What Age To Start

[billbroon 9]

Right gents, what age do you guys start your young terriers working. Fox I would say leave till body has fully devolved maybe 14mnths onward, but what about rats.

My 6mnth JRT destroyed a rat from under my chicken coop the other day there, so thought about taking them ratting this weekend for the first time. This will be my first time aswel so if you can give some advice great.

Bill

[bitchie 292]

i give them the chance to start from 11 month but it depends on the dog.

chance means i take them to a hole and about 2-5 meter far away i set him on the ground and check what he is doing.

is he useing his nose or what.

if he is playing around good but back in car and some weeks later again.

when he starts great!

when you know about (your) dogs you see it (mostly). not how good the dog wil be but is he ready for a try out.

 

rats they do mostly as 8-10 weeks puppy already but i am talkin about patterdales. maybe jacks are different?

[BS40liam 203]

6 months for a terrier is a good age IMO for starting on rats or usually wait untill there adult teeth have come through although if your pup is younger and keen there's nothing stopping you trying it on a small rat if you can find one. As to using your pup for earthwork I would say 18 months + but have known people to try there dogs younger and been successful. Atb

[buster gonads 862]

Get the big teeth through before starting on rats, gives them a better chance of killing it qwickly, less damage to both participants , buster.

[The one 8,511]

Depends if your just having a rake about for mooch or a full blown day with smoker etc if the second one hold them back and just let them see most of the action

[shaaark 10,916]

i give them the chance to start from 11 month but it depends on the dog.

chance means i take them to a hole and about 2-5 meter far away i set him on the ground and check what he is doing.

is he useing his nose or what.

if he is playing around good but back in car and some weeks later again.

when he starts great!

when you know about (your) dogs you see it (mostly). not how good the dog wil be but is he ready for a try out.

 

rats they do mostly as 8-10 weeks puppy already but i am talkin about patterdales. maybe jacks are different?

8-10 weeks!

[bitchie 292]

Yes! They had fun. But we never had many rats mostl up to 20 and the complet litter running around. It is so funny.

[chelsea 125]

6 months for a terrier is a good age IMO for starting on rats or usually wait untill there adult teeth have come through although if your pup is younger and keen there's nothing stopping you trying it on a small rat if you can find one. As to using your pup for earthwork I would say 18 months + but have known people to try there dogs younger and been successful. Atb

hi mate my terrier is just 19 months old is she just right age have only used her ratting so far only starting myself will be going out with mate of said he will show me the best he can

[BS40liam 203]

 

 

6 months for a terrier is a good age IMO for starting on rats or usually wait untill there adult teeth have come through although if your pup is younger and keen there's nothing stopping you trying it on a small rat if you can find one. As to using your pup for earthwork I would say 18 months + but have known people to try there dogs younger and been successful. Atb

hi mate my terrier is just 19 months old is she just right age have only used her ratting so far only starting myself will be going out with mate of said he will show me the best he can

I'd let your dog watch a few times 1st, peg it by the hole so it can hear and smell everything that's going on maybe drop your dog in at the end of the dig to see if it don't mind the teeth see how you gets on atb Edited July 25, 2013 by BS40liam

[chelsea 125]

 

 

6 months for a terrier is a good age IMO for starting on rats or usually wait untill there adult teeth have come through although if your pup is younger and keen there's nothing stopping you trying it on a small rat if you can find one. As to using your pup for earthwork I would say 18 months + but have known people to try there dogs younger and been successful. Atb

hi mate my terrier is just 19 months old is she just right age have only used her ratting so far only starting myself will be going out with mate of said he will show me the best he can

I'd let your dog watch a few times 1st, peg it by the hole so it can hear and smell everything that's going on maybe drop your dog in at the end of the dig to see if it don't mind the teeth see how you gets on atb

 

[dogger 100]

slowly,slowly keep them winning you wouldnt put a light weight in the ring with tyson now would you?

[Bossie 90]

The working terrier we've got at home is 5 months now. Has been introduced to general obedience, retrieving fur and feather, swimming, stock and live game to get his nose interested. So no real work. I will take her along a few times this coming season as a busher and ferreting dog, she'll be around 8 months.

Her sister is still with the breeder, she's already been taken along with a pack huting boar.

[rob84 112]

Imo Putting a terrier in at the end just to get bitten does not teach them nothing. Let them locate on their own in a smallish place and it will teach them a lot more, finding is half the battle! From a age of 18 months onward for the serious work

[coneyman999 17]

My Plummer pup came out with the pack from 3 months onwards, she basically entered herself and joined in with kills. At 9 months she is now slaying them for fun. I wouldn't allow a pup on its own without back up until it had a full set of adult teeth.

[mr scent 665]

Iv a patt here that didn start til he eas over 2 years of age ,iv a russell here that comin on two and hes still a big pup .All depends on the dog i suppose some mature quicker i suppose .ITs very easy to break a dog its a lot harder to make the dog