the weather sorts itself out. If i can just find some squatters i reckon he'll do well on them fence or hedge although 2 of the 3 squatters that ive slipped him on so far he over shot. Hopefully its just teething problems though

[South hams hunter 8,922]

If you cant get squatters just get between then and home so they have to un past the dog

[Bosun11 537]

I'd just add, to some already sound advice, that if he's already catching and he's yapping in flustration if there's another dog there, then go out on your own for a bit, give him ALL the best runs.

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

Take the above advice mate. Take it steady. Dark windy rainy nights. You should have some fun.

 

You say there is chorkie in him? What's that?

[paulsmithy83 567]

IMO no one really knows why a dog yaps, is it frustration?????? Is it excitement????? Is it caring a slight injury?????? Is it just an underlined personality trait to thst dog???????

Is it being over matched???????? Is it communicating like wild dogs on a hunt, or like a pack of hounds??????? No 1 really nos but the dog it self and the man up stairs. All you can do is try and help the dog the best you can when entering and hope for best. Me I don't like ysppers but if u just go on permission shouldn't matter anyway. The stigma of a yapper came from the problems it causes as a poacher as the Lurcher used to be used 4