Best Age To Start

[Corkman 944]

 

 

 

i put mine at rats first bot 6mths,then have them about the holes give them an oul look when we break through,usualy works.

that is exactly what I mean my black dog was killing rats confidently at 6 months

 

 

Leethdog you sound like a young man eager for action like many of us when we started off our life with working terriers. You will need to be patient for your dog’s sake and for your own future enjoyment of watching them hopefully develop into a worker that will make you proud. Some terriermen never learn such patient’s and consistently ruin pups and are constantly cribbing about poor dogs from poor lines and also chopping and changing their kennel. These same men rarely have consistent stock.

 

A simple comparison I have gleaned from listening to men at this game a lot longer than most is as follows:

A 6 month old terrier is like an 11 year old boy. Both physically and mentally under developed. You would not think of putting a boy in a sparring match with a grown man.

 

A 12 month terrier is like a 16-18 year old boy. Getting better physically and some develop earlier than others, but still definitely mentally under developed. Full of gusto but “most” lacking even though they don’t know it. There are gems that pop up from time to time like a Mike Tyson that turned Pro at 18 and was a champion at 20 but these are few and far between.

 

A 16-18 month old terrier is like becoming a man at 21-24. Finally physically developed (although still filling out) and getting more rounded mentally to take on a proper challenge and battle a serious opponent. A handy amateur match of 3 rounds rather than a 12 round slugging contest is best as after a 12 rounder the young man may think this game is not for him after the years of training put into him by mentors and decides to jack on the spot.

 

Take a photo of your pup at 12 months, 16 months and 2 years old in the same place and you will notice from the photos it is a totally different animal and again inside their head they are more able to deal with what life throws at them. You would be surprised at the physical difference.

 

Many of us when younger had dogs with plenty of ability, eagerness and fire in the belly and I for one would take a different route now than I did with some back then. One thing to remember is that if “YOU” rush them and they are over matched and jack, then once they jack once it is also in them to jack again and again………….

 

Good things come to those who wait. Take your time and mind your pups until they are “ready” and “able”. As mentioned, keep them winning.

 

That is just my own personal take on it.

 

are you saying you never seen young dogs ;ready n able;i have in my time seen some jack aswell,all depends on the dog.

 

 

No. Not at all. In fact most young dogs of half decent breeding will go much younger than they should be "left" go.

 

What I alluded to was they should be sensibly held back for their "own" sake as they may not be mentally ready for the challenge they might face.

 

Some come through with flying colours and work the same way all there lives but most I feel would not. Dont get me wrong you can hold a dog back until both mentally and physically ready and they still jack. But if I had a dog of proper breeding I would hold it back all the same to ensure I didnt help finish its career before it began........ I dont understand the rush in ruining pups when a little patients goes along way.

[leethedog 3,071]

 

 

 

 

i put mine at rats first bot 6mths,then have them about the holes give them an oul look when we break through,usualy works.

 

that is exactly what I mean my black dog was killing rats confidently at 6 months

Leethdog you sound like a young man eager for action like many of us when we started off our life with working terriers. You will need to be patient for your dog’s sake and for your own future enjoyment of watching them hopefully develop into a worker that will make you proud. Some terriermen never learn such patient’s and consistently ruin pups and are constantly cribbing about poor dogs from poor lines and also chopping and changing their kennel. These same men rarely have consistent stock.

 

A simple comparison I have gleaned from listening to men at this game a lot longer than most is as follows:

A 6 month old terrier is like an 11 year old boy. Both physically and mentally under developed. You would not think of putting a boy in a sparring match with a grown man.

 

A 12 month terrier is like a 16-18 year old boy. Getting better physically and some develop earlier than others, but still definitely mentally under developed. Full of gusto but “most” lacking even though they don’t know it. There are gems that pop up from time to time like a Mike Tyson that turned Pro at 18 and was a champion at 20 but these are few and far between.

 

A 16-18 month old terrier is like becoming a man at 21-24. Finally physically developed (although still filling out) and getting more rounded mentally to take on a proper challenge and battle a serious opponent. A handy amateur match of 3 rounds rather than a 12 round slugging contest is best as after a 12 rounder the young man may think this game is not for him after the years of training put into him by mentors and decides to jack on the spot.

 

Take a photo of your pup at 12 months, 16 months and 2 years old in the same place and you will notice from the photos it is a totally different animal and again inside their head they are more able to deal with what life throws at them. You would be surprised at the physical difference.

 

Many of us when younger had dogs with plenty of ability, eagerness and fire in the belly and I for one would take a different route now than I did with some back then. One thing to remember is that if “YOU” rush them and they are over matched and jack, then once they jack once it is also in them to jack again and again………….

 

Good things come to those who wait. Take your time and mind your pups until they are “ready” and “able”. As mentioned, keep them winning.

 

That is just my own personal take on it.

are you saying you never seen young dogs ;ready n able;i have in my time seen some jack aswell,all depends on the dog.

No. Not at all. In fact most young dogs of half decent breeding will go much younger than they should be "left" go.

 

What I alluded to was they should be sensibly held back for their "own" sake as they may not be mentally ready for the challenge they might face.

