“Should make good rabbit dogs”

[Flacko 1,755]

Love to see a good ferreting dog marking watching & catching great day out

[SheepChaser 8,089]

52 minutes ago, Loton Moocher said:

You asked what was expected of a ferreting dog and i give a opion ? Thats all ? I know it takes a lot more skill cunning and man hours to teach a lamper ?  

Aye sorry it wasn’t meant to come across as argumentative as it did hot day! And yer again I think any dog should be able to be taught to follow lamp, come back, not be a total c**t  

[SheepChaser 8,089]

39 minutes ago, Loton Moocher said:

Sorry just read the.begining of the thread dont how much ferreting you av done but a daytime rabbit in most places rarely runs more than 25 yards ? Now a whippetey lurcher which most ferreters will use ? Will be up the arse of bunny quicker than a long legged lurcher or longdog ? It aint rocket science now is it ? I wlll always say horses for courses ? 

Quite a lot. And I kept a whippet. That’s an answer, so when folk say “should make a good bunny dog” do they really mean just ferreting as that’s where this thread has gone - in which case it’s going to be dependant on the ground you’re ferreting. A smaller, fast, fearless dog was my choice for tight hedges and woods etc. But in all honesty a bigger dog was a better prospect on the lamp mostly, again depending on ground. 

[Loton Moocher 1,255]

1 minute ago, SheepChaser said:

Aye sorry it wasn’t meant to come across as argumentative as it did hot day! And yer again I think any dog should be able to be taught to follow lamp, come back, not be a total c**t  

Yeah back on the 70s when lamping first hit off i thort then ? Well  

[Loton Moocher 1,255]

2 minutes ago, SheepChaser said:

Quite a lot. And I kept a whippet. That’s an answer, so when folk say “should make a good bunny dog” do they really mean just ferreting as that’s where this thread has gone - in which case it’s going to be dependant on the ground you’re ferreting. A smaller, fast, fearless dog was my choice for tight hedges and woods etc. But in all honesty a bigger dog was a better prospect on the lamp mostly, again depending on ground. 

Exactly wat i was saying horses for courses ?

[THE STIFFMEISTER 16,358]

Who says a rabbiting dog has to be a ferretter ? 

[fatlad 250]

I don't lamp much these days but do alot of ferreting with the dogs I expect the dog to work with longnets and mark 100% ive had to untangle quite a few of my mates dogs from the longnets I think getting a really good rabbit dog takes alot of work I like just having a mooch about the reed beds and watching a dog find its own rabbits and catch them in cover and definitely don't think every dog is cut out for it 

[poxon 5,801]

Should make a good rabbit dog to me it means it as a 50/50 chance same as any of making a half decent rabbiter be it lamp,ferret,mooching it’s bred from Dogs used rabbiting I don’t think the title was a trick question Tbh the size or cross is individual choice 

[Loton Moocher 1,255]

5 minutes ago, poxon said:

Should make a good rabbit dog to me it means it as a 50/50 chance same as any of making a half decent rabbiter be it lamp,ferret,mooching it’s bred from Dogs used rabbiting I don’t think the title was a trick question Tbh the size or cross is individual choice 

Like i keep saying horses for courses i wunna expect a big courseing saluki x to on the arse of a rabbit within a few yards like i wouldnt think a whippet x to gateing a big winter hare on the fens ?i like a dog 20 / 22ish which i fimd adequte for what i do with mine like u say personal choice and expierence ?plays the biggest part ?

[SheepChaser 8,089]

So we’ve established that there are ferreting dogs, which might be bred to a specific type to make a specialist ferreting dog. Although having said that, I think I’d rather use a type for ferreting that was also useful for other stuff If I’m honest. Especially considering that unless there’s a secret land of rabbits most of us don’t know about - you’d be doing well to be doing decent numbers with the ferrets day in day out. The humble rabbit is fast becoming an endangered species. 
 

However I’m not really buying it for lamping or mooching. I can’t see what a little specialist rabbit dog would have in its breeding that any other decent Lurcher would have, and should be able to do a wider spectrum of work.

I still think (outside of ferreting), “should make a good rabbit dog” is code .........for probably won’t do much else. 

[Shadow100 1,066]

A rabbit dog is surely a good rabbit catcher in all situations not just a ferreting dog, and surely if a sharp little dog it could worry a field hare or 2, if it’s any good. I wouldn’t expect a little 21 inch dog to tackle bigger stuff on a regular basis but then again who in their right mind would

[nothernlite 18,089]

Purpose breed rabbit dog and seez plenty rabbit 3 or 4 days a week mostly whippet sharp as a tack head up at night head down during the day 21tts 

[poxon 5,801]

2 hours ago, Loton Moocher said:

Like i keep saying horses for courses i wunna expect a big courseing saluki x to on the arse of a rabbit within a few yards like i wouldnt think a whippet x to gateing a big winter hare on the fens ?i like a dog 20 / 22ish which i fimd adequte for what i do with mine like u say personal choice and expierence ?plays the biggest part ?

I couldn’t keep a specialist dog for one job I like a mix bag type of dog that’s a master of none that can just be used I hate feeling all restricted. My ideal dog is 22-25 Just personal choice.

[nothernlite 18,089]

54 minutes ago, Shadow100 said:

A rabbit dog is surely a good rabbit catcher in all situations not just a ferreting dog, and surely if a sharp little dog it could worry a field hare or 2, if it’s any good. I wouldn’t expect a little 21 inch dog to tackle bigger stuff on a regular basis but then again who in their right mind would

Correct foxes and roe do not interest me at all so why keep a dog for them and you could say the same about a fox dog or deer dog its what ever floats your boat 

[fred90 3,314]

1 hour ago, nothernlite said:

Purpose breed rabbit dog and seez plenty rabbit 3 or 4 days a week mostly whippet sharp as a tack head up at night head down during the day 21tts 

Yes I would say those little rabbit dogs of yours will pick up the odd rabbit. my kind of dogs

Edited June 25, 2020 by fred90