Bushing Dog: Advice Wanted

[Neoleaver 55]

Coming back to lurcher work after a long break, got the pup ordered out of a local bitch that Ive seen workin well, pup due either later this year or possibly next spring. Years ago my last two, I only ever worked over ferrets or on the lamp, only bushing we ever done was with me wading in with wellies and a long stick and pokin about to push out bunnies for the dogs. Anyhow I'm not as young as I was back then an I reckon a good wee bushing pup could be just the job to bring on while I'm waitin on the lurcher pup. It'd have to be 100% round kids, other dogs. Ive no experience of terriers bar my beddywhipgrey and a patterdale me brother had years ago and neither liked kids, could have been a socializing issue cos neither of us had kids then. Advice on what type to go for, experience with terriers round young kids, and best ways to bring em on etc, would appreciate it....cheers. Trev.

[Ideation 8,216]

I have a wee hound x type thing and she is soft as shit with people. Maybe some kind of spaniel or spaniel x. . .?

[Neoleaver 55]

yeah I though maybe a cocker or x, like I said no experience in this so would'nt know what works well and what doesnt, general advice or experience of peoples (maybe first) dedicated bushing type would be handy. Must admit I do like terriers, me brothers dog never did much of owt really, but what a character, crackin 'pub dog' probly supped more kilkenny than me some days! he was sound round most people, just didnt know what to make of the little uns, made him grumbly an edgy, had to keep him out the way.

[Ideation 8,216]

Maybe a terrier x spaniel? Or just school the terrier. But they can be miserable buggers.

[Neoleaver 55]

c'mon lads the missus was nipped by a terrier when she was a wee lass so need some positive experiences wi em round kids or she's gonna veto the fecker. Throw us a feckin bone here lads, and if you're tell me to grow a pair then you're obviously single and dont know the score when it comes to mothers and kids (and you've not met the missus!)

Some types more likely to get the arse than others? (talkin dogs now not wives) what cross bred types work well? does spaniel or beagle give em more reliable temperament? honest experience please....cheers now. I'm confident I could train/socialize so it doesnt become a problem, but its not me needs convincing!

[wuyang 513]

I've always used jack Russell's, just your average pet Jack Russell. Good as anything else for the job, one I'm using now is ten years old, cracking little bitch, just looks like a lap dog, very small, excellent nose on her. Brilliant around the house. Has occasionally popped into a burrow, not very often though, but if this bothers you go down the small springer/ cocker route. Beagle and teckel crosses are popular at the moment. I'll post a pick if I get chance. The wife loves her, she lays on her back while she watches telly.

 

Both good little dogs, one on the right is ten, one on the left now passed away.

Nothing to look at as far as terriers go, but she's a cracking bushing dog.

 

Edited April 22, 2013 by wuyang

[darbo 4,774]

There is a good thread on bushing dogs neoleaver in the earth dog section with quite a few different types on show if you already havent already looked at it. :thumbs:sorry i have just noticed you have looked at the thread. my age im afraid.

Edited April 22, 2013 by darbo

[arcticgun 4,548]

used a cracking terrier me pal gifted me to get me pups going mint busher he is and give em loads of kils, just got a springer into replace him and use with falcon hawks as well, and six months in and Id take a springer any day and the terrier was mustard and steady with other dogs even on kills so he was a blessing, springer also great family dogs, mind only get one if ya out all time with dogs aas they got some amount of energy and could be a proper mare if not grafted hard and well exercised

Edited April 22, 2013 by arcticgun

[Neoleaver 55]

cheers lads good stuff. Crackin thread that darbo, thanks anyway mate What about whirrier types, they as keen to get into the rough and push stuff out?

Edited April 22, 2013 by Neoleaver

[Wales1234 5,489]

Had a spaniel x beagle was a cracking dog got anywhere after rabbit and was soft as shit around the kennels with my little cousins would pull her about didn't back a eye lid

[BIGLURKS 874]

I would advise a cocker but there not for the faint hearted they can be very nuts if there in the house they do need abit of grooming and a lot of exercise very obedient very soft in nature but some can get very high strung if not exercised myne will do a 3 mile walk in the woods every day and still goes nuts if he sees me put my boots on just my 2 cents terriers can be very soft natured as well we used too use jacks Russell's but my own history with them too have a deaf ear syndrome and never listhen too a thing u say work great will bush all day tackle anything attitude but can be hard work and can be as soft natured as a cocker but found some too have a little evil streak in them just my opinions

[Born Hunter 17,751]

I do love a biddable terrier! They generally have enough nose for bushing and critically not too much. What I consider important is they speak when 'on' which lets all other partys know of what's happening and where. Lurcher's are savvy animals so they'll pick up on just the increased tempo of the cover dog/s but a bit of voice from the busher does help!

 

Assuming the terrier is a jacker for earth work I still think size plays a role depending on the ground. I just think that all but the biggest and strongest type terriers struggle a bit with heavy going, tough dense cover that is hard to run through, ditches, river/lake sides etc. That's where I think a larger and stronger spaniel sized dog has it's advantages.

Edited April 22, 2013 by Born Hunter

[wuyang 513]

If I was after something solely for pushing rabbits out to the lurchers I would go for a terrier or spaniel etc over a whippet x bedlington...not that they won't do it, they will, it's just some cover I work is really tight and terriers are excellent in this dense cover. Also most terriers will give tongue when close to a rabbit which some people like.

 

Some people like the plummer terrier for bushing and ratting,,, i might consider one of these for my next bushing dog, but in all fairness i cant really fault my little jack russell.

 

Are you going to the keep the dog in doors? Because if I was to say pick a spaniel for my next dog I think it would most certainly be kennelled due to them being muck magnets.

[Mick C. 229]

A jack russell will get into the tightest of bramle without all the smash and rip.

 

This one trots through the runs just same as a rabbit would.

 

Nice small type she is.

[arcticgun 4,548]

still around but getting on ........

 

young gun for coming season flushing to dogs and birds.........