What Age?

[chris.s 28]

Thanks for the replys lads

Atb chris

[Suzy Ross 236]

So is 12weeks to young then ideation?

At this time of year, what do you think? Your pups at a great age, start teaching it the foundations, forget hunting, that'll come. Your pup will be 8 or 9 months old when the better weather comes, start taking it ferreting then, easy slips over the summer, it'll be a better rounded dog come its first season next season than having it frozen bored shitless this winter ferreting.

[Maximus Ferret 2,063]

As you'll have realised by now there're two schools of thought on this. Personally I like to get pups out ferreting as soon as they're sensible enough not to be TOO much of a pain in the ass but these early trips out would be either with the pup as the only dog, the warrens small and the trips short..........or.........with someone else doing the ferreting so all my time is for the pup.

The idea is to get the pup listening to the sounds from underground and seeing rabbits netted, seeing ferrets hunting etc. without getting bored and fed up.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Maximus Ferret

[Suzy Ross 236]

It's ok saying take the pup on small trips etc but the reality isn't always that easy. You get a lay up in a deep set, weather turns, what are you teaching a 12 week pup? No harm comes from waiting till its older and the weathers better. Pups need to be pups, it's got it's entire life to work, what's the rush?

[Ideation 8,216]

Some very sensible posts. Maybe I'm lucky, as my pups are out in the countryside every day. There are a million things I want to teach the pup, and every walk is a learning experience on the land the dog will one day hunt. I don't bother taking the dog ferreting till its older, around 6 months. I go one to one and the entire experience is about the pup learning.

[chris.s 28]

Lol a lot of diffrent responses. There is a few small sets close to home where I walk the dogs. I could take a ferret and a handfull of nets on a walk with me instead of taking him out with me when I travel to big permissions. Ill properbly give him a month or so more training and see how we get on. Thanks for all your responses much appreciated

Atb chris

[Country Joe 1,411]

About 5 months for me, like them watching the rabbits hitting the nets and the noise below ground, gets them to respect the nets.

my pup now just turned 8 months will mark and hold rabbits in the nets, and will leave rabbits on command.

[Country Joe 1,411]

 

 

_{Pup at 7 months learning the game. no marathon ferreting sessions at this age 3 to 4 hrs max.}

Edited November 12, 2013 by Country Joe

[ferretman89 68]

Nice few posts on this thread. I have a whippet just over a year old. This is his first season for me and he is still a bit daft at times. I had arround the ferrets since i got him and hes not that fussed by them. Of course when he was first introduced to them he did try and play with them but after telling him to leave them, hes spot on with them.

 

I did a little work with him when he was about 6/7 months but nothing serious. I just walked him around sets and in fields where i knew there were rabbits. eventually he showed interest and would give chase and mark sets. Spent a bit of time teaching him to retrieve toys and a dummy. Although he can still be reluctant to bring a rabbit back, but sure in time he will come good

 

He should make a decent ferreting dog and i am trying him on the lamp at the minute. If i get another pup next year i will probably take that out around the same age but keep it on the lead and let it watch. Guess its personal preference.

 

Good look

[weasle 1,119]

It's ok saying take the pup on small trips etc but the reality isn't always that easy. You get a lay up in a deep set, weather turns, what are you teaching a 12 week pup? No harm comes from waiting till its older and the weathers better. Pups need to be pups, it's got it's entire life to work, what's the rush?

You would wonder how wild animals cope wouldn't you.

If you get a lay up you dig it out,if it rains a bit a 3 month old pup ain't going to melt.

I do agree wouldn't have young pups out for the day, but there again I have put them in the car and done a bit more.

Still less boring than sitting in a kennel,young pup learning where ever you take it even to wait quietly in the car.

For me it's just about getting them out and about on farms,long before they can get them selves in any trouble they have seen it all.Some switch on straight away others play fall a sleep, makes no odds.

[Suzy Ross 236]

 

It's ok saying take the pup on small trips etc but the reality isn't always that easy. You get a lay up in a deep set, weather turns, what are you teaching a 12 week pup? No harm comes from waiting till its older and the weathers better. Pups need to be pups, it's got it's entire life to work, what's the rush?

You would wonder how wild animals cope wouldn't you.

If you get a lay up you dig it out,if it rains a bit a 3 month old pup ain't going to melt.

I do agree wouldn't have young pups out for the day, but there again I have put them in the car and done a bit more.

Still less boring than sitting in a kennel,young pup learning where ever you take it even to wait quietly in the car.

For me it's just about getting them out and about on farms,long before they can get them selves in any trouble they have seen it all.Some switch on straight away others play fall a sleep, makes no odds.

How wild animals cope? a LOTof them don't. As for your bit of rain, you must live in warmer climates than me. Putting the dog in the car is fine if you've got the ferret, deep lay up, half a mile away from your car, are you going to leave the ferret to go out a pup in the car. Look, I don't care if folk take 6 week pups ferreting, it won't affect me. I'm just giving the guy advice why I personally wouldn't especially in November. No harm will come to the pup waiting till April.

[Maximus Ferret 2,063]

 

 

It's ok saying take the pup on small trips etc but the reality isn't always that easy. You get a lay up in a deep set, weather turns, what are you teaching a 12 week pup? No harm comes from waiting till its older and the weathers better. Pups need to be pups, it's got it's entire life to work, what's the rush?

You would wonder how wild animals cope wouldn't you.

If you get a lay up you dig it out,if it rains a bit a 3 month old pup ain't going to melt.

I do agree wouldn't have young pups out for the day, but there again I have put them in the car and done a bit more.

Still less boring than sitting in a kennel,young pup learning where ever you take it even to wait quietly in the car.

For me it's just about getting them out and about on farms,long before they can get them selves in any trouble they have seen it all.Some switch on straight away others play fall a sleep, makes no odds.

How wild animals cope? a LOTof them don't. As for your bit of rain, you must live in warmer climates than me. Putting the dog in the car is fine if you've got the ferret, deep lay up, half a mile away from your car, are you going to leave the ferret to go out a pup in the car. Look, I don't care if folk take 6 week pups ferreting, it won't affect me. I'm just giving the guy advice why I personally wouldn't especially in November. No harm will come to the pup waiting till April.

 

Twelve weeks probably is a bit young. I prefer to wait until the pup's starting to get a bit sensible and this varies from pup to pup.. I have a six month old pup now and she's done no ferreting yet but I'll start her soon.

I find November a good pup starting time here as the rabbits bolt more easily. In April you'd get nothing but lay ups.

[Suzy Ross 236]

Bit different talking about a pup ready to work than a pup your just taking along to show what a rabbit burrow looks like. I'd never take a 12 week pup out this time of year ferreting but each to there own.

[lurcherman887 178]

My pup would drive me mental ferreting she's 16 wk now need more time get her sensible,her 1st season will be next season just give her the easy summer runs april/may and a lot of watching the older dog at night ! !

[weasle 1,119]

Just back with mine 15 weeks,played all the way to the bury marked it ,stayed quite followed the noises underground,ran to netted rabbits had a mouth,as soon as I started lifted nets started playing again.

Any dog first time ferreting is a pain much rather it be a young pup than a 6- 12 month old dog.

Reading some post on here makes me think of some of the kids that come to play with my kids,every animal has to be locked away so as not to scare them even the chickens and the kids cannot touch anything that's not sterile..

As for November there's more flowers on my roses now than in July