Running Dogs.....

[Ideation 8,216]

Aye, it's got more popular, with more folk doing it, as the countryside has got smaller, with less game in it. As you say Bosun, a certain amount of land is needed, and when folk get desperate, that's when problems start. Most of us with perm, could theoretically do what we like most of the time. Not knocking a bit of fence jumping, but when you are doing something illegal. . . . it's usually better if folk aren't looking for you.

 

It's a bit like, if you were a drug smuggler. . . . with a car full of drugs, You wouldnt drive around over the speed limit, smoking a joint.

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Well,.I've lived through the best times with lurchers,...

 

Hunted and killed almost every UK critter that could be captured, by a canny canine,..

 

But,..although I love to see a capable hound in action,..one that can take out most anything that rises in front of it,...I now find myself being drawn back to a place in time, and a stamp of cur that gave me so much happiness and personal contentment......

Edited January 14, 2014 by Phil Lloyd

[paulf 820]

About 8 years ago I packed the dogs in after having kept lurchers ,terriers since I was 12/13 years old for some reasons that I wont go into ,but always said one day I would get myself another dog ..

I would always pop in and see how my mates were getting on with there dogs and from time to time would look on here to see whats going on in the dog world ..

after a couple of years I was ready to get another lurcher but sadly my son was involved in a motorbike crash which meant me and his mother pretty much looking after him full time for a few years so last year on my 40th birthday I went and picked up a pup off d Lloyd from off here and my passion for running dogs was as keen as ever lol

so what im trying to say is I knew what it was like way before the ban and after it too so it didn't stop me getting involved again ..if its in you theres nothing you can do about it :yes:

obviously only rabbits are on the menu for me now and in a roundabout way its where I started and will finnish too...

[bigbailey 90]

Am I missing something here! since when has hunting with lurchers been banned???.......Its just hunting certain species with lurchers which has been banned

[dytkos 17,802]

What else would I do?

 

Too old to play football, too old to go clubbing and shagging around FFS

Moved to Cornwall over 20 years ago, 'Cos of work I couldn't have a dog for 6 years.

Like having a fecking limb cut off

 

If I didn't have a terrier or lurcher to mooch around with, I'd go (even more) nuts.

 

Gone full circle from having no permission to being able to go out pretty much wherever I want

with both sorts of dogs.

 

Dreamed of this as a kid, now I've got it, I'm getting too old.

 

But not f***ing stopping for anyone

 

Cheers, D.

[lurcherman887 178]

 

 

To be honest, it's one of the very few things that makes me happy. Being out with the dogs, day or night, walking or hunting. . . . it just helps me cope with life and the world. And as a result, I think I try to bury myself in it as much as possible. Add to that, the fact that I'm not great with people. . . .

 

But on a side note. . . one thing that I find interesting, is that the popularity of lurchers has exploded in the last ten years (pretty much since the ban, but maybe not soley because of). First you have all of the lads who have got into it, because it's illegal. it's 'cool' and it was plastered all over the t.v, papers etc.

 

And secondly - they are just fecking everywhere. Where ever I go I see runners being kept as pets, folk stop me and tell me how they, their daughter, their friend etc have a lurcher (non working). One even features on a sofa advert on t.v - in the rhyme in the add it says something, something, something then "and Grandad with a Lurcher", and shows a bloke sat on the sofa with a beddy x looking dog.

 

You even get Lurcherpoos. . . . .

 

More popular than ever, and yet more loathed than ever at the same time.

 

I'd say it had little to do with the dogs. . . . but everything to do with half the bell ends that own them. Those of us who have half a brain (or more) would be fine, if it wasn't constantly brought on top by the morons. . . .

can just picture you typing that with a 9 skinner hanging out your mouth

Haha 9? That's long mind you it depends what's inside it

[fitchet 788]

Can't beat bieng out with the dogs but I do get fed up constantly of worrying about the dogs either getting stolen or getting on something in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

In fact today me and a feller I work with were up early ready for work but gets to the address no one about so decided not to waste the morning and took the dogs out to a nice route all on public footpath.not hunting genuinely just out for a walk. About a mile in we start seeing a few beaters and after making sure we weren't going to interfere with the shooting carried on even waiting 20 mins so as not to put the birds off they were blanking in. By this the we are heading back to the motor when a feller popped out and said have the police caught up with you yet. We asked why the police were called as we had kept to a clear right of way and his reply was your in a rural area with running dogs. I asked if we were causing any problems he said no your dogs have been well under control they just want to have a chat.

