Help for novice rabbiter

[Sighthound 49]

.......just re read my post and I thought I must clarify a couple of things.

 

I'm not advocating taking a 5 month pup lamping or hunting on it's own or expecting it to catch.

IMHO if you take a pup out from day one (12 weeks plus) and it first sees a rabbit it 'knows' it's never going to catch it, mine just watch them hopping away and carried on being a pup, she's only now starting to take an interest and will have a quick grab if one gets put out by my spaniel and she'll put in a half hearted run.

 

If however you take a pup the same age that has never seen a rabbit, indeed kept away from them, it will chase it but it almost certainly won't catch it and this is where frustration sets in, yapping etc.

 

 

....just my thoughts.

[Guest dog on]

the point i am trying to get across is if they was born in the wild they would have to learn to fend for them selves as soon as posible it is only us that holds them back.

[PAB 0]

Thanks everyone for the replys.

She is just 4 months old and I take her out every night for a run on somelocal fields that seemed to be teeming with rabbits.

She seems to sniff at the holes but apart from that does not show a lot of interest.

I understand whatmany of your are saying regarding her age and I agree for full on coursing. But is there any harm in her getting some excercise whilst learning to be more attentive.

At the moment she seems quite happy baiting larg dogs by running round them.

[nrat 8]

9 months would be a good guide the back end of august still a good few young rabbits to start off your dog at the moment its still a pup let it stay a pup and keep it training going as a game and when august comes round the dog will do you proud enter a dog early and you may spoil it besides its bones are not finshed developing just yet by all means show him live stock but just dont allow him a full on chase better to start off on a rabbit you know the dog will catch give him one or two then end oh a high note with the dog. dont run him untill he misses just a few each time you go out and back home you will see when he,s ready or at least you should good luck enjoy the pup you have because it wont last for long

 

 

spot on advice,just enjoy your pup,teach it basic training enjoy walking with it,autum will come soon enouth and the pup can start then,and a whippet,whippet x can make some of the best rabbit dogs,good luck jim

[bird 9,872]

the point i am trying to get across is if they was born in the wild they would have to learn to fend for them selves as soon as posible it is only us that holds them back.

 

True, but [big cats ] bring back live prey for the cubs to pratice on, the cubs are left at the den.

[wolves+wild dogs] regurgitate the catch for them, they doint go on the hunt till

they can keep up with the pack, they are left at the den till ther are about 9 or 10 months old.

Yes its good for them to learn there fieldcraft at a young age, but if a rabbit does get up

you want it to have a good chance of getting it. Which it will have at 9 months old , Not 4months old.

With lurchers its all about CONFIDENCE. Thats what think after 25+years in the game.

 

BIRD

[Guest dog on]

the point i am trying to get across is if they was born in the wild they would have to learn to fend for them selves as soon as posible it is only us that holds them back.

 

True, but [big cats ] bring back live prey for the cubs to pratice on, the cubs are left at the den.

[wolves+wild dogs] regurgitate the catch for them, they doint go on the hunt till

they can keep up with the pack, they are left at the den till ther are about 9 or 10 months old.

Yes its good for them to learn there fieldcraft at a young age, but if a rabbit does get up

you want it to have a good chance of getting it. Which it will have at 9 months old , Not 4months old.

With lurchers its all about CONFIDENCE. Thats what think after 25+years in the game.

 

BIRD

i must be watching diferent wild life programs than you by the time most wild dogs cats lions cheaters and like are 7 or 8 months old they are taking part in some kills the way i and the people i go with do things a lot diferent than most on here i know every body is diferent but all our dogs are catching well by 9 months old examp 4 nights a go 8 month dog had his first 62pound catch by his self i know all dogs are not the same but if you dont try you wont know dont bother saying it was a 0ne off this happens regular with the way we lamp and work our dogs .any way each to their own Edited April 4, 2008 by dog on

[sandymere 8,263]

Going a little off subject but we must remember that we ask much more of our dogs than any wild animal needs to cope with. A wild dog will run, kill then rest where we expect multiple runs in a session on top of this the speeds and therefore the strain on the body is greater with modern running dogs than their ancesters needed to cope with. Perhaps the nearest comparison would be a cheetah and they are provided for untill fully grown by the mother. What I'm saying is that though different sizes will develop at different rates and exercise develops stong joints those joints are easily dammaged during the growing period. So make haste slowly.

[Guest dog on]

Going a little off subject but we must remember that we ask much more of our dogs than any wild animal needs to cope with. A wild dog will run, kill then rest where we expect multiple runs in a session on top of this the speeds and therefore the strain on the body is greater with modern running dogs than their ancesters needed to cope with. Perhaps the nearest comparison would be a cheetah and they are provided for untill fully grown by the mother. What I'm saying is that though different sizes will develop at different rates and exercise develops stong joints those joints are easily dammaged during the growing period. So make haste slowly.

i used to think like that i agree with some of what you say but if you want to build stamina in a dog you wont do it by sliping it every time you run it and you most definetly wont educate it you can run it behind a car to get it quite fit but by working it loose from a pup it wil develop a strong heart and lungs you wont do any damage to its joints as long as you dont put it on things like hares but rabbits they wiil catch quite regular if you use the lamp to your advantage to help the dog .on the plus side the dog learns to catch at a young age and can only get beter with age when worked loos it is allready half way to the quary than if you was sliping it all the time and it is geting twice the exercise it would get if it was on a lead .i was doing the same as every body does now until i spent time with somebody that showed me this method 25 years ago i could never under stand why his dogs were so fit and so good at catching and when i say fit i mean all night not 2 or 3 hours any way we will all have our own ways .i have taken others out and they have seen the diference betwen my dog and theirs .one other thing 20 years ago pigeon fanciers only ever sent young pigeons to 150 miles in a race now they send them 250 miles it is down to the breading and development of their stock \\food for thought//and a steady dog will catch more in a night than a fast dog Edited April 4, 2008 by dog on

[whin 463]

all dogs catch hunt at diffrent ages , the collie line i have you have to hold back a bit as they are killing mad even at 5or 6 moths they hang of roes kneck as pups , the saluks i have take between 7 to 10 months to start catching rabbs, what i must say you have to train them a bit make sure they have the hang of fetching rabbit dunmies etc comeing when told , i do it on my walks as for carrying dogs over fences let them find out and teach them or rabbit netting fences to jump , i wouldnt advocate any young first time dog men or girls to strt letting there dogs enter naturaly as it could back fire but if you have a clever understanding of the breed of dog you keep and no roughly what to expect no problem, i would never advocate first time dog to self enter take your time and pick your chances and let the dog learn, but dont push them into kills ,i learn mines young but they have a decent teacher and an older dog to watch or get on the kill with, rabbits they do there self but, bigger, game they learn of a well versed dog , all my pups learn with ferrets and as they get older and not got the legs for hares and other qaurry, if they are bred right and have proven there self finish with a bit rabbiting as i breed of them ,all dogs are difrent my whippet greyhound caught stubble hares at nine months and eleven months and she was well into her stride by then ,she is steady as a rock were if i had not enterd her early she would have been a bit madder but she is steady and knows how to use her pace accordinaly , when daylite coursing i use slip sometimes and well if there roe about i make sure slip is on as we are after hares when legal etc ,al the best with your pup

[salukiman 28]

Four months is to young to be doing much except basic training come to call lead training retrieving breaking to ferrets generally getting the pup so its happy to please you.

 

this is what you want to be doing

[Guest dog on]

i know at least 1 or 2 of you will try what i have said please let others know how you get on with your pups you will see a big diference

Edited April 6, 2008 by dog on