Do I Need To Train My Whippet

[samcorp 1]

me and the misses want to start ferreting

 

but i wanted to ask if i need to do any training with the whippet or just let him loose and catch up when i can to sort the rabbit?

 

im guessing his instinct will kick in but i just wanted some advice rather than turning up on the day unprepared (it will be his first time on game to)

 

thanks

sam.

[Ideation 8,216]

Letting the whippet loose without any training could be a disaster waiting to happen.

 

First thing first. . . . . break the dog to ferrets and live stock. . . . . then at least, if nothing else, it won't be killing things it shouldnt be.

 

Other than that, for a first time trip, I guess all that is needed is decent enough recall and possibly the dog being trained to retrieve.

 

There are a whole pile of other skills and things which would be very useful if you and the dog intend to make a career of ferreting, but most of these can be learnt as you go a long.

 

Good luck

[foresterj 1,096]

Recall, retrieve, sit, stay, stop, hand signals(last two optional), stock breaking including poultry break to ferrets, jumping, familiarise with nets im sure if I've missed anything someone will fill in the gaps.

[Ideation 8,216]

Recall, retrieve, sit, stay, stop, hand signals(last two optional), stock breaking including poultry break to ferrets, jumping, familiarise with nets im sure if I've missed anything someone will fill in the gaps.

 

 

I personally don't think you need to teach sit or stay before a first ferreting trip.

 

Obviously they are very useful in the field (more so the stay. . . . . don't see the point of sit if the dog will stay). . . . . but can to some extent be trained as you go a long, and will not negatively effect the person or dogs first ferreting trip too much, same with jumping. Also, I would say that familiarity with nets is something that can pretty much only be trained in situ.

 

Just my opinion

[foresterj 1,096]

Yup, fair play with the sit dont think its hugely important but if your training anyway seems churlish not too lol.nets though, think I'd be letting the dog see a longnet/stopnet, maybe incorporating it into training to jump, we all got our own ways though as im sure you agree.Atb

[Whiskey 28]

Has it worked before?

[samcorp 1]

OK thanks guys, glad i asked now,

 

No he hasn't worked before whiskey

 

I keep my chickens and 2 rabbits in together and he is fine with the chickens not bothered,but stalks the rabbits a bit ( pet rabbits.... bit odd to want to go rabbiting )

 

He wouldn't chase them unless i told him to though.

 

Also not to interested with the ferrets in fact we had 2 ferrets a year ago and he played with them (when they wanted to play),

 

Just got 2 ferrets last week and it would b be a good idea to mix him with them now a lot for both his and the ferrets benefit

 

His recall isn't the best though because he knows he can out run me if he needs to lol but i can work on that he is like 85% with that and stay and jump will be handy

 

Thanks for that guys much appreciated

I'll keep you updated

 

Sam.

[Whiskey 28]

How old is the dog fella

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

No matter how much you prepare, your in for a fun learning curve, and your dog will be all the happier and healthier the more rabbiting you do with it Im sure of that. Livestock training is an absolute must though. Its always good to hear of folk starting out, as these days I'm surprised folk aren't completely put off with all the negative media etc. Good on you, and good luck.

[Ideation 8,216]

Yup, fair play with the sit dont think its hugely important but if your training anyway seems churlish not too lol.nets though, think I'd be letting the dog see a longnet/stopnet, maybe incorporating it into training to jump, we all got our own ways though as im sure you agree.Atb

 

 

Aye, I agree mate. I assumed the lad was just asking what he needed to instill in the dog before it's first ferreting trip. . . . .as there are a shit ton of stuff that a dog needs to learn, before i'd class it as a 'ferreting dog'. . . . if you know what I mean.

 

But if it's just a case of what is absolutely needed before it experiences a day in the field. . . . . i'd say stock breaking is number one!

[Ideation 8,216]

ok thanks guys, glad i asked now,

 

no he hasn't worked before whiskey

 

i keep my chickens and 2 rabbits in together and he is fine with the chickens not bothered,but stalks the rabbits a bit ( pet rabbits.... bit odd to want to go rabbiting )

 

he wouldn't chase them unless i told him to though.

 

also not to interested with the ferrets in fact we had 2 ferrets a year ago and he played with them (when they wanted to play),

 

just got 2 ferrets last week and it would b a good idea to mix him with them now a lot for both his and the ferrets benefit

 

his recall isn't the best though because he knows he can out run me if he needs to lol but i can work on that he is like 85% with that and stay and jump will be handy

 

thanks for that guys much appreciated

ill keep you updated

 

Sam.

 

With regard to the ferrets, it works both ways. The dog needs to be steady with the ferrets, but the ferrets also need to be steady with the dog.

 

Probably my most used command when ferreting is 'wait'. Which I guess is my version of stay.

 

If you are not a bell end, and want to give the whip a try in the season, I don;t object to showing you the ropes over a day. I run a whippet as well.

[Alan... 172]

haha, "if you're not a bellend" can't say fairer than that!

[foresterj 1,096]

Like the lads gonna come back on and say thanks for the offer, im sorry I cant take it up as I am in fact a bell end, pmsl

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

 

ok thanks guys, glad i asked now,

 

no he hasn't worked before whiskey

 

i keep my chickens and 2 rabbits in together and he is fine with the chickens not bothered,but stalks the rabbits a bit ( pet rabbits.... bit odd to want to go rabbiting )

 

he wouldn't chase them unless i told him to though.

 

also not to interested with the ferrets in fact we had 2 ferrets a year ago and he played with them (when they wanted to play),

 

just got 2 ferrets last week and it would b a good idea to mix him with them now a lot for both his and the ferrets benefit

 

his recall isn't the best though because he knows he can out run me if he needs to lol but i can work on that he is like 85% with that and stay and jump will be handy

 

thanks for that guys much appreciated

ill keep you updated

 

Sam.

 

With regard to the ferrets, it works both ways. The dog needs to be steady with the ferrets, but the ferrets also need to be steady with the dog.

 

Probably my most used command when ferreting is 'wait'. Which I guess is my version of stay.

 

If you are not a bell end, and want to give the whip a try in the season, I don;t object to showing you the ropes over a day. I run a whippet as well.

 

That's a kind offer, they would be a bell end not to take you up on that

[BORDERSCOT 3,816]

 

ok thanks guys, glad i asked now,

 

no he hasn't worked before whiskey

 

i keep my chickens and 2 rabbits in together and he is fine with the chickens not bothered,but stalks the rabbits a bit ( pet rabbits.... bit odd to want to go rabbiting )

 

he wouldn't chase them unless i told him to though.

 

also not to interested with the ferrets in fact we had 2 ferrets a year ago and he played with them (when they wanted to play),

 

just got 2 ferrets last week and it would b a good idea to mix him with them now a lot for both his and the ferrets benefit

 

his recall isn't the best though because he knows he can out run me if he needs to lol but i can work on that he is like 85% with that and stay and jump will be handy

 

thanks for that guys much appreciated

ill keep you updated

 

Sam.

 

With regard to the ferrets, it works both ways. The dog needs to be steady with the ferrets, but the ferrets also need to be steady with the dog.

 

Probably my most used command when ferreting is 'wait'. Which I guess is my version of stay.

 

If you are not a bell end, and want to give the whip a try in the season, I don;t object to showing you the ropes over a day. I run a whippet as well.

 

 

Jai............you have to be up front with this lad and tell him about the fact you only get out twice weekly on day release...and remember the conditions they've placed upon you as well....regarding small animals and other folk's wives...think that's only fair.................