Bustersback!!!

Have you got whites now Treehands ?

I've dug them with front and back legs missing, with all sorts of scars and injuries. The one thing that they'd all got in common was the fact they were all in good health and all were fat as pigs. The only thing I hate too see and IMO there's no coming back from is mange, it's ruthless and a cruel way to go

I think I'd feel guilty every time I looked up at the wall and saw him looking back at me, I'd still take a day out to look for one though

That's a special catch, I wouldn't say one in a lifetime because I've never heard of anyone else catching one, your a lucky man. I once caught one who'd got white front legs but in all honesty I never noticed until someone else pointed it out on a photo.

I'll take all 1 foot digs then, nothing like a good bit of "old man digging"

You still get the odd shit bag RH but you're right, very few failures "if" they're given the right time and chances

It betters your odds of finding what you're after but it's still no guarantee

Had the same myself, they took two out of ten. They kept hold of them for ten weeks and then returned them fat as pigs and frightened of their own shadow. It's all about having the right paperwork in place, written permission and veterinary history. Chuffed for you mate, it's like having your guts ripped out

With out a docking certificate you'll have a lot of explaining to do should you be asked for one. Would I do my own and have I done my own before this ridiculous law came to pass, you bet your life on it Tinkerbell, I've seen to many "professionals" make a pigs ear out of a terrier, hence the reason for standing and watching like an expectant father.

Taking any general amount off (historically) like a third or whatever system you use is nonsense, every pup is different, some will be born with tails that barely need anything off and some will want more. When I take my pups to the vets I insist on showing him where to dock, no way I'd leave it down to him. I hold each pup up and judge the tail as if it was a mature full size terrier, the shape and size of the tail never changes through out it's development, if it looks right as a babe it'll look right when it's mature.

I never said don't take mine out, I was saying I wouldn't take a youngster on a dig. Every pup I have gets walked out with my little pack from 8 weeks old, they see dead game and run empty pipes and check little earths (empty) before they are old enough to work. If it keeps him and you happy good for you, it's a nice pup by the way.

I never take pups out watching, I know pups learn a lot more than people give them credit for but I'd Sooner take my pups when they're of an age to work for themselves. As FD says, it's bored shitless, all it's getting used to is doing nothing while it's out.

A good long standing friend of mine has got two tidy Plummers, they're his sons and they've been great for the lads confidence. He's won a few hunt shows and they've bolted the odd fox but they are not digging dogs by any stretch of the imagination. From what I can see they are what they are, an all round messers dog that does nothing that any cur Russell x shite couldn't do

I've had two old boxes mended, both were given a clean up and a brand new outer casing, the cost was £ and I had prompt service. Give them a call on the phone instead of emailing FD

Fair play, stick to the small places for this season, the small ones can still bite you on the ass every now and again.