age to enter?

[Guest friedrice]

ive got a young russel dog here out of my bitch. 11 months old and keen as hell to get to ground. is he to young ? or should i give him a go.

ps,he's broke to rabbits and want lok at them.

thanks in advance

[Chid 6,461]

give him a go ...mines 9 month now and im gonna try him soon

[Guest pip]

i ve an 11 month old black here bursting to travel but ill hold her of till about christmas,i normally watch for the change in em then leave em for another few monthes to make sure they re ready for some bullying if it should happen

[Dabhand 887]

ive got a young russel dog here out of my bitch. 11 months old and keen as hell to get to ground. is he to young ? or should i give him a go.

ps,he's broke to rabbits and want lok at them.

thanks in advance

11 months id wait a while still only a baby

[sulurian 3]

I,d wait a couple of months . No rush , no point in taking a chance . Less likely to jib with a bit more age mate .

[downsouth 7,131]

Its still a pup,wait till this winter after all why dig in june even with an adult.

[Neil Cooney. 1]

Good advice. At eleven months your pup is a baby.

If it's keen to go below means from now on you must know where your exercising your pup like the back of your hand or you'll have an accident.

Terriers that enter quick can often stop quick too.

Downsouth is right. Why would you want to go for a dig at this time of year?

Keepers and farmers must be helped no doubt but only a fool digs for sport at this time of year.

Maybe the Winters to cold for a lot of the cowboys.

[Guest whitser]

a terriers never been ruined by holding him back a bit, same cant be said for going early. i would wait til october when he's 14 months. just cos he's mad keen to go below doesnt mean he mature enough to meet whats waiting on him. i know a lot of lads let them go early (before 12 months) but from experience i think 14+ months is better, in fact i'd say 18 is best.

you wont spoil him by holding him back a bit.

Edited June 7, 2008 by whitser

[Guest whitser]

give him a go ...mines 9 month now and im gonna try him soon

he's your dog and i could care less what you do with him but if you want my two pence worth i'd hold him back, 9 months is far too young.

[Guest rexdigger]

my bitch is 9 month old mad keen to go but i dont think its mature enough to face anything underground yet,we caught a cub in my trap and let this bitch have a sniff she went absoloutly ballistic to get to it so at least i know she will go but not for a while yet ps many a good dog spoiled by entering too young imo

[top terrierman 90]

9 mounths is a bit young mate i know youl here all this shit talk about pups going to ground at 8 and 9 months doing a dig great dogs.iv heard it time and time again but ask them lads two seasons time how them dogs are going i bet half of them would have jacked i know its hard to hold the dog back its exciteing to see what way hel go but going to ground dosent mean he will do a dig.hold him back till christmas the dog will be the right age.best of luck with him whatever you decide to do

[Guest rexdigger]

9 mounths is a bit young mate i know youl here all this shit talk about pups going to ground at 8 and 9 months doing a dig great dogs.iv heard it time and time again but ask them lads two seasons time how them dogs are going i bet half of them would have jacked i know its hard to hold the dog back its exciteing to see what way hel go but going to ground dosent mean he will do a dig.hold him back till christmas the dog will be the right age.best of luck with him whatever you decide to do

i have high hopes for this bitch as my older bitch is ready for the nackers yard really i wont be showing her anything till at least christmas if not later

[undisputed 1,664]

ive got a young russel dog here out of my bitch. 11 months old and keen as hell to get to ground. is he to young ? or should i give him a go.

ps,he's broke to rabbits and want lok at them.

thanks in advance

 

Dont do it mate wait till he's at least 18mnths he's still developing if he gets hammered at that age you'll ruin him. by all means take him and let him see whats going on but dont enter him yet. I run russells myself so could write a book withe mistakes I've made take your time and he wont let you down.

[Neil Cooney. 1]

Good advice your being given here and hopefully you'll listen. The combination of a terrier keen to go to ground but wont mark rabbits is often a sign of a well bred terrier that will go on to work well.

If you yourself are the type of person who's impatient then don't bring your youngster on a dig 'till you think he's ready.

If your patient then bring him out and get him used to being tethered, the terrier box and all the other excitement of a dig. Wind him up a few times and when you see your pup changing into an adult.....let him go.

And don't be upset if he doesn't do well first time. Give him a rest and try again.

[kirstysdad 827]

very good advice given already give the pup time still a baby already showing promise as already broken to bunnys wait the extra time it will be worth it