Sound Men

[Rebel 842]

We had our opening meet last Sunday. A good crowd were out, men, women and children all looking forward to the day and the season ahead.

 

The morning started slowly with no fox to be found in the first cover.

 

We moved on to the next cover and hounds soon found. The fox brought them around the cover a few times before he left and brought the pack out into open country. The hounds were going well in full cry and pushing hard. The fox did a big circle before returning home and slipping to ground. We dug him to a nice black bitch that is made for the job. She is working well and can be relied on to do her job when called on.

 

The evening was pushing on and the huntsman was bringing hounds out of the cover when they marked a big rangy spot nearby. There are plenty of entrances in very heavy cover and a bolt is the normal outcome. However we have dug this spot plenty of times and we always get it at around the one metre mark and easy digging.

 

It was around 4 o'clock so we still had a bit of light before it would get fully dark and we had plenty of good digging lads with us, so it was a no brainier.

 

I collared up my Russell bitch and off she went. We gave her time to settle before we turned on the box, it read 2.5 metres, deeper than we expected . No panic, as I said above there was plenty of help and all these lads weren't afraid of the shovel.

 

Needless to say, the dig wasn't as straightforward as it had been previously and it was sometime later before we got the bitch.

 

But throughout it all, not one of those lads complained or looked at their watches. The bitch was in ground and that was their only concerned. They were determined to keep going until we got a result. It was too dark to backfill but again the lads were on hand to help out with this in the following days.

 

I'm sure many of you have been in similar situations and it is very difficult to put into words your appreciation for the huge efforts that others put in for your dog.

 

What was also very rewarding was that two of the men digging, had a hand in the breeding of the bitch, one bred her and the other had the grandmother and a lot of the breeding on the dams side. Two other lads are also working dogs bred the same way.

 

I walked away from the earth that night full of pride and admiration for the bitch and for the men who had helped.

[neil cooney 10,416]

I bet you did and so did the lads who owned your terriers ancestors.

It's good to have good lads with you.

[devon flighter 421]

nice read ,i bet you did and rightly so ,thats just how it should be

[terryd 8,775]

Good post

[Accip74 7,112]

Nice write up mate. Enjoyed that......;-)

[fat man 4,741]

Sounds like a great day out with like minded lads who wont let you down in a crisis,fair play to men and dogs.

[squab 2,875]

dont have to be a terrier man to appreciate that post,fair play to all involved

[Chicken_man 1,651]

Great read :-) I bet you were pleased, good for you :-)

Atb

[Rabbit Hunter 6,613]

Enjoyed that read. nothing better than being in good, like minded company and digging to good dogs.

[Haiddheliwr 1,911]

Good dogs, good mates! Look after them they are priceless

[Dabhand 887]

Good read that and good to have a bit of help

Ive seen the box read a deep mark on more than one occasion close to dark you soon know who your mates are

[chris87 297]

Enjoyed that cheers

[Fellman Mark 611]

Good read wish the lad I had with me on Tuesday/night was as loyal you soon know who you can count on in time like that

[s.e.s.k.u 1,893]

Well done all..men and dog atb sesku

[Zilverhaze 1,627]

Well done mate sounds like a top day :-)