Loads of people say they are slow, a friend of a friends dog didnt click until it was nearly 3, as far as bushing, ferreting and ratting goes my border had it from the word go, the earth work might take a lot longer for the penny to drop with him though, but like ive said im not to fussed if he doesnt as hes a cracking dog at what he does already and I do my fair share of ferreting so he comes in handy