Stupid newbie question

[Scallywag 78]

Someone with much more experience than me is taking me out lamping in the autumn. He told me to drop a rabbit skin covered dummy in the dark, shine a light on it and send my dog for it to get him used to following the beam. Trouble is my dogs out of action with a badly injured toe and has to stay on lead. I'm not taking any chances with him otherwise he risks losing it. Is there any training I can do with him that won't put pressure on his toe or get him even more frustrated than he is already? Any thing I can do in the house or garden or on a long line?

 

Thanks

[Guest oldskool]

Someone with much more experience than me is taking me out lamping in the autumn. He told me to drop a rabbit skin covered dummy in the dark, shine a light on it and send my dog for it to get him used to following the beam. Trouble is my dogs out of action with a badly injured toe and has to stay on lead. I'm not taking any chances with him otherwise he risks losing it. Is there any training I can do with him that won't put pressure on his toe or get him even more frustrated than he is already? Any thing I can do in the house or garden or on a long line?

 

Thanks

 

 

 

there is no rush at all mate... why risk a permanent injury, i would wait till he's 100%... however, this is a good lamping question and i'm sure one of the more experienced lads on here (i'm certainly not one of them) will point you in the right direction ... but here is my theory, i think the best way to get them started is to send them down the beam on rabbits that are already on the hop and not the squatters... my theory on it is that the dog gets into the habit of running as soon as the beam comes on... he will learn to spot squatters in the process

[Scallywag 78]

Thanks for answering, oldskool. You're right I need to be patient, think I'm more frustrated than him! He's very keen so I think once he's got the hang of it (and me, I'm new to this lark so I'm having to learn fast) he'll be well away.

[J Darcy 5,871]

Im sure your dog will pick the lamping game up in no time at all. Theres no need to lamp the dummy. I have had dogs "click" within a few runs and others take a couple of nights. Don't expect your dog to be a legend on the first couple of nights out and ensure he can see the rabbit before you slip him....good luck to you....