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Starting Out On Your Own.


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Most would of spent time digging on our own-has it's benifits, no bitching or back stabbing,but when you find a good lad or 2 it's a good craic,always good to gleen what you can from folks imo-will be lots that's helpful and lots you would never practice yourself ;)one things for sure it's like a drug that you will ether never do again or be flat out addicted lol.don't hurt to get out on your own-any man says he's seen it all...is a liar imo...I for one am always learning and will always have time to listen to the young and the old boys...There is no sure fire formula king-just get out and enjoy your terriers.atb dc

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Recent years has seen me out on my own more and more .The lads I used to knock about with have either drifted away from it or moved, a far cry from my beginnings where there would be 3 of us .Lot to said for solitude mind and let's face it ,help is only a phone call away should a situation arise .The gear has to be tailored to suit though as lugging both a graft and thin spade is out unless I'm on the quad .

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I've done both over the years - in company and on my tod. Been hunting since primary school with local lads, then introduced to digging in the mid 80's along with hounds, Lurchers, etc. As kids in the early days if it had 4 legs and would hunt we would use it.... if it had 4 legs and ran or went to ground we would hunt it/ dig it. In the days when dogs would be walking around the neighbourhood estate we would whistle and all sorts would come running. Every sort of terrier cross to Irish setter x and even elkhound x mongrels. We would put a lead on them and head off for the day and enjoy the craic. Its amazing how quickly dogs revert to hunting in packs after catching a few things.

As we got older digging took over from everything else and we got access to fairly decent types from the start. Plenty of sh*te too. It was a great learning and testing ground for man (boy) and dog. We had white dogs from Murray/ Allens, red fells from Parks, black dogs (supposedly Nuttals) when they first started to pop up in Cork, Lakies, Border/ Lakies, Border/ Staff and bull n fox types. After going through a steep learning curve we settled on white dogs as they were as good as anything around at the time.

I've had digs with various groups and individuals over the years and had a fair spell on my own. When digging on your own you learn a lot about yourself and your dogs. I remember being out digging on my own til 1.30am as I was heading to the UK the next day with work and I couldn't explain to anyone where the dog was to dig it.... My van was miles away and I had an old brick mobile from work with no coverage as the phone networks were sh*ite in those days - still are in the boonies.....

I now dig with 2 grand lads, great craic, great digging and great chats in the car on the way to/from digging. I wouldn't change it for the world. ;)

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I love going on my own! No rush, my dogs! Until you get a 3metre dig and half way down hit rock then I want to cry 6-8 hours on your own is soul destroying but I'd do it again the next day

its rewarding digging on your own, but it can be a right pain. Especially carrying all your tools up a steep fell whilst the dogs are pulling all over the place. Things you do eh!
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I prefer diging on my own can't upset anyone only myself lol and when the mutt shows his head I look the other way more often than not he slips back in and no one's around ta tell the tale only me of the successful dig I'v just had lol can't beat diging alone???

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Nothing wrong with a dog showing in my eyes ,unless its come off one of course .Until quarry is located there's several reasons why a dog could show .If stuff is going round and round then I think terriers get a bit scent blocked and return to the surface for a fresh start at the keenest hole .We have a place here that runs to maybe 15 holes in a field .If a terrier enters the side near a tree and doesn't find despite marking it, it will be out but will drop in further over and be on ,we are certain this place doesn't all link up as its happened time and time again .We've all had dogs that waffle around an earth ,in and out baying and these arnt to be excused but the dedicated worker is allowed whatever it takes to get a result in my books .

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