begginer with terrier

[kvnmcwebn 0]

Hi i was given a jack russell pup a while back by a guy i did work for.

I didnt know anything about them at all and thought it would be good for my kid because of the size.

After i had it for a week i noticed that it had strong hunting instinct. To make a long story short i started reading about them and became curious and a little interested in working him. I have spent some time just with obedience training and also draging different scents around and having him search out the scent. Hes turned out to be a good smart dog with a good nose- although I think hes a bit bigger than some of them and one of his legs is badly bowed. Anyway i live in a rural area in donegal and theres plenty of foxes about -weve chased them on occasion but were always thwarted- i understand how foxes got there reputation for cunning. Anyway the other day i had him out for a walk and he went to ground on a fox. I didnt expect him to do that because hes never shown any interest before. But he went way down deep for a long time, I could hear faint barks for a while he was down a long time then he came up to see if i was still there and then went back down. it was a really deep earth. Heres my question, i would like to try to set a net on the exit holes. Any advice on how to do this properly would be appreciated. Also is it dangerous to let the dogs go down without the transmitter collars? I think im catching the hunting bug whats the next step. I want to use a net because i dont have a gun and dont plan on getting one.

-best

d70dude

[higgins 75]

well your in the right place for a start,first you'll need a Bellman and Flint locator(expensive ,but the best),you only need fox nets if you intend to capture the fox,and a good friend who has a gun with the license etc(i don't have a gun,but wouldn't hesitate to bring a friend who has one),the most important part is the locator for the terrier as it will aid in diging down to your dog in the shortest amount of time,

if your dog starts mixing it then you need to get to him as quickly as possible,this will lessen the amount of injury the dog could recieve,also save a lot of time waiting,once you have a steady signal on him underground you can start digging to him,without the collar and box it's a waiting/guessing game,all the best,

higins.

[mussells 0]

its best NOT to let the terrier go to ground without a collar for dogs sake.

and you do need a gun to dispatch the fox.

[Bosun11 537]

All the above is good advice.......AND........get yourself a good shovel.

[kvnmcwebn 0]

Thanks for the tips.

 

 

higgins wrote:

>>once you have a steady signal on him underground you can start digging to him...

 

So once the dog stops moving do I start digging, or do i wait for a few minutes to see if he shifts??

 

 

>>you only need fox nets if you intend to capture the fox

 

I would like to get a net so that i can realease a fox and then send the terrier after it. I had read an article on this site where that was done and it motivated a young terrier to hunt.

 

I think i will start off in the dunes.

I can bring a friend with a gun.

 

 

 

-best

kevin

[sniffer 167]

A strong lurcher can kill a fox but im not shure of the law's over there here in the uk its banned

[Guest curtislj]

Your best bet is to find someone else in your area who has experience of working terriers, and see how it is done properly.There are so many different situations you can get into and your PC won't be any use to you in the middle of a field!Bellman and Flint locators are the best, but I would think the old Deben mk1 would be a good buy as you are only just starting out.Once you've got the bug, you never lose it.Good luck

[spindolero 1,111]

Thanks for the tips.

 

 

higgins wrote:

>>once you have a steady signal on him underground you can start digging to him...

 

So once the dog stops moving do I start digging, or do i wait for a few minutes to see if he shifts??

 

 

>>you only need fox nets if you intend to capture the fox

 

I would like to get a net so that i can realease a fox and then send the terrier after it. I had read an article on this site where that was done and it motivated a young terrier to hunt.

 

I think i will start off in the dunes.

I can bring a friend with a gun.

 

 

 

-best

kevin

 

Why would you want to release the fox for the terrier once it's been netted?

If he's gone to ground and bolted it, he's proved he has the motivation?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

[Guest pip]

When you say dunes you mean sand ,just be extra careful,suffocation ,cave ins etc,if you want nets contact chief on here he lll sort you,and choose a shallow spot for him to begin with .

[higgins 75]

i'd like to add that nets are useful if you have to relocate a nuisance fox,it's not

recommended to loose a terrier after a fox when released(could mean more digging if it runs to ground again,as well as the current laws will put you in some illegal territory,either shoot it or move it is the best

thing to do),once you have had your terrier doing his stuff below and you have bolted him or dug to him

the dog is a good 'un,don't make things worse for yourself, the terrier and the fox,all the best,

Higgins.

[Guest MOLLY]

I would like to get a net so that i can realease a fox and then send the terrier after it. I had read an article on this site where that was done and it motivated a young terrier to hunt.

Are you sure it was on this site, as it is illegal to trap an animal and use to for baiting purposes

Unless of course the poster was from abroad?

MOLL.

[FastDogz 155]

Quite true what has been said if your terrier goes to ground there really is no need to capture the fox and then send your terrier after it..

Once your terrier has got charlie bottled up nicley then you start to dig - and fox should be dispatched by a gun..Maybe pre ban by lurchers

I dnt hunt and am no expert but please do lots of reasearch on this before you start..always use a good locator collar and like its been said becareful where you let dog goto ground..I wouldnt recommend sand dunes at all -this is only common sense that sand isnt that well strong an could collapse very easy.

Maybe have a mooch out with a experaianced terrierman is your area to learn the ropes

[kvnmcwebn 0]

curtislj-do you mean this ? : DEBEN MK1 FERRET FINDER PLUS ONE COLLAR

if so i will try it out for a start.

 

>>I wouldnt recommend sand dunes at all -this is only common sense that sand isnt that well strong an could collapse very easy.

The dunes here are held together with maram grass roots which go way down and are solid- its not loose sand, theres dirt mixed in as well-lots of foxes in the dunes because of all the rabbits. The earth that my dog went to ground on originally would be almost impossible to dig to so ill keep him out of it.

 

>>A strong lurcher can kill a fox but im not sure of the law's over there here in the uk its banned...

As far as i know here in the south(r.i.) as long as its not a badger your after you can do what you want. im dont know for sure though anyone hear differently? I'd really like a lurcher or maybe a deer hound eventually but i want to learn to hunt the terrier well first. Also im reluctant to get a lurcher because i dont know anything about them and wouldnt know what to look for. Its a big commitment to get a new dog. But i would prefer this method to dispatch the quarry.

 

I will get a collar and might be able to find someone to go out with. Most people around here stopped hunting with terriers, some sheep farmers blind the fox with a light at night and shoot them. There is a gun club here but they do the same-just blind and shoot. I think a lot of foxes here are taken like this.

 

-thanks

kevin

[FastDogz 155]

Quote Kevin.

I will get a collar and might be able to find someone to go out with. Most people around here stopped hunting with terriers, some sheep farmers blind the fox with a light at night and shoot them. There is a gun club here but they do the same-just blind and shoot. I think a lot of foxes here are taken like this

 

 

 

 

Kevin - This is known as lamping and you can also lamp with dogs but this is whole diffreant ball game :clapping:

Well done you for taking a intrest as a begginer and making the time to ask questions and get your research this really is a greta place to be and well one day i might own my own lurcher to hunt with with - just on bunnys for fun nothing seriouse keep us updated.

[Guest pip]

I live in Ireland too and i d be surprised if you can t find a terrierman if you look,i know of more lads starting than stopping.

Also you can still hunt with dogs at the minute in Ireland,no laws regarding this except badger hunting.