Labrador

[tsteve9999 456]

 

I've been adopted at one of my permissions by the landowners standard poodle that thinks it's a lurcher, she's only got to see my car and I can't get rid of her.

I'll be over there a few times in the near future to make sure she's not going to crack the ferrets and then she'll be ferreting with me. This thing is nothing like the ones you see on the telly, she's had the run of the riding stables from the off and is a fit thing with a surprising burst of speed, she should make a good backstop when I'm out on my own.

I've often wondered if a poodle greyhound cross might trump the Bedlington cross . Poodles are scored as the most intelligent of dogs.They are trainable and athletic-witness the number used in circus acts-, have a weatherproof coat , can be quite fiery and were originally bred as gun and service dogs. Whether the cross would gel in the way Bedlingtons do with a whippets or a collies with greyhounds would be interesting to know.

I also think the idea that a lurcher is the essential dog for ferreting is a fairly recent one. I bet many site members will have tales of all sorts of mongrels and unlikely family pets being seconded into the ferreting team before we all became affluent enough to have a choice about the matter.

Bolting to dogs obviously requires a breed or cross quick enough to make the exercise worthwhile. One the other hand if you are using nets the main qualities required in a dog are a good nose , obedience and just enough agility to pin a bunny that looks like a "slipper". If a lot of rabbits are slipping the nets or finding unmeshed holes a change of technique rather than a faster dog might be more appropriate.

 

Spot on that, I've been over a couple of times now and she's fine with the stinkers so she'll be coming ferreting when I start. The owner reckons she's bringing rabbits home on a regular basis now, (which is more than I can say for the twat I've got ) . It's pretty comical watching her, she's got the topknot and pompom on the tail, and looks like she couldn't catch a cold in the yard, but she's a different animal the second we start off. Very obedient too, especially when you think she is left to do what she wants for most of the day. I'll post a few pictures in the near future.

[ZeusPolecat 185]

Really wish I could have a dog out with me.

If it can mark, hold netted bunnies and perhaps catch the odd escapee, it would do me.

[Flacko 1,746]

Why can't you Zeus ?

[ZeusPolecat 185]

Live alone, dog would be couped up most of the time while I'm at work. One day though...