 

So heads back to the motor which was parked about a mile away and sure enough two cars pull up asking what we were doing and we explained just been for a walk they took our details and contact numbers and radio through. Now as there waiting 7 car fulls of guns have turnt up and cannot get to there next drive as the two police cars are blocking the way. And when the police finally did move one of the caught the back number and ripped it clean off. To be fair to the officers they seemed OK he said to me Thames valleys top priorities is stamping out rural crime this year.

 

The thing that really annoyed me is that even when respect is shown to the landowners they still felt the need to phone police even if it meant they get held up from there own days sport. On the other hand I've had more than one landowner say to me its no you boys that have a walk and a run and feck off its the lads that tear up crops ect . the thing is the more heat put onto young lads trying to run the dogs the more fields will get driven and the more landowners will be seen as the enemy IMO.

[dimmock20 278]

I got into dogs after the ban and wouldn't be without one. Wake up thinking about dogs go to work thinking about dogs and go to sleep thinking about dogs. Times are as hard now as they have been in the last 7 years of me being into dogs and im as keen as ever.

Edited January 15, 2014 by dimmock20

[baw 4,360]

:notworthy: some thought provoking responses lads, well done

[lat 29]

Good point. I don't no really. I got into it nearly 40 years ago when my Grandad kept working whippets. I remember being really young just after Xmas and a Hare jumping up in front of us and after a 2 minute course his Whippet Blue nailed it .I was hooked from that moment to this. After that I eventually had my own lurcher, then I moved to Lincoln for a few years where I played football with a lad called Chris Moyes who owned Captain. He got me into coursing on the fens.

When I go out lamping now my lad who is 11 comes sometimes, he says he wants one of his own when he's older but with the hassle that comes with it now even on your own permission I don't no if it's worth it. The youngsters have definitely missed on the the best times but just because some biggot in London says you can't I would not stop him getting into it.

Thinking about it yes I probably would star all over again cos I love it so much.

[Sirius 1,391]

One things for sure 'Nothing ever stays the same' The lack of wilderness and countryside will increase to shrink in the future on this little Island we live on, so you will have to work harder to keep your land and it will be harder for new lads starting.

Being honest, decent and presenting your sport in the best way possible is essential and most important enjoy it as best you can Dogs have always been stolen and lurcher's have always attracted undesirables its the way it is, I have had idiots driving the land near me of late, but I have seen it before they come and go. Build a good reputation and trust with landowners and you will reap the benefits, as if you get a bad reputation you will always struggle and it will stick.

Good Hunting Sirius

Edited January 15, 2014 by Sirius

[martinfish 73]

cheers fellas I got my first lurcher pup yesterday after a year of trying to find the right dog

[baw 4,360]

Well done Martin, enjoy it pal, nothing beats it. Word of advice, don't listen to others, it's just you and the dog that need to be happy. You'll both learn off each other, make mistakes, everyone has a world beater, but not everyone is happy doing it for the sheer fun of it, which is why we all started

[courseadog 231]

I won't give it up no chance love it to much and wouldn't change a thing done shooting it just aint the same as seeing a dog run after its quarry in the condision you have help it reach

[Snifferboy 659]

One things for sure 'Nothing ever stays the same' The lack of wilderness and countryside will increase to shrink in the future on this little Island we live on, so you will have to work harder to keep your land and it will be harder for new lads starting.

 

Being honest, decent and presenting your sport in the best way possible is essential and most important enjoy it as best you can Dogs have always been stolen and lurcher's have always attracted undesirables its the way it is, I have had idiots driving the land near me of late, but I have seen it before they come and go. Build a good reputation and trust with landowners and you will reap the benefits, as if you get a bad reputation you will always struggle and it will stick.

 

Good Hunting Sirius

 

 

 

I guess it is like anything, I have spent years working hard building up a good reputation for my plumbing business, but you can lose that in the matter of minutes if your not careful...