Starting Again From Scratch

[redpat1 225]

As the title says, I am about to start up with running dogs again after a break for the last 18 months as some of you may know due to my wife becoming ill during pregnancy and then my son being very ill when born. Both are back to full health thank goodness. I was then taken ill myself but have also made a full recovery.

I had a deer/grey X whip which I adored but very reluctantly had to let her go due to the strain, promising myself that when I was ready I would do things properly and make sure that when the time was right I would build kennels and obtain a couple of quality bred dogs and fully commit to bringing them on and spending time with them giving them the work they need.

Well as I have said things are steady again now, I have a couple of new permissions and am about to have the base laid in the next few weeks with the kennels following soon after. To say I am excited is an understatement but I wont get carried away.

I will be mostly bushing (I have a springer and a terrier who live in) and lamping coneys although on my permission we are very likely to come across other game!

I love a bit of deerhound in the mix but am wondering if this will be the best cross for me?

I am also wondering whether to bring in an older experienced dog to run alongside a pup that I want to train from scratch? as I need to be up and running as soon as the season kicks in due to the permission owners wishes.(I need to keep them happy).

All positive advice and opinions greatfully received, although not massively experienced I am not some muppet with delusions as I know what a commitment I will be taking on and the work I will have to put in to get results and have bided my time to get going again. Sorry for the essay.

 

Thanks again

 

Pat

Edited April 22, 2013 by redpat1

[mooney1 120]

Good luck pal hope all goes well . You won't go far wrong with a salukie whippet greyhound for that kind of work atb mooney

[General lee 979]

I agree with mooney1 that's a good cross should suit

[redpat1 225]

Good luck pal hope all goes well . You won't go far wrong with a salukie whippet greyhound for that kind of work atb mooney

I was always told that anything with saluki in was a nightmare to train and very sensitive? Do you have this X

 

Pat

[Carraghs Gem 1,675]

If deerhound x is what you prefer then go for that, sal x's aint everyones cup of tea

[Ideation 8,216]

Just get a pup out of two dogs doing what you want the pup to do, to a decent standard. At the end of the day, folk on here will mostly just advise you to get what they like or what they have seen themselves. Exact x, often doesn't mean shit, unless it's a 'specialist' job you have in mind.

[skycat 6,174]

If you are not vastly experienced then stick with getting one dog until you know that dog inside out. Getting an adult dog is fraught with dangers: there are very few really decent dogs for sale as adults, and most will carry the baggage of mishandling or lack of training. If you are very lucky and drop on one that is a genuine animal for sale through no fault of its own, how will you know that? Unless you see a dog out in the field then you have no way of knowing if it is any good/responsive/well trained or able to do the job you want it to do. A dog can look very nice, calm, obedient in the yard, but be a total nightmare out in the field. And a clever seller can pull the wool over someone's eyes very easily if they realise that the potential buyer knows less than they do.

 

Personally I'd get a pup, and explain to your landowner that you will control pests with other means until your pup is of an age to do the job. Maybe control rabbits by ferreting to begin with? That way you won't be taking on someone else's mistakes or faults in buying in a grown dog.

[talt 878]

I agree with ideation and skycat, get a pup from parents that are doing the job you want your dog to do,and that you like the look of. Its much more rewarding working a dog that you have bonded with and bought on by your self.

[mooney1 120]

 

Good luck pal hope all goes well . You won't go far wrong with a salukie whippet greyhound for that kind of work atb mooney

I was always told that anything with saluki in was a nightmare to train and very sensitive? Do you have this X

 

Pat

 

yes pal i have a salukie greyhound xgrey collie whippet and a pup out of her to a whippet greyhound , i also have a 3/4 salukie 1/4 grey 6 1/2 month old she is a handfull but i will get there in the end.But the other two are as obidient as they can be, with a very high prey drive and a fantastic tempriment. atb mooney

[Neoleaver 55]

Dont worry about the breeds/fractions mate it'll make your head spin and you still wont be any better off. Go for a type you like the look of (or have an idea what sire/dam might throw) out of a dog and bitch doing the job you want to do. Good grown dogs trained and ready to go are like hens teeth only rarer. Not always, but there's usually summat up wi em, like skycat said it might not manifest itself till your on your permission. People just dont tend to part wi handy trained dogs.

Good luck mate, all the best with your family and lurchers, sounds like you've had a bumpy couple of years bud.

[Neoleaver 55]

Good luck pal hope all goes well . You won't go far wrong with a salukie whippet greyhound for that kind of work atb mooney

Not sure I'd go with a full sighthound/coursing type for a bushing/rabbiting lurcher I'd be looking for something a bit more able to take direction and be biddable/controllable as poss. But thats just my opinion I'm sure there'll be some out there doing the job.

[Ideation 8,216]

 

Good luck pal hope all goes well . You won't go far wrong with a salukie whippet greyhound for that kind of work atb mooney

Not sure I'd go with a full sighthound/coursing type for a bushing/rabbiting lurcher I'd be looking for something a bit more able to take direction and be biddable/controllable as poss. But thats just my opinion I'm sure there'll be some out there doing the job.

 

 

I'd probably agree. I'd go for something with maybe some collie blood and whippet, if you were going to 'build' the ideal bushing dog, quick acceleration, good brain, decent nose, some jacket etc.

[BORDERSCOT 3,816]

 

 

Good luck pal hope all goes well . You won't go far wrong with a salukie whippet greyhound for that kind of work atb mooney

Not sure I'd go with a full sighthound/coursing type for a bushing/rabbiting lurcher I'd be looking for something a bit more able to take direction and be biddable/controllable as poss. But thats just my opinion I'm sure there'll be some out there doing the job.

 

 

I'd probably agree. I'd go for something with maybe some collie blood and whippet, if you were going to 'build' the ideal bushing dog, quick acceleration, good brain, decent nose, some jacket etc.

 

 

 

Sounds like a plan lads...

[redpat1 225]

Dont worry about the breeds/fractions mate it'll make your head spin and you still wont be any better off. Go for a type you like the look of (or have an idea what sire/dam might throw) out of a dog and bitch doing the job you want to do. Good grown dogs trained and ready to go are like hens teeth only rarer. Not always, but there's usually summat up wi em, like skycat said it might not manifest itself till your on your permission. People just dont tend to part wi handy trained dogs.

Good luck mate, all the best with your family and lurchers, sounds like you've had a bumpy couple of years bud.

Yes mate, it has been a testing couple of years but I kept myself motivated thinking about the day when things would be a little easier and I could get back to spending time doing the things I love. I always try and remember no matter how shitty things get there is always someone in a worse position than myself.

The past is the past and that is where it belongs, I am just grateful for a healthy family and the fact that I am in a position to get things going again.

Thanks for all the advice so far, really interesting stuff, especially the mention of collie blood in a dog.

 

Pat

[nothernlite 18,090]

good luck mate what ever you decide sounds as if you deserve a decent start get a dog with a bit of everything it and you wont go wrong good luck