working terriers - size / age ,

[Guest hpool_hunter]

well its very possible i may be getting my 1st working terrier , after only working lurchers , im totally green ,

 

shes a bitch , around 8 months old , shes a lakeland/patterdale/russel mix . around 12/13 '' to shoulder , we had her out today , and she was * bushing* like a pro , following rabbit runs , ect ... and even found a rabbit set which she then alerted us to .

 

she hasnt been worked yet but is bred from workers so must come instinctly , i know she is only 8 months so hopefully will grow a little bit ,

 

but whats the average size for a decent working terrier , also is 8 months a good age to start on the rats / rabbits ect .

 

any help

 

cheers

 

Dale

[Guest hob__ferret]

i think she will do as a good ferreting dog dale and ratting to

[Chid 6,495]

Dale ... same cross as my terrier he is 12/13 as well been that size since he was 8 month he is now a year .i'd say it was an ideal age for the rats and to start working rabbits.

 

quick questionn- you gonna be using it for fox?

[Guest hpool_hunter]

Dale ... same cross as my terrier he is 12/13 as well been that size since he was 8 month he is now a year .i'd say it was an ideal age for the rats and to start working rabbits.

 

quick questionn- you gonna be using it for fox?

 

around the 18 months age i would have tried a dig yes , but im guessing if she stays at the height , she isnt going to make a * digging* dog ,

[buckshot 53]

its not the size of the dog

[Chid 6,495]

Dale ... same cross as my terrier he is 12/13 as well been that size since he was 8 month he is now a year .i'd say it was an ideal age for the rats and to start working rabbits.

 

quick questionn- you gonna be using it for fox?

 

around the 18 months age i would have tried a dig yes , but im guessing if she stays at the height , she isnt going to make a * digging* dog ,

 

dont need size in a good dog mate

 

a mate of mine on here uses 2 jack russels ones 10" tts and the other is 11" if im right i know they are smaller than mine. and they are very capable dogs , never failed yet so dont be put off by the size.

[Guest michael turner]

a mate of mine is a huntsman in ireland he moved there when the ban come in he always says if you can span a dog round the chest with big finger and thumb there just the write size 2 get where a fox can

[undisputed 1,664]

well its very possible i may be getting my 1st working terrier , after only working lurchers , im totally green ,

 

shes a bitch , around 8 months old , shes a lakeland/patterdale/russel mix . around 12/13 '' to shoulder , we had her out today , and she was * bushing* like a pro , following rabbit runs , ect ... and even found a rabbit set which she then alerted us to .

 

she hasnt been worked yet but is bred from workers so must come instinctly , i know she is only 8 months so hopefully will grow a little bit ,

 

but whats the average size for a decent working terrier , also is 8 months a good age to start on the rats / rabbits ect .

 

any help

 

cheers

 

Dale

 

 

Thats an ok size at the moment hopefully wont get to much bigger....word of warning though if you intend to use for charlie later you may be making a rod for your own back letting her work on rabbits. I speak from experience as one of my JRT's was used for bushing and working rabbits. If your not careful you'll spend more time digging her out of rabbit holes than earths...the other problem is when they hit a hot scent she'll be of like a bullet with you in pursuit. If you dont mind the hassle then carry on as you are but if you intend to do bigger quarry when she's older its something you might want to reconsider...ATB whatever you do

[dog fox 16]

make sure you put a locator collar on her when bushing ,if she doe,s go to ground (and she will) at least you can do your bit too help her out ,no good her coming out after hours of punishment , you got a nice looking terrier there, and a nice size to good luck with her and your digging

[bill88 6]

If you intend to work the dog "properly" i would discourage it from chasing rabbits.As for size ive seen some good dogs of varying sizes over the years from 12" to 18" and as for spanning them with your hands,it may sound like a good idea but we all have different size hands and i've seen some very chesty dogs that worked well and always got where they wanted to.

[BBB 7]

if you gonna use it for fox . dont get it going on rabbit's. start on rat, then if you can. give it a look at a fox which has been dug to by another dog. i think it is better if you know someone with a dog that is grafting to take your young dog along on a couple a dig's. i would also show it fox carcasses . get it interested in ragging them. you can even use fresh road kill foxes for this. and dont over encourage it to go to ground in every hole it see's. ..

[borderland 0]

If the terrier is going to work on fox it will , no matter if its near rabbits or not. I always encourage mine to bait rabbits at a younger age that way they know what they are and realise of their own accord that they cant get down most rabbit holes. In my experience foxing terriers that never see a rabbit are the 1s that dig to them if given a chance. IF A TERRIER IS GOING TO WORK TO FOX IT WILL NO MATTER WHAT SIZE OR HOW MANY RABBITS IT HAS SEEN.

[dev 226]

as already said if your going to use it for foxes DONT encourage it to hunt rabbits as you will be tortured with it digging to rabbits as foxes used tight dug out rabbit holes alot of the time, if its used to hunting rabbits then its only natural that it will want to get to one

[Guest Eamon.Mc]

If the terrier is going to work on fox it will , no matter if its near rabbits or not. I always encourage mine to bait rabbits at a younger age that way they know what they are and realise of their own accord that they cant get down most rabbit holes. In my experience foxing terriers that never see a rabbit are the 1s that dig to them if given a chance. IF A TERRIER IS GOING TO WORK TO FOX IT WILL NO MATTER WHAT SIZE OR HOW MANY RABBITS IT HAS SEEN.

 

Rabbits!!! If your'e gonna work the dog on fox, stay well clear of bunnies.

[borderland 0]

If the terrier is going to work on fox it will , no matter if its near rabbits or not. I always encourage mine to bait rabbits at a younger age that way they know what they are and realise of their own accord that they cant get down most rabbit holes. In my experience foxing terriers that never see a rabbit are the 1s that dig to them if given a chance. IF A TERRIER IS GOING TO WORK TO FOX IT WILL NO MATTER WHAT SIZE OR HOW MANY RABBITS IT HAS SEEN.

 

Rabbits!!! If your'e gonna work the dog on fox, stay well clear of bunnies.

 

total tripe!!