prey drive

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

A recent experience with a lurcher of bull blood got me thinking about how long you should persivere with a lurcher that shows no inclination to hunt ,catch.The lurcher in question was Im told 13 months old.Long before this I would expect a lurcher of working parents to be well into the "prey drive" section of its life .By this I mean the dog is keen to chase anything that moves,and needs to be restrained rather than encouraged.Personally I would not persivere with a dog that showed no interest in anything at this age-Am I too harsh,expecting too much from a bull breed,or would you expect some sort of prey drive at this age.The dog in question would not look at a rat ,let alone chase anything bigger.The dog is with someone else now who obviously can see something we cannot ?I fully understand that some breeds mature slower but surely you have to see early signs of the will to work.

[OEH 0]

My little whippet bitch is 13 weeks at the moment and is already showing prey drive. She 'kills' every feather or leaf passing in the wind. Has savaged all her toys from a very young age and loved her first encounter with a fresh bunny last weekend.

[Royston2 0]

By 13 months Whether it is bull blooded or anything else for that matter should in my eyes show you signs of being willing i wouldn`t keep a dog that hadn`t shown me anything at all..

There will be alot of different replies to this and there should be cause every body is different so if people do have a difference in oppinion lets try and keep the topic on track could be some good reads

[pockets 0]

Lets be honest at 13 months it should show some interest at hunting at least chasing bunnies if not its either asleep or a very clever beast its natural instincts dictate it is a hunter and hunters hunt doesn't matter that its not pulling down red deer but it should show an interest in something.

Just my opinion mind

[Brummy 9]

At the end of the day different dogs mature at varying rates. Some dogs even of bull breeding don't "switch on" until 18 months old ! However, having said that most lurchers should show at least the willingness to chase. I have a pup here that's 10 months old now that is bred down off very game dogs. One day while taking down pheasant rearing pens he raced after a hen pheasant and retrieved it back in a rough fashion ! Only half an hour later we lifted a pen floor for a dozen or so rats to bolt out and he showed no bloody interest at all !!! Although he has now killed a farm cat :whistle: and run a munty well with his dad he's still a daft lanky baby when all's said and done and I'm well prepared to wait

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Cheers lads.Perhaps in hindsight the dog should have been given longer but its disheartening to see other younger lurchers enjoying a bit of ratting when the immature antics of another piss you off.I still say ,like a few others that a youngster needs to be interested in hunting at an early age if its going to move forward and be a good all rounder.Cant see the point of feeding a dog till its 2 year old in the hope of things turning out right.Likeyou lads said "horses for courses".

[Guest chilli]

It takes some dogs a few meetings with different species before it wants to have a go . I would expect it to be wanting to chase rabbits an such from a early age all though id give a dog at least a couple of years to grow up .

[c_greg 1]

my dogs 9 mnths old and hunts like a soldier [bANNED TEXT] me [bANNED TEXT]'s bitch is present its like hes tryin 2 impress her or sumfin. its dwn 2 the owner and how patient their willing 2 be