Any Advice

[SNAP-SHOT 138]

My mate has been keen for me to take him out with me and my bitch to help bring on his young dog. Anyway last night came in wet and windy so thought we'd have a quick look out. I let mine catch a few and his pup was pulling on the lead and eager to get involved. So then we got right upto a squatter and kicked it out of it's seat for his pup, his pup was all over it for a minute or so and had half a dozen chances to strike, but didn't. We tried again and same result. I tried to encourage it to grasp one of the dead rabbits and it seems as though it is uncomfortable having the fur in its mouth. It's only a year old so I realise there's plenty of time yet and I'm certain it'll come, just wondered if anyone has had it happen to them? He says it will retrieve a tennis ball no problem, so I advised him to put a rabbit skin over a ball and see if that gets him anywhere. Any other ideas?

[Fieldsporthunter 1,864]

Had a bitch that did not take a rabbit until she was 14/15 month. Took her out 1\2 times a fortnight showed her a couple bolted rabbits or clapped on the lamp then took her home.

First half dozen rabbits she had she caught with her paws, one rabbit she ran it until it stopped. After that she slowly got better until she was the best live to hand retrieving dog I owned.

[Dame92 387]

Run it doubled up

[Fieldsporthunter 1,864]

Run it doubled up

The lad that had the father to the young dog I was on about above did that with a young pup last year. Dog turned and young inexperienced pup was in the way. The dog suffocated with a burst lung on his kitchen floor at 4am in the morning, I buried it for him. the young pup shattered its leg and shoulder but the lad loved it so payed the two grand vet bill but the pup did not heal so he then payed to have it put to sleep two months later.

IMO a pup wants to be out its self, plenty time, patience and it will do its job soon enough.

Pup only just started so nothing to worrie about.

[Fieldsporthunter 1,864]

Snap shot, noticed your in Durham, where about? Pm me.

[SNAP-SHOT 138]

Cheers, I told him perseverance was the only option. He has some good flat fields for ferreting so having a go in the daytime may help.

Edited September 15, 2016 by SNAP-SHOT

[Somewhereyournot 1,117]

Not all dogs click right away. My dog was the same dithering over the strike. He got it In the end. Very good now

[terryd 8,598]

I had a little beddy whippet was the same she soon caught on and had the softest mouth ever. Just used to hold by a bit of skin after she caught them and she was a great little dog

[Sirblessed 2,511]

My mate has been keen for me to take him out with me and my bitch to help bring on his young dog. Anyway last night came in wet and windy so thought we'd have a quick look out. I let mine catch a few and his pup was pulling on the lead and eager to get involved. So then we got right upto a squatter and kicked it out of it's seat for his pup, his pup was all over it for a minute or so and had half a dozen chances to strike, but didn't. We tried again and same result. I tried to encourage it to grasp one of the dead rabbits and it seems as though it is uncomfortable having the fur in its mouth. It's only a year old so I realise there's plenty of time yet and I'm certain it'll come, just wondered if anyone has had it happen to them? He says it will retrieve a tennis ball no problem, so I advised him to put a rabbit skin over a ball and see if that gets him anywhere. Any other ideas?

Sounds like a common thing to me mate, had a few pups over the years do that kind of thing early on, I think it’s just inexperience. The rabbit fur on a ball will help, and take it out with a dog that knows the trade also they take young (small) ones easier when getting use to picking up and holding don’t be overly concerned unless it won’t chase or gives up easy, if she does that ok, then the rest is a matter of time – A.T.B Doug

[Allan P 1,150]

Maybe the use of a flirt pole might help.

[beast 1,884]

just time and practice, tell your mate not to be in a rush. and if you want to ruin its retrieve forever then run it doubled up! can't see any reason you would ever double up on a rabbit!

[SNAP-SHOT 138]

That's basically what I told him, so fingers crossed it'll come with time. I'll try and get back out with him next week and give it some more experience with mine.

[SNAP-SHOT 138]

That's basically what I told him, so fingers crossed it'll come with time. I'll try and get back out with him next week and give it some more experience with mine.