 

Some come through with flying colours and work the same way all there lives but most I feel would not. Dont get me wrong you can hold a dog back until both mentally and physically ready and they still jack. But if I had a dog of proper breeding I would hold it back all the same to ensure I didnt help finish its career before it began........ I dont understand the rush in ruining pups when a little patients goes along way.

Thanks Corkman for a straight answer my dog will be a year old late July so come October November he should I hope be ready for a couple of puppy places I try to keep him in good condition at all times like I did when I kept lurchers lots of exorcise and top quality foods he has a nice laid back temperament but far from lazy his breeding is scatter so I believe a gould dog to a nuttel bitch so here is hoping by the way I'm 41 and in no rush but if the place is right and he is screaming I think I'll let him mid season

[Griz 89]

You would be wise to spend more time socializing your terrier(s) ,instead of rushing them and risk ruining one. The stronger your bond with a young dog the better off you will be.

[fat man 4,741]

Fatman the type u keep all seem to want to go at a early age lol

Just the breeding thats in them as you know yourself,its the easiest line of terriers i ever entered.

[fat man 4,741]

Spelling errors. I can't mow the lawn near him because he has no fear of the machine.

They have no fear of anything,its like they are programmed to kill from the word go.

[WEDGEY 755]

 

 

i put mine at rats first bot 6mths,then have them about the holes give them an oul look when we break through,usualy works.

 

that is exactly what I mean my black dog was killing rats confidently at 6 months

Leethdog you sound like a young man eager for action like many of us when we started off our life with working terriers. You will need to be patient for your dog’s sake and for your own future enjoyment of watching them hopefully develop into a worker that will make you proud. Some terriermen never learn such patient’s and consistently ruin pups and are constantly cribbing about poor dogs from poor lines and also chopping and changing their kennel. These same men rarely have consistent stock.

 

A simple comparison I have gleaned from listening to men at this game a lot longer than most is as follows:

A 6 month old terrier is like an 11 year old boy. Both physically and mentally under developed. You would not think of putting a boy in a sparring match with a grown man.

 

A 12 month terrier is like a 16-18 year old boy. Getting better physically and some develop earlier than others, but still definitely mentally under developed. Full of gusto but “most” lacking even though they don’t know it. There are gems that pop up from time to time like a Mike Tyson that turned Pro at 18 and was a champion at 20 but these are few and far between.

 

A 16-18 month old terrier is like becoming a man at 21-24. Finally physically developed (although still filling out) and getting more rounded mentally to take on a proper challenge and battle a serious opponent. A handy amateur match of 3 rounds rather than a 12 round slugging contest is best as after a 12 rounder the young man may think this game is not for him after the years of training put into him by mentors and decides to jack on the spot.

 

Take a photo of your pup at 12 months, 16 months and 2 years old in the same place and you will notice from the photos it is a totally different animal and again inside their head they are more able to deal with what life throws at them. You would be surprised at the physical difference.

 

Many of us when younger had dogs with plenty of ability, eagerness and fire in the belly and I for one would take a different route now than I did with some back then. One thing to remember is that if “YOU” rush them and they are over matched and jack, then once they jack once it is also in them to jack again and again………….

 

Good things come to those who wait. Take your time and mind your pups until they are “ready” and “able”. As mentioned, keep them winning.

 

That is just my own personal take on it.

brilliant post corkman ☑

[undertaker 831]

 

 

Fatman the type u keep all seem to want to go at a early age lol

Just the breeding thats in them as you know yourself,its the easiest line of terriers i ever entered.

they are wired to the moon at an early age but I still wudnt allow them to ground

[Shroughaun 23]

Great reading for a beginner lads. Good topic.

[leethedog 3,071]

I think Corkman has rapped this one up peeps clear conscies and to the point

[young man 225]

Iv never started a terrier before iv a pup there at 10 months old. The lad I hunt with says hell go when he wants to go . Tie him up at few of our digs then let him drop in a handy one ? 16 to 18 months do yous guys wrecken to let them drop in a handy?

[col100 4]

Slowly slowly cache a monkey only one body and one mind

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Personally i dislike the tied dog at a dig almost as much as the hole ending or short dig .I like to have them self enter ,however cautious they appear .To work a dog into a frenzy then enter is to ask for trouble in my opinion but still goes on .

Walk the dog to an earth and keep quiet ,no winding him up ,no words of encouragement. Time for praise is when the jobs done .16 to 18 months old in a chosen spot ,self entered . Bliss .

[Mooching Celt 659]

Another point i think is worth bringing up is how much work would you give them in their 1st season? I was taught that they should have a steady 1st season to, as Corkman says, keep them winning and then work them hard in their 2nd season to test them

[pablo esc 1,598]

Personally i dislike the tied dog at a dig almost as much as the hole ending or short dig .I like to have them self enter ,however cautious they appear .To work a dog into a frenzy then enter is to ask for trouble in my opinion but still goes on .

Walk the dog to an earth and keep quiet ,no winding him up ,no words of encouragement. Time for praise is when the jobs done .16 to 18 months old in a chosen spot ,self entered . Bliss .

spot on foxdropper.!

[leethedog 3,071]

Just a question from a novice so what if the dog doesn't self enter is it a cull in you opinion