Ancient Hunting Dogs

[Tyla 3,179]

I read an really interesting bit in a historical novel by Robin Young describing a hunt in Ireland at the time of William Wallace. Either the author really did her r0esearch or knew a bit about hunting. The description was of a hunt for red deer with hounds and running mastiff.

 

It's incredible to think that most manor houses kept a pack of hunting dogs a full time huntsman as a matter of course

[skycat 6,173]

The series of novels called Boudica (Dreaming the Eagle, Dreaming the Bull, Dreaming the Hound, Dreaming the Serpent) by Manda Scott, feature the hunting/war hounds of the Iceni people. They are pretty grim and heavy-going rather than light reading, but incredibly well written. I knew the author briefly, many years ago before she wrote these books, and she always had a keen interest in the historical aspects of hunting with hounds, and had a lurcher herself. They are well worth a read for those interested in the history of our island and don't mind a 'speculative' fiction approach to the subject, rather than a bare bones attempt to bring to life someone about whom we know so very little.

[Tyla 3,179]

I've read the series Penny, I enjoyed them all although a bit heart breaking at times. Do you know if she ever worked the lurchers she kept?

[msula87 9]

Xenophon was an ancient Greek who wrote a book titled On Hunting which deals primarily in hunting with dogs. Its on my reading list for someday.

[the cobra 269]

Sorry to but in lads as u say there have been hunting dogs round for thousands of years from Jack the lad to the King's of Egypt then u get the looneys that sit in the houses of parliament that no jack shit that decides to ban hunting there nothing but the thevies and run the country with lie after lie if that was back in the day they would have been strung up fae a tree just a wee rant don't mean to spoil yer post bud

[Lenmcharristar 9,763]

Sorry to but in lads as u say there have been hunting dogs round for thousands of years from Jack the lad to the King's of Egypt then u get the looneys that sit in the houses of parliament that no jack shit that decides to ban hunting there nothing but the thevies and run the country with lie after lie if that was back in the day they would have been strung up fae a tree just a wee rant don't mean to spoil yer post bud

that was venomous cobra but so true

[Tyla 3,179]

The xenophon book is available as a free download. Heavy going but interesting stuff

[skycat 6,173]

I've read the series Penny, I enjoyed them all although a bit heart breaking at times. Do you know if she ever worked the lurchers she kept?

Not worked as such, but did catch stuff when out. Re the books: I knew what to expect, so steeled myself to read them. I find her writing strangely dispassionate at times, but incredibly powerful. Maybe there is only one way to describe the most horrific scenes without appearing maudlin or self-indulgent.

[pointer 543]

A pic from a couple of hours I spent in Lazarote a few years ago. It's scary watching those dogs running over that land.

[brenner 773]

I know it's a light hearted topic but for what it's worth.. Focus on what is at the end of your lead. I imagine The owners or fanciers of the dogs of old were not exempt from ego, pride and lies, just like us. Forgive the cliché ( paper does not refuse ink) and as for the art work we see of these " statuesque hunting dogs of old that we base our "ideas" or "ideals" on, well.... Il put it like this.... If I was to paint a portrait of my wife, you better believe, if I had any sort of skills with a brush, she would be painted with the intention of making her look a dam sight more appealing to the eye. Having said that.. Nobody can argue with an old black and white pic. I do like them. They can only lie to a certain degree..

[brenner 773]

Granted. Not ancient but reliable. I'm thinking Glenn or wheaten...

[brenner 773]

Funny thing is.. I hunt that very grounds in that pic regularly.

[TOMO 26,136]

A pic from a couple of hours I spent in Lazarote a few years ago. It's scary watching those dogs running over that land.

How did you end up hunting with them fellas,,,tell us a bit more mate,,I'm genuinely interested ,,,cheers TOMO

[pointer 543]

I'd been on holiday and had spent most days out fishing but on the day I was flying back I had breakfast and went for a walk on the hills. I spotted some goats running ahead of a few dogs in the distance and after watching for ten minutes realised they were hunting dogs not some farmers dogs. It took me about twenty minutes to make my way over to this guy and I got there as the dogs coursed a rabbit into a wall. I don't speak Spanish and he spoke no English but after a bit of dodgy sign launguage and me showing him pictures of my dogs on my phone he was all smiles and I followed him around for a couple of hours. The ferret was in one of those round tubes and was put into the wall but couldn't find the rabbit that the dogs were marking strongly and the bloke didn't attempt to get it out.

After that we covered a lot of ground and his dogs were certainly hunting but rabbits are pretty scarce over there. Eventually one got up and those dogs ran over that horrible terrain flat out. I thought they had caught it but it had got to ground. The ferret was put in and the rabbit bolted but got into another hole a few feet away. Nothing happened for ten minutes and then we tried to locate it. This bloke then moved a few boulders and crawled into the gap and was gone for ages, I was genuinely worried he had died down there. Two of his dogs followed him in but came back out which made me even more worried. I eventually called out to him and he replied something in Spanish but it could have been a call for help for all I knew. Some time later he emerged from out of the rock and ran his finger across his neck which I took to mean the ferret had killed the rabbit. With no locator and no way to dig though that rock he blocked up the holes and moved on after giving his dogs a drink.

By now I was getting sunburnt as I hadn't planned on being out so long and I had to get back to the hotel ready to leave for the airport so I shook this guys hand and waved him goodbye. I filmed part of the little hunt but the dogs were far away when the rabbit was ran but it shows the terrain they are running on.

It was just a lucky encounter.

[pointer 543]

 

Waiting for the bolt