Single Dog Bushing

[Gareth12 225]

Which breed or crosses are best for bushing, just one dog and one man after a few bunnies etc? Do the spaniel and spaniel crosses catch as much as the terriers or do they tend to be better for flushing to lurchers? are whippet type lurchers able to get through the cover and find aswell as the smaller dogs? I know every dog has its strengths and weaknesses, if you could have only one little bushing companion what would you go for?

[wi11ow 2,657]

It's the dog that suits the man what x suits people in different ways my spaniel x don't catch many but flush plenty to the lurchers would I want them to catch more no it's fun seeing them graft to get the rabbits to bolt

[Will-i-am 33]

VERY good comment wi11ow I have a spaniel x whippet it dose catch it,s fair share of game but is just a pleaser to just walk ruff ground and just watch it work

[wi11ow 2,657]

love to watch them TRY to catch rabbits but to much smashing throu the cover to catch many but the lurchers keep on there toes enjoyment you carnt buy

[bryanm45 787]

Beddy x whippet would be a good all rounder for you and also as mentioned a whirrer, ie. whippet x Terrier, but I think the beddy would have the better coat, let us know what you get fella.

[Cleanspade 3,324]

i would go for a whirrier less chance of it going to ground. and more chance of it catching . also better for the odd ferretting trip

 

terrier/whippet. smashes most cover. but i still need a terrier for really tight cover. brambles can have the little lurchers in a right old muddle. it wouldnt be the first time ive had to go in and cut him out of them.

 

 

 

[skycat 6,173]

Yup, definitely a whirrier: something small enough to get into cover easily, with a thick skin, good nose, masses of drive and enough speed to nab bunnies at the edge of cover after a run in from the open as well.

[wi11ow 2,657]

But one dog carnt do everything open cover is ok but tight cover they are slower as said and many will no they carnt get we're a real bushing dog can go Not haveing dig at any dogs

[skycat 6,173]

You're right willow: even a wonder dog can't be everywhere at once: the reason my dogs catch so many rabbits out mooching along hedgerow is due to their numbers: two or three little dogs in cover panic the rabbits even if they can't catch them, and two or three lurchers on the outside make sure that not a lot get away if they do bolt.

If I had to have just one dog out of my current crop I'd keep my 24" Airedale lurcher: she gets into cover like a small terrier, catches in cover as well as out of it, and all because she's totally, fanatically, desperate to find and catch, and coupled with an exceptional brain and prey sense. I've never seen drive like it in any other dog I've owned except another much smaller lurcher many years ago. Sometimes you're lucky enough to get a dog that has it all, but they don't come around very often.

[kps1979 1,308]

Hopefully my whirriers will do the trick.. Ive got a long wait to find out as they won't be born until 2 weeks time!

[wi11ow 2,657]

It's great for ppl to read about different dogs. How owners see them the super dog anti bin bred yet to do everything work cover and catch because there's cover and there's cover

[Hareydave 1,214]

more or less the same as a ferreting dog it aint much use if it head permanently stuck down a hole

[skycat 6,173]

A good all round mooching/rabbiting dog won't have its head stuck down a hole unless you have ferrets with you. Dogs that know the score will only mark a hole if they're actually out ferreting, not bushing or mooching about.

[wi11ow 2,657]

A good all round mooching/rabbiting dog won't have its head stuck down a hole unless you have ferrets with you. Dogs that know the score will only mark a hole if they're actually out ferreting, not bushing or mooching about.

 

 

its funny how they no when your ferreting and just mooching

[Hareydave 1,214]

bushing isn't rocket science the basics is a terrier a hound or a spaniel or a combination of any them, that ok if you want killed the odd one an scare a few. To increase the bag you need a lurcher one that can take a knock an one that has an understanding of the bushing dogs job, He a bit like lord who ever an his team beaters they do the dirty work an he gets his photo in the shooting times...You cant have cant have the complete package all rolled into one