When's A Running Dog At Its Best

[slip lead 862]

Do you think it makes much difference

 

Would a dog that mostly lamps have a longer working life span than say a day time fen dog.

 

Dismissing injuries.

[fluff 409]

a dog reaches there prime 3 year old but had them at 2 as good as they will ever be , i reckon 2 till 5 for coursing or open land hunting of slip ,and once they lose the pace etc a bit lamping ferreting to finish of there running life ,mooching or pack hunting as some do you never realy get there prime as they mob them rather than course one on one , 4 good seasons is the norm for me back in the day then start losing a little bit pace, pick up odd nick here and there then if there up for it lamping ferreting and the odd days daylite hunting , saw dogs catch good hares up till they were seven but not many ,can do it regulary

[TOMO 26,068]

Do you think it makes much difference

Would a dog that mostly lamps have a longer working life span than say a day time fen dog.

Dismissing injuries.

Deffo makes a difference ,,,,cos let's face it,,lamping is easier than daytime,,,a lot of coursing dogs are finished by 6,,,not saying all,,,,but a lot are,,,or they have at least lost that extra yard that made the difference for hares,,,,,they can of course carry on lamping with great success

[slip lead 862]

Totally agree tomo

But I was surprised at the age of a lot of the coursing dogs

When I was young and really into coursing 4 years was considered probably it's last season, these dogs back then we're mostly greyhound even 3/4 greyhound 1/4 salukis as a lot of people said any more saluki just slowed the dog down, wow how wrong was they (fast forward 25 years) and it's now 3/4 saluki 1/4 greyhound.

 

Do you think the saluki blood has helped to prolong a coursing dogs working life

[TOMO 26,068]

I honestly wouldn't know,,,,but it wouldn't surprise me,,,them salukis are tougher than folk give them credit

[beast 1,884]

i think a heavy saturated collie-type, expected to find, hunt and catch its own prey, a variety of fur and feather in different ground (woods, marsh, hill) probably takes longer to learn all the little wrinkles, and wont reach its prime until probably 3, but will often be good till 8/9 as it doesnt rely on its speed so much (just as well reaally, as it wont have much!) at least, that has been my experience, it probably depends on how much work it gets as much as anything else.