“Should make good rabbit dogs”

[SheepChaser 8,089]

I see the above said all of the time about various Lurchers or pups.

Now I don’t want to offend anyone (I’m sure I probably will), but what does that actually mean? 
 

There aren’t that many rabbits about these days, and I think pretty much most average Lurchers should be able to do a decent enough job on them lamping, ferreting or bushing.

So is it meant to mean they will excel at that job (how?) or that they won’t be much use for much else? 

[Dinosaurs 2,102]

Sales pitch bud. Atb

[terryd 8,533]

Means they wont make good fox dogs lol. Maybe the parents excel at rabbits 

[Aussie Whip 4,127]

"Should make good rabbit dogs" sounds like the seller isn't very optimistic or doesn't work the parents.

[socks 32,253]

I don’t t know about the advert but I do know there are dogs that go ferreting and there are ferreting dogs. A big difference in the two. 

[fred90 3,257]

socks is right with his comment in my opinion. you say most average lurchers should do the job of ferreting and bushing. plenty of dogs won't mark reliably. seen many dogs that are very cover shy and have a poor nose. some seem more concerned about running than finding it's game. so a good little rabbit dog will mark, work cover pick a few up on the lamp.basically do what a good rabbit dog should. 

[SheepChaser 8,089]

1 hour ago, socks said:

I don’t t know about the advert but I do know there are dogs that go ferreting and there are ferreting dogs. A big difference in the two. 

Yer I used to subscribe to this theory ...... but in all honesty I think it’s mostly time served. If you take most Lurchers ferreting enough and from a young age, surely they will pick it up fine. How hard is it really? Mark a Warren, don’t act like a c**t, don’t kill the ferrrets, catch bolsters, gold ones in the net etc. Pretty sure most dogs, especially anything with a bit of collie etc will pick it up just fine. 
 

I think most of the difference between a ferreting dog and a dog that goes ferreting is just how much ferreting  the dog does.

[SheepChaser 8,089]

4 minutes ago, fred90 said:

socks is right with his comment in my opinion. you say most average lurchers should do the job of ferreting and bushing. plenty of dogs won't mark reliably. seen many dogs that are very cover shy and have a poor nose. some seem more concerned about running than finding it's game. so a good little rabbit dog will mark, work cover pick a few up on the lamp.basically do what a good rabbit dog should. 

Surely that’s just about exposure and bringing a dog up right? I’ve never had a dog that didn’t mark, including whippets, various Lurchers including a bull x, collies, terriers, hound Xs, spaniels etc

Good nose and working cover I’d also say are largely to do with how you rear them, and also genetics, but I’d say any decent Lurcher should be able to mark rabbits, work cover and pick up a few bunny’s on the lamp. I’d be a bit upset if I reared a Lurcher that wouldn’t! 

[THE STIFFMEISTER 16,112]

They should just say “beddy whippet”and be done with it . 
 

The lurcher game is full of sayings like that. 
 

fills the freezer

out lamping 3/4 times a week throughout the season 

Does what he’s bred for 

moody mountain pics

f***ing makes me laugh like 

 

[Shadow100 1,066]

I’d assume if an ad said that, it’s because they're inferring the parents are good rabbit dogs so they pups should be in theory, but everyone knows 2 toppers can produce shit and vice versa so it’s a stupid statement for any litter whatever their job is. They’re pups nothing more nothing less nobody knows what they’ll turn out to be, and a lot depends on who gets them

[SheepChaser 8,089]

2 minutes ago, THE STIFFMEISTER said:

They should just say “beddy whippet”and be done with it . 
 

The lurcher game is full of sayings like that. 
 

fills the freezer

out lamping 3/4 times a week throughout the season 

Does what he’s bred for 

moody mountain pics

f***ing makes me laugh like 

 

Me and my mate were pissing ourselves the other night going through all of the nudge nudge wink wink sayings Lurcher folk use that mean f**k all. 

[fred90 3,257]

3 minutes ago, SheepChaser said:

Surely that’s just about exposure and bringing a dog up right? I’ve never had a dog that didn’t mark, including whippets, various Lurchers including a bull x, collies, terriers, hound Xs, spaniels etc

Good nose and working cover I’d also say are largely to do with how you rear them, and also genetics, but I’d say any decent Lurcher should be able to mark rabbits, work cover and pick up a few bunny’s on the lamp. I’d be a bit upset if I reared a Lurcher that wouldn’t! 

good nose and working cover is more genetics for me. if it was all about how you rear them what's point in choosing particular crosses? you may as well just pick any mongrel up. 

[Shadow100 1,066]

4 minutes ago, SheepChaser said:

Me and my mate were pissing ourselves the other night going through all of the nudge nudge wink wink sayings Lurcher folk use that mean f**k all. 

It’s a way for lads to make you think their dog puts loads of gear away without actually saying it, so when you realise the dog does next to nothing they can’t be called out for lying 

Edited June 24, 2020 by Shadow100

[THE STIFFMEISTER 16,112]

3 minutes ago, SheepChaser said:

Yer I used to subscribe to this theory ...... but in all honesty I think it’s mostly time served. If you take most Lurchers ferreting enough and from a young age, surely they will pick it up fine. How hard is it really? Mark a Warren, don’t act like a c**t, don’t kill the ferrrets, catch bolsters, gold ones in the net etc. Pretty sure most dogs, especially anything with a bit of collie etc will pick it up just fine. 
 

I think most of the difference between a ferreting dog and a dog that goes ferreting is just how much ferreting  the dog does.

I agree and disagree 

much like there’s Bull Xs and bull Xs 

a bull Xs in my eyes should be taking apart things with a medium of effort , I’m talking 20 30 secs and leaving stuff like it’s been hit by a combine . 
 

I reckon my lab would kill a fox . If one came in the garden and was trapped with him I reckon he’d kill it . It would take him a while like and it would be distasteful. But I’m firmly of the opinion that nothing that dwells underground should be that much problem for a proper bull x . It ain’t like they can outrun it is it. 
 

now to get back to my point , I think there are rabbit dogs that excel at it. A collie grey I saw regular was a masterpiece dat and night at them. Would hunt stalk and ferret them day time , night time worked the lamp with some style free as a bird at them . 
 

it’s quite a sight seeing a well disciplined drilled experienced dog showing mastery of its craft .

wether it be for the humble rabbit or not , dogs can become experts at a particular prey quarry , I don’t know if it is with time spent or imbued naturally , (look at how many dogs are disasters when outweighed ) some dogs just have a particular forte 

[SheepChaser 8,089]

21 minutes ago, fred90 said:

good nose and working cover is more genetics for me. if it was all about how you rear them what's point in choosing particular crosses? you may as well just pick any mongrel up. 

I get that to an extent, but come on, what kind of special genetics do you need to hunt rabbits out of a bush? Or having a good nose. My point is I would expect ANY decent dog to be able to do it, ie a dog that could hunt out and kill a fox should be perfectly capable of doing it with a rabbit.......... 

Does “should make good rabbits dogs” mean that’s all they are good for, or is there some special talent I’m missing ?