Help Please!

[day and night walker 235]

Hello, i have a plummer x which will be 2 years next jan which i am trying too bring on rabbiting/bushing ect she is doing ok but what she really needs is too get out with some proper bushing terriers so she can see how it is meant too be done. what i am asking is, is there anyone in the berkshire area that would let me tag along with them. I do take her out as much as i can but i know she would benefit seeing other dogs working. hoping to hear from someone soon atb daywalker

 

 

[AKeeNShoT 5]

Hi mate if got 2 plummers and use them for bushing I started them off by taking them ferreting with nets then I would use less nets and they where taken to places where I New the bunny would be in cover and let them loose...... After a dozen outings with the ferrets and nets they became well aware of there job and they got into the bushing side of things within 2-3 outings I've never looked back since then they have flushed shed loads of gear and still do..... I always start my dogs off ferreting that way I can train them to stand back from a set knowing they will wait for me instead of dropping to ground and having to be dug out.... I think Plummer terriers can turn there hand at anything to a canny standard.... Mine have flushed a few unexpected deer in woods and at 6and 7years old show no signs of wanting or trying to drop to ground but I did spend endless hours when they were youngto lleave the sets alone..... Ferret as much as you can with her and get her out where there are bunny early morning and you'll see how much keener she when out bushing it worked for me other on here may suggest other ways to bring her on tab with her mate hope this helps

[day and night walker 235]

thanks 4 the reply fella, she has come on these last few months and even managed to peg a few in the cover its just some days she does not seem that interested but to be honest i think it is because there is nothing about on top. what are yours like when there r no rabbits or sent about, do they still work through the cover. atb day walker.

Edited November 15, 2013 by day and night walker

[AKeeNShoT 5]

If there ain't no fresh sent we tend to cover a lot of ground and I nearly always have a ferret handy in a carry box just to get a few bolsters once the dogs mark a set..... Don't use nets to often with them now but the terriers love the Chase and I like to watch them sprinting across the field in hot pursuit me male Plummer has caught a few bunny this way

[buster gonads 862]

I started my plummer off [or any bushing dog for that matter] by sitting in the edge of a wood i know to hold numbers of Hares at dusk, and watched the hares coming out to feed, once they clocked me and the dog [make sure they know your there before they get too far out] they go back in crashing through the undergrowth with the dog in hot persuit, the dog soon realises that the cover is the place to be for fun and games, if you try this make sure the wind is off your back not in your face as the norm, atb, buster.

[day and night walker 235]

thanks 4 the reply buster. I forgot to add this to my post, do you think think size matters when it comes 2 bushing terriers, 4 example do you think a smaller type terrier makes a better bushing dog or does the size not matter once the dog is keen. the reason i ask is mine is a tall bitch, 15tts give or take half an inch, its just when i first got her and showed her to a freind he said it was unlikley that she would come to much due to her being too tall. I suppose time will tell atb day walker.

[buster gonads 862]

The best bushing dog i ever had or seen was 15" tts, a smaller type dog will go up the rabbit runs with out making as much noise so it doesnt push rabbits too out too far in front of the running dogs, but it may not push them out at all if its too small, the noise of the dog pushing through does the trick, its a comprimise, lots of disturbance, rabbits running out too far infront of the running dogs, not enough and they may not bolt at all, you,ll have no probs with a good 15" plummer, atb, buster

[AKeeNShoT 5]

My male Plummer is 15its and he has no problems me bitch is 14 its but she ain't as fast as the male on a Sprint when after a bunny....... You can only try to get your dog out as much as possible to give her the practice are you using a lurcher or a gun for the bolters....... Try a walk in the wideband drop a few dead bunny without her seeing you drop them then go back to the area and encourage he to start sniffing them out and give her lots of praise when she finds them

[buster gonads 862]

While were on the subject of size, i,v a mate that works 2 boarder collies on rabbits including bushing, not ideal i know but it works for him, infact he,s beating on a rough shoot today with them, beating,s only a more organised form of bushing i suppose, i think 12"-16" would be my ideal as long as the dog,s good and keen, doent matter to me what breed or type atb, buster.

[day and night walker 235]

thanks again 4 the replys fellas, i am just using her on her own at the moment but am hoping to get a small whippet type lurcher in the future. I will be getting her out as much as possible this season so i hope all goes well. Too know that there are people using taller terriers 4 bushing ect inspires me with alot more confidence in her. thanks again and happy hunting. atb day walker.

[Wellsyno 0]

Hi, what age do you start your terriers out bushing?

[day and night walker 235]

Hello, i started my terrier when she was just over a year old but that was because she was that age when i got her if i had had her from a pup i would have started her alot younger. the fella i got her from told me that apart from killing some mice she had not done much. some people get there pups out as soon as they have had there jabs but i suppose i would like to have her out from about six months old. shes not too bad but there has to be something on top or she doesn't want to know atb day walker.

[Wellsyno 0]

Ok cheers. I got a jrt only 12 weeks old and want to get him out soon as, but obviously don't want to start too early and get him shook. Would I be best maybe starting on mice?

[day and night walker 235]

Hello again fella your pup will be just right 4 getting out next spring/summer what i would do is take her out late evenings and early mornings as there always seems to be more scent about. i found that my bitch seemed to work alot better last summer even though the cover was thicker she just seemed to be in there a lot more than she has of late and she even managed to peg a few in the cover as well. atb and good luck with your pup.

[Wellsyno 0]

Thanks mate, just noticed you're in Berks where abouts?