Mister Gain 1,764 Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 (edited) Took my 9 month old pup for his morning walk about 0445 this morning, to the local park. He spent most of the time running around off the lead hunting for bitches piss, so head down pretty much all the way round. At the end of the circuit I (or he) usually find a stick and do a bit of recall etc. Have tried with a ball but after about 3-4 retrieves he's not interested. Anyways, today I took one of his 'Kong' squeaky tennis balls, and we proceded to 'play'. After about 5 recalls he laid down and started to have a chew on the ball, which emits a low squeak. After a couple of minutes charlie appeared about 25 yards behind him from the long grass, and stayed there for a good 3 minutes trying to sniff the air etc. I recalled the dog and we moved away about 100 yards, waited a bit and then went back and did the same thing over again, and sure enough out came charlie. We moved away again and stayed clear and charlie made his way to the spot the dog had been and started looking around for bits of whatever he thought the dog had killed. The pup wasn't even aware of the fox until right at the last second, when he gave chase. Foxy just bolted back into the undergrowth and I recalled the pup. I have often found the tell-tale pile of feathers and pieces of rat, so I know the resident foxes are hunting and not just living on discarded kebabs and McDonalds, although they still pull all the 'fox-proof' bins out as well. I know urban foxes tolerate humans and dogs more than proper country foxes, but I never believed they could be called in by a dog with a tennis ball, and so quickly, bearing in mind the amount of time spent calling them in down at the permission. Would love to have had my camera and got a photo. Has anybody else had a similar experience? Edited July 14, 2015 by Mister Gain 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RossM 8,149 Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 The squeak from any squeaky toy can have the desired effect, my daughters got this toy trumpet thing that is that full of slavers it makes a cracking noise that I think would have them galloping in Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fireman 11,021 Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 (edited) I use the squeeky bit out of a tennis ball to call foxes in if they don't come in when using my hand,it's tiny and just fits in the coin pocket on my jeans so don't ever get lost or in the way .. Edited July 14, 2015 by fireman 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ftm 3,357 Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 I don't own lurchers now but back in ,s I did a lot of lamping for foxes and a bit of polystyrene rubbed on car window accounted for loads of Charlie -they say curiosity killed the cat I reckon same applies to charlie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
unlacedgecko 1,467 Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 This time of year there are a lot of sub-adults about. They are easier to squeak in than the more experienced animals that abound in Jan and Feb. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Gain 1,764 Posted July 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 The foxes I have seen down the park all look to have a bit of age to them, in fact my pup has chased this one a couple of times. Not in a nasty way, but I'm sure he thinks they are just another dog and when they bolt he thinks they want to play chase. Maybe have to see how he gets on with a tenterfield whistle Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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