Playing With A Cub

[redpat1 225]

Out for a yomp yesterday, my patt and springer were 30 meters in front playing with each other and genrally smashing through cover as they do! I noticed my beardie/grey X Whip had fallen behind, then heard an unusual bark from where I assumed her to be. Firstly I thought she had smashed herself up and the sphincter started to go, then I saw a brief flash as she and what I thought was a border terrier crossed across the path about 30-40 metres away. She then turned the animal towards me running next to it sort of boxing it but with little aggression I then realised it was a fox cub. The cub was trying to get away but she was just toying with it by controlling where he was going. The Patt caught wind and hurtled head on but by this time the cub deviated into the under growth to the safety of her well concealed unknown to me Den. I managed to call the lurcher off and had no choice but to rugby tackle the Patt as I am pretty sure she would have followed the fox to ground which I wasnt prepared for at all!

The lurcher is 15 months and is going to be my ferreting partner as well as a bit of lamping if I can ever get her to retrieve (that is another story). I know she is young and although broken to stock and ferrets I havent shown her much in the way of game. I am a little worried that she was more interested in playing with the cub but have my fingers crossed its down to immaturity or lack of experience, what do you guys think? She can be aggresive as she goes F$"&*ing loopy when she spots a cat.

I have left her a little late with the bunnies as I only got her several months ago and I spent a lot of time just letting her get used to me and the family and settling in, then the summer season was upon us. Do you think she will play with the rabbits? or will instinct kick in? I am in no rush.

Her sire and dam are both accomplished hunters and both will happily tackle all game without any fear at all.

All opinions gratefully recieved, can we keep it a positive thread though please guys.

 

Pat

Edited August 7, 2013 by redpat1

[redpat1 225]

I must add that I am glad she didnt connect with the cub and the area is thought to be free of foxes in residence hence why all of my dogs were running loose.

 

Pat

[DUKE NUKEM 23]

At 15 months I'd be pretty disappointed if my lurcher didn't put an end to a cub !

[redpat1 225]

Cheers Duke, thats what my gut keeps telling me, as I know for sure either parent would have demolished it on the spot. If my patt or springer had of connected it would have been game over too.

[Bazil brush 474]

Don't worry about it pal, she's still young and i take it the first one she's seen? Anyway whats the problem if you only want her for ferreting.

[nothernlite 18,078]

does it matter if your just going to use the dog for ferreting wouldnt bother me at all good luck with her retrieve

[The one 8,474]

If it had of nipped her the outcome would have been differnt ?

[redpat1 225]

Don't worry about it pal, she's still young and i take it the first one she's seen? Anyway whats the problem if you only want her for ferreting.

Cheers BB, It is the first one I have shown her. I want to lamp and ferret with her and she will eventually come with me almost everywhere, my biggest permission has a massive amount of fox and there is no doubt she will come across plenty more in time. It would be nice to know she will not turn tail when she meets an adult head on.

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

Part of me says yes i would be disappointed if a 15 month old pup couldnt or rather wouldnt handle a fox cub (pre ban of course).

 

However if it hasnt done much then how does it know, maybe its just a friendly steady pup and as said above if the fox had of nipped it then the outcome could of been very different.

 

I really wouldnt worry, especially as your quarry will be rabbits

 

If you were in ireland or preban then letting her see another dog do the business and letting her join in would probably change her mind i reckon.

 

Gaz

[bird 9,872]

Don't worry about it pal, she's still young and i take it the first one she's seen? Anyway whats the problem if you only want her for ferreting.

 

true, all dogs mature at differnt ages, some early than others. just keep on the training with the rabbit job, this time next year if it bumped into another young fox, it might kill it , but some dogs dont like the teeth job, nothing you can do about it, and as above you had for rabbits anyway.!

[redpat1 225]

Thanks chaps, I think I am more worried that she lacks the minerials on game full stop, she seems to be a very placid dog and is very easy going at home but will put the terrier in its place when pushed. She wont even eat a barf diet! instead preferring to eat dry. She is a strange one.

I think she has thrown to the whippet too much to be a fox dog and if that was my intention I would have gone for a bit of DH,Beddy or Bull to start with I just dont want her getting in a tangle and getting her A%*£ handed to her, especially the vet bills. Saying that her mother is a 1st X Beardie and backs away from nothing although she is a much bigger animal all around with the attitude to match.

Sky is a lovely dog and she will be given plenty of opportunity to develop this coming season, just wish it would hurry up so we can get out there and get our hands dirty.

[Wales1234 5,491]

Nothing to worrie about atall mate shes young and never seen one being caught she might not known if she was aloud to have a stab at it im sure of a older dog was there and went in she would follow sure no need to be disappointed want so ever

[whippet 99 2,613]

yeah dogs do mature at all different times......................but lets not fool anyone here ................I would be very concerned from a dog of that age ............

same scenario as a terrier not wanting to go down a hole.............I find the best are naturally young starters...........even tho there are decent dogs who mature slow.........

if a dog has got it..............its got it, and I would sooner have a dog wanting and having to hold it back because of age ...............than one who really hasn't found its purpose and stays in that play mentality.......it don't mean give up as im a firm believer in a dog giving time,.......but lets be honest I wouldn't be to pleased ........and what comes more natural than a smell of a fox.......but there is some sound advice on here and maybe this is just my preference.......

[birddog 1,354]

some of the very best workers start a little later in life, the poor wee thing doesn't know its a hunting dog yet, get it out and about and find its legs so to speak, it doesn't sound the confident sort, give it time and lots of experiences, take it out itself, take it out with experienced dogs, show it whats expected of it, if it hasn't seen anything it can't be expected to know anything..............theres lots of previous threads about retrieving probs i'm sure the solution is already on here somewhere

[redpat1 225]

Nothing to worrie about atall mate shes young and never seen one being caught she might not known if she was aloud to have a stab at it im sure of a older dog was there and went in she would follow sure no need to be disappointed want so ever

Thanks mate, not dissapointed just surprised. I have been unable to get a balance with my lurchers. My first lurcher DH/G X Whip a few years ago was a beautiful dog and showed great promise entering herself to a tree rat at around 6-7 months I think and went up against an adult fox at under a year which she put up herself at the local park! The problem was we couldnt get a handle on her, she destroyed our house and garden wouldnt respond to training and just never calmed down. Even experienced friends could do nothing with her and when my wife fell pregnant (and ill) it all became a bit much and she went to live on a farm where she is much happier and still is, I think she is practically feral. It took a big toll on us at the time as I desperately wanted to keep her but it was just a very bad situation. This time I waited till the time was right and the right dog came along, followed a plan but it feels like the opposite, apart from the retrieve she does everything else but just doesnt seem to have much fire in her belly which I guess might be a good thing but surely she needs some! perhaps I am judging her by past experience.

I am not the kind of fella to pass a dog on regrdless of my first experience although I felt I had no other option. This time I just would have liked her to have shown a bit more willing but we have a new season upon us to get it together.

Edited August 7, 2013 by redpat1