Age To Enter A Pup On The Lamp To Rabbits

[springfield 20]

What's everyone's views on this I have found each dog different but in general 8months?

[lurchers 2,867]

Let it watch experience dogs run them at 8mths I would be slipping him until at least 11mths mate.then I would choose his runs as you wouldn't want to frustrate him and make him yap on a difficult run.atb

[terryd 8,545]

I have found with mine catching the rabbits is the easy part and no rush it is every thing else that needs to be sorted first like stock,training and socialising. At least if I could have my time again with mine that's what I would do

[king 11,980]

I think 8/10 months and above.if the pup is an excited 100 mile an hour type leave him longer.as he might open up due to frustration if he is a steady type then 8 months on.

Ferreting is the best way to get a dog use to rabbits in a more controlled environment.

I wouldn't double him up as some people do as that can cause problems ie 1 of the dogs being over protective of the rabbit chasing each other for the rabbit.

And even some pups will start to yap through frustration watching another dog catch and retrieve.

[tote 856]

Every pup is different and it's up to the handler to gauge when they're ready, I would usually start at 9-10 months but the one I've got now was over 12 months before she was mentally ready, infact for a while I just didn't think she had it in her, thankfully everything has now fallen into place and she's doing what's required.

 

Must add I've never been one for taking a pup out on the lamp with an older dog, even if it's to let it watch. Always just took them out on there own to start with, just me and the pup which ensures there are no distractions, other dogs present can also cause issues with retrieving which I could certainly do without.

[Chid 6,583]

12 month + for me and on its own , I don't let them watch an older dog

[Somewhereyournot 1,117]

Never understood taking young dogs to watch...may aswell put a lamping DVD on for it and save yourself the walk

[Chid 6,583]

Never understood taking young dogs to watch...may aswell put a lamping DVD on for it and save yourself the walk

[swg dave 334]

My younger dog was 9 months and my older dog 12 months.

[CraignTod 278]

Never understood taking young dogs to watch...may aswell put a lamping DVD on for it and save yourself the walk

My bitch has been watching the hunt on bbc! Lol

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

I started both of mine lamping around the 9 month mark having done plenty of daytime mooching and ferreting before hand.

[*The*Field*Marshall* 674]

Not a day under 12 months for me . . There's no risk to starting a dog late, the same cannot be said of too soon!

The risk I think is either 'opening up' or tendon strain (or other injury) The former of the two can certainly be triggered by watching another dog run.

 

I've seen the detrimental effect of entering too young, I was given a dog when I was 15, told it was 13 months. I started him on bunnies, he opened up and did until his 9th year! It was bearable, other than that he was some dog . . The man's wife later gave my mother the date of birth for the pup, turns of out he was closer to 10 months . . He was a big dog!

[Somewhereyournot 1,117]

Not a day under 12 months for me . . There's no risk to starting a dog late, the same cannot be said of too soon!

The risk I think is either 'opening up' or tendon strain (or other injury) The former of the two can certainly be triggered by watching another dog run.

 

I've seen the detrimental effect of entering too young, I was given a dog when I was 15, told it was 13 months. I started him on bunnies, he opened up and did until his 9th year! It was bearable, other than that he was some dog . . The man's wife later gave my mother the date of birth for the pup, turns of out he was closer to 10 months . . He was a big dog!

would never have happened if you got it watching a DVD first lol

[TOM HEAVY 140]

easier said than done but... forget age on this subject, it depends on the individuality and breeding of the dog in question. Also weather or not the pup has been exposed to stock appropriately before trying to catch something

 

letting and discouraging your pup to use its mouth on old skins/fur/wool/feather is a good way to teach the pup what it can and cannot mouth

 

larger hounds in general take longer to mature enough mentally to be successful in catching something, bare that in mind

 

obviously game is taken much more easily on the lamp, I therefore feel that it is necessary to introduce a light in darkness to a pup from a young age, not trying to spot any real game mind, just to introduce the light in the dark as the 1st stages of progression.

 

Experience will tell you when your dog is ready but as a general guide, I would suggest that smaller types will be ready by the age of 8-10 months, some sooner/some later, for larger types I would suggest 12 months plus, again some maybe sooner and some later. It won't be that uncommon for some types to be introduced to as late as 18 months, and fair play to those handlers because I just don't think I personally would be able to hold on that long!!!!!

 

letting a pup 'watch' is a technique of old and unproven

 

ATB

 

Tom Heavy

Edited December 8, 2015 by TOM HEAVY

[Somewhereyournot 1,117]

Any newbies reading this , ignore the 8month old posts ffs