When Will My Pup Start Showing Signs Its Ready For The Bunnies?

[Leesy 35]

Hi all, this has probably been discussed many a time with you guys but I'd really appreciate some advice.

 

I have a 5 month old pup, dam being a col/ whip/grey x bed/whip, and sire being a Kelpie/whip. Ive never had a working lurcher before but did a lot of research into what mix is best for me and im giving him the best start i can. His training is going well and he's more than keen on retrieving skins, but when theres a running rabbit he doesnt really show much interest. I'm not really encouraging him as yet because of his age as I dont want him yipping when he starts work, but should he not be showing some kind of interest yet or am I worrying about nothing?!

 

Any feedback would be great. Cheers

[paulus 26]

As your topic appears to be in the wrong section, (a non hunting post), we have moved it to the appropriate forum.

 

Read the forum rules, top of the section.

 

This is an automatically generated reply.

[budharley 945]

Your worrying about nothing mate let him be a pup

[tsteve9999 456]

My old dog caught his first rabbit at about 6-7 months old and from that moment has been wed to catching stuff, but my 10 month old pup is still acting like what he is,,,, a pup. He's just beginning to show real interest but only for short spells,then he's back to p***ing around and irritating me and the old dog but it will click one day, hopefully soon. They all mature at different rates mate, as has been said your dog is still very much a pup so don't worry. One piece of advice I've taken to heart from people on here who know a lot more than I do is that it's easy to ruin a dog by entering it too quickly but you'll never ruin one by entering it slowly.

[buster gonads 862]

Take this time that he's not interested to complete his training, recall, sit & stay, stock breaking and retreaving being about all i do these days, you,ll have little time for training when he switches on [which he will when he's ready] if your owt like me you'll be out looking for work for the dog, he'll not be physicaly or mentaly ready yet, its very easy to piss a dog off and then you,ll be back on here asking how can i stop it yapping, its a pup, it,ll come good, its harder to stop them chaseing than to start them, good luck with it Leesy & stop worrying.

[Kemperz21 65]

Mines only really been showing a real interest the last few months he's 15 months now you won't really be working it for a while yet anyway so don't panic mine started going out watching and getting maybe 1 or 2 super easy slips at about 10month he chased and caught them but was still very puppyish very bouncy and more interested in my mates dogs than the lamp but he's calmed right down now and always head up watching while out on walks atb

[RossM 8,119]

Let him be a pup, he'll show you when he's ready......

[Leesy 35]

Thanks for all your replies. I've only just sussed out how to find my converstions thats why my reply is so delayed, sorry! I'll keep all tour advice in mind as im a newby to working lurchers, thanks again

[nothernlite 18,089]

We bit ferreting will not do it any harm had the catching mixi rabbits at 5 or 6 months old good luck

[Leesy 35]

We bit ferreting will not do it any harm had the catching mixi rabbits at 5 or 6 months old good luck

So would you rrecommendtaking him out just to watch an experienced dog ferreting?

[skycat 6,173]

No, take the pup out alone, just you and him and a ferret. Find a small warren, a two holer if possible, or at least somewhere shallow and open. If you take another dog with you chances are the pup will be more focussed on messing about with the other dog than learning about ferrets and rabbits. Obviously don't expect the pup to mark, though some do instinctively. If the pup shows particular interest in a hole, then put the ferret down: this is good practice for letting the pup see the ferret in a different situation than the one it is used to at home, even if there is nothing in the burrow.

 

Depending on the pup, I usually net up the holes, so the pup will see you extract rabbit from net. Keep everything very calm. Let the pup do what it wants to do, unless that involves just running about like a headless chicken. If the pup shows no interest at all in what you are doing, and would rather be off galloping about having fun, then leave it for another day. I've had pups take to ferreting from day one, at around 5-6 months old, and others which weren't sufficiently focussed to spend any time keeping still and learning until they were at least 10 months old: it all depends on the individual pup, and nothing to do with the breeding.

 

Don't make the pup sit in one place.

Don't keep it on the lead.

Don't tell it what to do or overly encourage it to mark or sniff at a hole.

 

Do let the pup see the ferret being placed at the mouth of the hole.

Do praise the pup when it remains calm.

Do let the pup sniff the rabbit once you have killed it, but discourage mouthing or grabbing.

 

Once the pup has sniffed the rabbit, put the rabbit in a bag out of sight.

 

Do let the pup sniff the ferret as it comes out of the hole, but don't let it pounce, hit with its paw or otherwise interfere with the ferret in any way.

 

So much depends on the temperament and attitude of the pup.

[Leesy 35]

Thanks skycat, thats brilliant advice.

[slip lead 862]

Some people on here will piss themselves laughing with this one.

 

But with all my pups at about 5/6 months I take them to the same field,(about 700 acres) it's very rairly cut so holds probably thousands of field mouse, I show them a few holes and incuradge them to find it, the pups love it and there lurning to use there nose and not charging around the place doing themselves harm.

 

Good luck with you pup.

Edited September 11, 2014 by slip lead

[Leesy 35]

Some people on here will piss themselves laughing with this one.

But with all my pups at about 5/6 months I take them to the same field,(about 700 acres) it's very rairly cut so holds probably thousands of field mouse, I show them a few holes and incuradge them to find it, the pups love it and there lurning to use there nose and not charging around the place doing themselves harm.

Good luck with you pup.

Thanks slip lead.