What age to take dog out on lamp for 1st time?

[Hollie 21]

As some of you know Kylo has really annoyed me in the past with his inability to realalise he is a sighthound However that has changed now and last weekend i took him out on my dads farm and he was spot on, all his instinct kicked in, he gave it his best shot on 3 rabbits he chased, 1 he was SO close to getting, he was about to strike and it did this super-bunny leap under a thorn bush he returned straight back to me after each run with his head held high scanning the fields for more bunnies, this was all during the day on a walk about, nothing serious, i would like to take him out on the lamp this weekend, again, nothing serious, just a few short runs on squatters to see how he does.

 

He is 8 months old, is he too young to take out at night, like i say it won't be any hardcore hunting, just a quick shine about and a few slips if i feel he has a chance.

[Guest dances]

not at all mate

[Hannah4181 260]

Hi Hollie, Spider was only 6 months when i took him out with fireman etc on the lamp, i didn't run him though just let him watch.

 

He hasn't been out again at night as i am concentrating on getting his confidence up, retrieve and recall spot on and to actually think about what he's doing . . . . . . this is all progressing nicely out with the ferrets. Hoping to get him out on the lamp next week for a couple of easy runs.

 

I'm by no means an expert on lamping, infact a complete novice but i think as you've said, i'd only give Kylo a couple of easy runs to let him get the idea and build his confidence.

 

If i'm honest spider could have run at night long before now, but until recently the only place i had to take him was on someone elses permission and it is very rough ground, lots of barbed wire etc, in my mind not the best place to run an inexperienced dog.

 

Good luck with him.

[mad_hunter 0]

a didnt let my dog actually go for anything on the lamp until he was a year old because a friend of min introduced his dog to lamping at 7 and a half months old and it started yapping when chasing . but thats just me

[hunter-girl 10]

Not at all - 8 months is a good age, just depends on the type of breed really and the personallity of the dog.

just go steady with him to start with and build his work load up slowly.

do what you said - run him on some squaters that he stands a chance in catching - If he starts to have too many runs where he dont catch at this age it will put him off and he wont be bothered to even run after them. Always try to end the night on a good note as well!

 

Good luck and keep us up to date with how he gets on.

feel free to pm me if you would like some more advice or anything.

[whippeter69 88]

It differs with different dogs. My whippet is now 14 months old but im not lamping her until next year because she keeps yelping when running at night. So all i will do is ferret her and maybe start her at the end of the season lamping but is she keeps at it then i will try again next year.

[poacher3161 1,766]

give him a go but dont overdo it and dont slip him on rabbits to near cover 8 months is the ideal age for some light running but be careful on the condition of the ground if its hard dont run him atb poacher3161

[runforyourlife 361]

You will know in your own mind wether or not to take him. You should have learnt your dogs ways. I f you think he is fittest enough, inteligent enouigh, will retrieve in dark, will come straight back and not hunt up, clever enough to avoid obstacles in the dark, and most importantly follow the beam etc etc....

[Hollie 21]

ummm some good replies, thanks guys.

 

He is the 1st puppy i have owned, i grew up around working Lurchers but never had my own from pup, he is still very puppyish at times but when he was hunting at my dads he was like a diffferent dog and i really believe that if i give him the right opportunities he will do well, i guess the only way to know is if i try, if it doesn't work out this time i will leave him to mature a bit more, there is no rush, i just want to see what he can do!!

 

I completly understand not setting him up to fail, i won't slip him untill i know he is on the ball and he has a good chance, shame i don't know anyone around my way that works Lurchers because although i have grown up around working dogs i am a complete novice, i guess we all start somewhere!

[spiderfly 111]

their is a guy with a bull x on this and he say he killed a fox with it at 7 months....??!!!!

 

i would say 7 to 9 months ..........

[wild rover 548]

As some of you know Kylo has really annoyed me in the past with his inability to realalise he is a sighthound However that has changed now and last weekend i took him out on my dads farm and he was spot on, all his instinct kicked in, he gave it his best shot on 3 rabbits he chased, 1 he was SO close to getting, he was about to strike and it did this super-bunny leap under a thorn bush he returned straight back to me after each run with his head held high scanning the fields for more bunnies, this was all during the day on a walk about, nothing serious, i would like to take him out on the lamp this weekend, again, nothing serious, just a few short runs on squatters to see how he does.

 

He is 8 months old, is he too young to take out at night, like i say it won't be any hardcore hunting, just a quick shine about and a few slips if i feel he has a chance.

 

Depends on the dog, it needs to be mentally and physically mature first, dont rush it and spoil him. Type into search and read article , starting a lamping pup.

[dennned 172]

8 months is still young, i never hunt any of mine till they reach, 14 months, then they're mature enough in mind and body, most dogs are still growing at 8 months, work them early then they, might just have a short life, as over indulging a young dog does have pitfalls, most commonly , injury's to muscles , tendons, toes, all because they have'nt been allowed to mature , through your own"i know we are all kicking keen to see our pups perform" eagerness to see it work,there'll be plenty of time , later, to saviour your dogs exploits, for a long and fruituous life. GOOD LUCK.

[thomps125 49]

8 months is still young, i never hunt any of mine till they reach, 14 months, then they're mature enough in mind and body, most dogs are still growing at 8 months, work them early then they, might just have a short life, as over indulging a young dog does have pitfalls, most commonly , injury's to muscles , tendons, toes, all because they have'nt been allowed to mature , through your own"i know we are all kicking keen to see our pups perform" eagerness to see it work,there'll be plenty of time , later, to saviour your dogs exploits, for a long and fruituous life. GOOD LUCK.

 

 

i dont think you should run it yet but that my opionin its bones havent stoped growing yet its still not fully developed there is a back bone that isnt fully grown yet called the L7

 

by all meens take him out and watch the lamp have you got him reteeving toys ect on the lamp

 

my bitch is 8months ive took her out to watch the lamp and she is all eyes and ears but i dont think you should run them till at least 12months as you dont want the dogg to miss a few bunnys and feel that they are no good at it

[riohog 5,810]

i ould agree with most i think 8 months is to young the pup hasnt developed phisicely or mentaly

 

at that ageno harm in letting it have a look at the job but let it learn the daytime tricks first

[seang 163]

i wouldn start a pup that young bones n muscles hvn developed properly letting him look n dat would be fine but i wouldn let him give chase jus for his own safety give him another few months to develop dats jus my opinion