Earth Dog Training

[Kieren24 4]

Hi there, I'm hoping to own a bedlington terrier soon that I will want to work this will be my first dog/bitch and just wondering where to start as I don't know of anyone else working terriers to ground or on top. So if anyone has info or knows of books or DVDs please let me know. I'm in no rush to get a dog just want to gather as much info as I can to be at least a little bit prepared

Atb Kieren

[foxing machine 144]

try the darcy books mate thair a great read and all so full of usfull tips ect atb fm

[BlackDog1 134]

david harcombe books are also very useful but the best thing for you to do would be to get to know a local terrier man who knows what he's doing. If you manage to do that then he will show you the correct way to go about things. First hand experience will give you a better insight than any books. Atb BD1

[BlackDog1 134]

david harcombe books are also very useful but the best thing for you to do would be to get to know a local terrier man who knows what he's doing. If you manage to do that then he will show you the correct way to go about things. First hand experience will give you a better insight than any books. Atb BD1

[whippet 99 2,613]

relax take your time.........

[Kieren24 4]

I've read John Glovers the working bedlington and then David harcombe's the working terrier which I must say was a lot better there seems to be a lot of bad press on John glover in the bedlington scene?? I will look up Darcy books and see if I can get hold of any. I do think the best way would be to get myself out there watching and learning from others who are doing the work. Just don't know of anyone my way at the minute. I've got time on my hands to relax but don't want to ruin a good dog though lack of knowledge if I can brush up before hand. I realize that no book or DVD could beat hands on experience, I'd just have a bit more of an insight to the terrier working world. Thanks for the replies

Kieren

[superfurryanimal 91]

get on the- working bedlington forum a.t.b sfa

[gary.l 61]

I like reading the David Harcombe stuff myself he's a good writer, you can read a few of his articles for free here

 

http://www.earthdog-runningdog.com/category/august-2012/

Edited February 13, 2013 by gary.l

[TOPPER 1,809]

john glovers are all fantasy , if you want an earthdog get a russel or a pat you ll have a much better chance of it working , bedlingtons are funny things to work and not everybody has the patience for them , my advice is start with the easy mans dogs and when you have expeinced the digging came for a few years and know whats what then try a bedy but makee sure the pup is out of earthworking bedys and try to see the parents work, steer clear of the oversized bunny chasers

[Kieren24 4]

Brother in laws got a Russell that he wants to work maybe going with him first might be a good idea although that might be like the blind leading the blind :-p

[Wolfie 106]

try the darcy books mate thair a great read and all so full of usfull tips ect atb fm

Dont think you will learn much by reading a darcy book.Good pics tho

[wirral countryman 2,110]

I'm always a bit suspicious of newbies asking terrier questions but you may be a bit naive in thinking you'll get the best out of a beddy to ground,is this your first terrier or have you already experienced earthwork before ?? I agree with Topper that its a tough way to start out,the bedlington is as rare at earthwork as most plummers are,if you just like the look of them thats one thing but finding a decent one free of health problems that is a regular earthdog may prove to be a difficult task,in 40yrs of terrierwork up and down the country I've only seen 2 work to ground and both died of hyperthermic shock after lying in water under deep roots of an oak tree being hammered by a fox above,and the other was a very similar scenario and although very brave they never had the tough fighting ability to withstand the cold when it was needed,a patt is an ideal first dog but you do need to be taken out and shown the legal ways of working a terrier to ground,it will also wake you up if you're just in love with a dream of what you think it may be like when you're knee deep in blood,sh*t and mud lying in a hole after digging 6ft,get out and try it before you buy a dream,atb,WM

Edited February 13, 2013 by wirral countryman

[Attack Fell Terrier 864]

Linking up with someone who gets out and does a bit is essential but then again you don't want to be picking up anyone else's bad habits. My dogs have taught me more than what anyone else has, and your dogs well being should be at the top of the agenda each time you take him out to graft.

 

All the best with it mate.

[morton 5,368]

I'm always a bit suspicious of newbies asking terrier questions but you may be a bit naive in thinking you'll get the best out of a beddy to ground,is this your first terrier or have you already experienced earthwork before ?? I agree with Topper that its a tough way to start out,the bedlington is as rare at earthwork as most plummers are,if you just like the look of them thats one thing but finding a decent one free of health problems that is a regular earthdog may prove to be a difficult task,in 40yrs of terrierwork up and down the country I've only seen 2 work to ground and both died of hyperthermic shock after lying in water under deep roots of an oak tree being hammered by a fox above,and the other was a very similar scenario and although very brave they never had the tough fighting ability to withstand the cold when it was needed,a patt is an ideal first dog but you do need to be taken out and shown the legal ways of working a terrier to ground,it will also wake you up if you're just in love with a dream of what you think it may be like when you're knee deep in blood,sh*t and mud lying in a hole after digging 6ft,get out and try it before you buy a dream,atb,WM

Beddys are not renowned,on the whole, for having the best of jackets,ive only ever had trouble once with a cold wet un,nearly finished the lass,any terrier in a wet cold spot for a prolonged duration will suffer the same,i had a Beddy dog stuck last week for 22 hours,he spent a freezing night stuck in rocks,wet.muddy and cold,he came out a tad unbalanced but after warming up and a feed he,s been fine since.Id start with a Lakey,Fell type,you can make mistakes with them and be harder on them,than you could with a Beddy.

[Kieren24 4]

I'm always a bit suspicious of newbies asking terrier questions but you may be a bit naive in thinking you'll get the best out of a beddy to ground,is this your first terrier or have you already experienced earthwork before ?? I agree with Topper that its a tough way to start out,the bedlington is as rare at earthwork as most plummers are,if you just like the look of them thats one thing but finding a decent one free of health problems that is a regular earthdog may prove to be a difficult task,in 40yrs of terrierwork up and down the country I've only seen 2 work to ground and both died of hyperthermic shock after lying in water under deep roots of an oak tree being hammered by a fox above,and the other was a very similar scenario and although very brave they never had the tough fighting ability to withstand the cold when it was needed,a patt is an ideal first dog but you do need to be taken out and shown the legal ways of working a terrier to ground,it will also wake you up if you're just in love with a dream of what you think it may be like when you're knee deep in blood,sh*t and mud lying in a hole after digging 6ft,get out and try it before you buy a dream,atb,WM

This would be my first, I totally agree with getting out and experiencing it first hand as you say it might not be for me, this isn't something I'm thinking of rushing into just interested to know more where to start, what to learn what should be expected of the dog what to expect of the quarry. How to start out with the training (as the title) just as much info as I can as i wouldn't want to fail the dog. I have thought about a beddy defiantly but I'm here to learn and if its something that I do go on to do and a beddy isn't right then I wouldn't have make that mistake at the first hurdle. The more I can pick up from people who are actually working their dogs to ground hopefully ill be the better for it either way. Atb Kieren