Alrounder X Alrounder

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

 

 

 

 

People talk about the all rounder as if it is a mythical creature.

 

Shouldn't a decent working lurcher do everything that has been mentioned?

 

Scent it's quarry and get in cover to push it out, stay outside the cover if working with terrier or spaniels etc, have a crack at the full spectrum of game (pre ban obviously) - R/H/F/D, work with the gun to a standard of flushing and retrieving, work the lamp, work with ferrets, marking sets and catching bolters, respecting nets etc.

 

Then be equally as happy curled up in the pub after and by the fire at home.

 

My bitch does all of this (the legal stuff) except her retrieve is hit and miss, and I will be disappointed if I can't do all of this with my pup when she is 2-3 years old. I don't think I'm asking too much.

Think everyone has different ideas what an all rounder is or should do ,and everyone can add shit loads to the all ready mentioned list ,I wonder how many would give their dogs the chance to do all these things and not just the odd once or twice?...Yes id like my dogs to do this and often ,but lets be real here ,we all have our preferred quarry and even going out 3/4 times a week pre ban id find it hard to run all this different quarry regular, as too me its not doing it the odd once or twice but often , or is an all rounder a jack of all trades and master of none ?

To me it's a jack of all trades.

 

I think the physical attributes of the dog required to be a "master" would prevent it being a "master" at all of R/H/F/D.

i totally agree here and with all due respect to everyone and there individual thoughts and preferences i think an all rounder is a jack of trades but master of none...

 

a saluki hybred specializes in hares, to get better than that cross for that job is nigh on impossible,

 

lets call a spade a spade and say that the bull cross pretty much has the fox game summed up and when it comes to numbers i think this cross would still be going when others start to yield to the punishment,

 

for ferreting it would be hard to improve on a little whippet cross imo,

 

deer..... i dont really know about, is there a specific cross that excelled at them? from my experience it was down to the individual dog and ive seen several different lurcher make ups do as good as each other.

 

so my point is if you have a dog that will take all of the above regular it is a decent animal and in my opinion a capable allrounder....

 

but will it be as good and take as many and as much stick as a bull hound on foxes???

 

will it be as quick off the mark and as nimble as the whippet cross out ferreting??

 

could you match the allrounder to a top class coursing dog on the fens??

 

the answer to all of the above is NO. to be decent at all game means sacrificing in some areas to gain in others. if you want consistant big numbers at a specific game then just get the cross that everyone else uses and has perfected for that quarry. ie fox, get a bull hound. hare get a saluki hybred.

 

if you are like me and want to do a little bit of everything then get somthing with speed and wind for a hare, not too heavy for rabbits, guts to tackle a fox (or two or possible 3 if the oppertunity arose) and the ability and determination to run and pull bigger game.

 

If you dont agree that doesnt mean your right and im wrong, that is the simplest way to put what i think it works. is there a horse bred yet than can win a grand national, showjump to grand prix level, have all the fancy foot work to win dressage competitions and hunt hounds off him at the weekend??? NOPE, but you could get a horse to do all these to an extent but not to top level..................

Amen to that. Don't know where you are but I would love to buy you a pint.

 

What a post. Took my words out of my mouth.

[obi2 239]

Got the pup home today and I couldn't be happier with it. Had a cup of tea and chat and the basics are certainly in place for her. Down to me now but iv got high hopes for this one. The pups are a credit to the guys

[nothernlite 18,089]

If it took you 2 years to find it i hope it is as good as you think

[blackmaggie 3,376]

foxdigger a very good post :thumbs:obi glad your sorted and you found what you wanted nl 2 yrs is a long while to search admittedly but how many have bought on in pluse and regretted it

[Flacko 1,747]

Fox d bang on mate you said a lot of true words there

[obi2 239]

Cheers guys,i could have had half a dozen dogs in the kennels the past couple if years if I had believed half the bullshit some of the guys have told me when iv been to see pups. It's opened my eyes up to what's actually out there and it's a shame. Im back in the lurcher game for good now and making sure I keep in touch with the decent guys.

[the big chief 3,099]

i have had dh x's what tuk everything and so did my old beddy whippet gh i was out 4 or 5 nights i call those alrounders the dh x's where the better dogs on deer imo i think the size is a good advantage to have

[mark21 8]

been doin this a while other than height or coat deerhounds hav nothing to offer a good terrier cross will be harder and hav brain saluki will hav much more stay its pretty simple as am i

[the big chief 3,099]

been doin this a while other than height or coat deerhounds hav nothing to offer a good terrier cross will be harder and hav brain saluki will hav much more stay its pretty simple as am i

well they work for me and have done for years

[mark21 8]

cool happy dodging

[Asra14 88]

Hi obi1, glad to hear you got back safe, and like you said its down to you now as ive done my bit trying to get the ingredients right but most of all mate enjoy her like i have bring these pup on, Atb mate keep in touch Ian ps see you next season

[obi2 239]

Hi obi1, glad to hear you got back safe, and like you said its down to you now as ive done my bit trying to get the ingredients right but most of all mate enjoy her like i have bring these pup on, Atb mate keep in touch Ian ps see you next season

Defanatly mate, I'm looking forward to it already!

[Sirius 1,391]

Personally I think it's all bollocks really. As has been touched on who really has the time to give the dog the work, and opportunities, and training to be very good at everything!! And even then it's down to luck. You get a dog which catches a fair bit but runs its game for miles and holds the arse end, it's a failure as a allrounder. One that can't work steady off a slip at night or on a warren to me is a failure as a allrounder. The list is endless.

As long as it's good at the bread and butter jobs you do a lot you should be happy. Feck trying for the impossible, no dog or human is perfect at everything lol

Edited March 2, 2014 by Sirius

[dodger 2,765]

Good thread

[morton 5,368]

The mythical allrounder,never used to be so mythical,a dog that worked on several disciplines to a desired standard,filled the pot with fur and feather,earnt the owner a dollar through pest control.few earn a living or depend on a mutt to feed a family now,thus the true allrounder will never be needed,even by the few true romantics still left in the game.Yet romance and the quest for the grail still keeps a few lads striving to get the best from their nearly mutts.