Rock Piles

[Daniel cain 44,574]

I like to give the dog at least 30/40 minutes to get up to its quarry and settle before I think about starting to dig.roll a fag and have a brew.I've been out with a few speed diggers lol-holes end up coned like a cornetto.takes longer to open up tidy than it does to get down to the mark. Atb dc

[neil cooney 10,415]

Same as that Daniel. Give the terrier time to be where he want's to be and start digging when the time is right.

In a big place it might take an hour for a dog to be in the right spot.

Then it's time to go hard and steady at it. That's what good terriers deserve.

Rocks can be different though. I've seen a terrier worry it's fox in 20 minutes but was still there hours later. That's not much use either even though the terrier's done nothing wrong.

Rock dogs IMO to excel in rocks are a specialist. When I first seen good terriers working foxes in the quarries they often came from the North of England and were usually black and tans.

Some lads still dug a few badgers back then and the best rock dogs often ignored badgers. I remember one English man telling me that a badger in rocks was big trouble, as were fox cubs.

The same gent told me that the terriers they worked in rocks back in the late 60s early 70s when they met a badger they did one of two things, they jacked or died. Their working style was not suitable for the steady type needed for badgers.

I take my hat of to the lads who regularly stick their terriers into rock holes.

[Daniel cain 44,574]

Looking at the old pics of buck and Co they must of had some balls to be blasting down through rocks and lowering men down into the cracks.atb dc

[Wales1234 5,483]

For coco

 

[tank34 2,291]

Look big rock piles them coco do thay go deep?do you still work the rock mate

[coco 261]

Look big rock piles them coco do thay go deep?do you still work the rock mate

yes mate they are deep but that's the area I hunt I've got loads of pics I cud share but don't know how to do it lol

[russell tuck 127]

Lots of places like that around our way and quarrys also and what I find works best is a dog that goes into his quarry flat out not giving him and time or space to think or become comfortable getting him worried and on his way . Something that I think needs mentioning on this thread is the weather when working in the fell country you/myself what a result as quick as possible not just for the sake of the terrier that's work but that of the one/ones that are tethered up and men also as the weather can change in no time and it's no fun when you get caught out in it

Edited August 4, 2016 by russell tuck

[Kaizer Sozĕ 266]

Lots of places like that around our way and quarrys also and what I find works best is a dog that goes into his quarry flat out not giving him and time or space to think or become comfortable getting him worried and on his way . Something that I think needs mentioning on this thread is the weather when working in the fell country you/myself what a result as quick as possible not just for the sake of the terrier that's work but that of the one/ones that are tethered up and men also as the weather can change in no time and it's no fun when you get caught out in it

A good point RT, gives an insight into the harsh conditions endured by fell hunters!

[Kaizer Sozĕ 266]

Both man & dog!!

[russell tuck 127]

Don't get me wrong I know the whole country sees bad weather from time to time but on the fell and moors it can be a hostile place it can be fine one minute an hour or so later hail and thunder storms or blizzard like conditions both man and dog have to be up for the job a good coat on a dog is a must for me I had a Russell afew years ago that worked well in the ground and rocks but on the open hill and high ground the weather would punish her the bitch not so much the cold but the wind and driving rain atb rt

[neil cooney 10,415]

Another thing I'll say about the rock holes is that I never remember putting one in and trying to account for him by bolting or otherwise.

We'd always have lurchers in place (or maybe nothing just to watch them run) and enter our terrier so we had a high percentage of fresh foxes bolted.

If we ever put him in and then entered our terrier I can't remember but I would imagine that that would be a nice test for a terrier.

It's a good topic this.

[Rat face 1,655]

Another thing I'll say about the rock holes is that I never remember putting one in and trying to account for him by bolting or otherwise.

We'd always have lurchers in place (or maybe nothing just to watch them run) and enter our terrier so we had a high percentage of fresh foxes bolted.

If we ever put him in and then entered our terrier I can't remember but I would imagine that that would be a nice test for a terrier.

It's a good topic this.

i second that neil

[tank34 2,291]

When a fox is ran into the rock it can be a very testing time for the terrier and man the fox will go very deep you try with the box but you no your not getting a mark with box but you still try an as hours pass by you look again maybe thay have moved and it can be days before you see your dog again or never again. When my mate lost his bitch in a big deep pile a rock pile she worked for 8 seasons we went back day an nite for a month or more we never found her.

[tank34 2,291]

 

Look big rock piles them coco do thay go deep?do you still work the rock mate

yes mate they are deep but that's the area I hunt I've got loads of pics I cud share but don't know how to do it lol

what typ of terrier do you work in the rock coco, it tuck me 5 year to put pic up mate lol

[rob284 1,682]

Don't get me wrong I know the whole country sees bad weather from time to time but on the fell and moors it can be a hostile place it can be fine one minute an hour or so later hail and thunder storms or blizzard like conditions both man and dog have to be up for the job a good coat on a dog is a must for me I had a Russell afew years ago that worked well in the ground and rocks but on the open hill and high ground the weather would punish her the bitch not so much the cold but the wind and driving rain atb rt

the fells feel cold because of the openness of the landscape, just like any other remote open area of the country. It doesn't matter were you are, if it's cold wet and windy you'll feel it if your stood around.