Jump to content

skycat

Donator
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    7,517

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    15

 Content Type 

Everything posted by skycat

  1. skycat
    That's a kind way of putting it Most people think he's a Lab cross: and the guns on the shoots love him: because of that I guess
  2. skycat
    Wait until the dog has finished growing: 12-14 months. Not only its physical body is growing until then, but the hormone changes help to make the dog an adult mentally: some dogs that are done early, at 6 months or so, remain very puppyish in their heads, which is fine for pets, but not so good for working dogs.
  3. skycat
    This one is smooth: he has only just matured at around 3 1/2 years old, physically that is. He was a bit 'solid' in the photo taken in the summer at 2 years old, but has now fined down a bit. He is a heavy old lump at just under 26", but very fast on the take off and can run forever, though his top speed ain't nothing special. Very determined dog with a good kill attitude. Stick a rough coat on him and he'd be the dead spit of his sire. The latest my OH has got is just Picardy and Greyhound, no Beardie in at all, unlike the other two. They seem to be a slow maturing type, and though
  4. skycat
    Just watched it on iplayer: very good programme. When he said that some chases can last for 20 miles....! And to watch them swimming across 2 miles of choppy water only to find nothing but an old carcase on the other side. And I loved the bit where the youngster gets flipped off a carcase for daring to claim the whole body as its own: watching my own pack at home, the behaviour is identical, not that I feed my dogs whole cows It's the relationships between the different pack members I love to watch, both on programmes like these and in my own dogs. And the 'tag team' tactics of the 3 wo
  5. skycat
    At this age it is impossible to say which pup will make the better worker: or they might both be equally good. Which one do you feel most comfortable with? Are you a 'full throttle' sort of person, or are you more laid back yourself? Some people do better with a more chilled out dog, others prefer a challenge, but both could perform well in the field. And don't forget that the pups may change a lot once there is only one on its own: the bolder one could become more responsive and the calmer one could come out of its shell, so to speak. Males are often more laid back anyway, but that doesn't m
  6. skycat
    What channel was it on? And can I access it on catch up tv? BBC2 mate,, as far as catchup i wouldnt be too sure.. Cheers.
  7. skycat
    What channel was it on? And can I access it on catch up tv?
  8. skycat
    Very sorry to hear of your disaster, but I really wouldn't trust a commercial boarding kennels to look after my dogs for more than a couple of days, not to mention the fact that your dog (s) must be pretty stressed and wondering where the hell you are. I don't know your exact situation, but I'd be moving heaven and earth to see my dogs and make sure they were all right, and putting something in place where I could have them with me. Could you not get the insurance to rent you a place?
  9. skycat
    To be honest, I've not used it myself, and am only repeating what others have told me: I should have stated this when I first posted But I have been told (and read) that it can cause vomiting which can lead to dehydration, as well as hypotension (low blood pressure). 'Herbal' remedies can be just as dangerous as man made stuff, but Urtica Urens has long been used to increase or suppress milk production (depending on the strength used) and there are no known side effects. I've used it myself regularly (on the bitches!) and it really does work.
  10. skycat
    Hats off to your dad....... and the ferrets! People who think that ferreting is not hard work have obviously never really done a lot: hard on the back and the knees.
  11. skycat
    Dogs can use carbs for energy, but they turn fat into energy faster, and much better than humans, who do need carbs for energy. Protein is for growing and building muscle, but it is also essential for replacing muscle cells that are lost through exertion, so if you expect a fast dog to do well on a diet of carbs and fat you are mistaken. Red meat is also very good as has already been said as it contains a host of vitamins and minerals essential to good health. But if you look at the phosphorus/potassium ration they are not so good: phos. 5%, pot. 2% This is where tripe scores well as the p
  12. skycat
    ...and they became popular in the States because of that film. The pure gene pool was tiny after WW2: I heard they added husky to widen the gene pool, though it is officially denied. The Picardy lurchers certainly like to run..and run......and run In all seriousness, they are quite driven dogs with great temperaments, though not overly fond of strangers. My OH's big male is a very good guard dog and although heavily built he can snap up rabbits no problem. Tough as old boots and the majority seem to have a willingness to tackle most jobs.
  13. skycat
    Pauvre petit garçon: c'est bien triste d'avoir payer pour çela!
  14. skycat
    Don't try and get puppies to jump anything higher than their own back until they are a year old: jumping damages shoulders and wrists in dogs that haven't yet finished their skeletal growth, besides which, they don't generally have the muscle power to propel them over high fences. Start off very low, and gradually increase the height. Pups under 6 months can be asked to come over a low board for their food, but it is also important to get them jumping low fencing that they can see through. Chicken wire is ideal for this as you can bend it in half so it is low, and gradually unfold it until
  15. skycat
    Wow! What a difference between the first and the later photos. Just shows how easy it is to misjudge by a bad photo. Dogs, and especially pups can look terrible if they are head on to the camera: makes their heads look too big and their body too small or thin. Also if they have been told to 'stay there' and they're looking all worried and cowed. A good head shot and a second photo side view on is the way to go IMO. Hope he gets the home he deserves.
  16. skycat
    http://en.wikipedia....i/Berger_Picard There is someone breeding them as lurchers, crossed with Greyhounds. Tough dogs with good feet, drive and hunting instinct. Not the fastest in the world as a first cross, but plenty fast enough for most game though preban they wouldn't have had the gears for fen long ears. My OH has three: this is the one that looks most like the Picardy. Very clever on the lamp.
  17. skycat
    More media hysteria: been out ferreting and been targeted as hare coursers: its come to the stage where the public see a lurcher and immediately think hare coursers. Ooh, nasty, evil criminals. Even had one old lady out walking her dog when we were ferreting the common; hiding behind a tree looking scared. So I went up to her, wished her Good Morning, and told her what we were doing. She thought we were coursing! I asked her why she thought that, and she said we had lurchers, and that's what they did! Talk about media hyping up gullible people. Bloody ridiculous.
  18. skycat
    You're a sceptical sort of person aren't you! Damaged tendons or ligaments are often easy to diagnose if the person examining the dog knows what they are doing. And some of the really good 'back men' or canine osteopaths have a seemingly magical ability. Of course it isn't magic at all, but the result of years and years experience. A damaged tendon may feel thickened or harder than it should. Ditto a muscle: instead of smooth and springy it may feel lumpy or hard. Ligaments are a bit more difficult to diagnose as they are deeper inside, holding joints in place, but an experienced person can o
  19. skycat
    That could well be the problem. It is difficult having kids and pups in the house together. I make it a point NEVER to tell a pup off for grabbing or carrying ANYTHING. If the pup picks up something I don't want it to have, I quickly grab something it can play with, and make the exchange, showing the pup the 'legal' item with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. It is hard work when all your instincts are shouting 'NO' when the pup has picked up a shoe, sock, treasured item, but any form of negative emotion on your part and the pup thinks it has done wrong for grabbing something in its mou
  20. skycat
    I was talking to Jim Greenwood the other day (lurcher man and dog behaviourist) and he was telling me that Beddy types are the worst for 'over reacting' if people behave in the wrong way towards the dog. Contrary to certain opinions, Jim reckons that Beddy lurchers are very sensitive to any negative words or behaviour from their handlers. Even a careless gruff word to a young dog at the wrong moment can have a knock on effect and turn them away from you mentally.
  21. skycat
    That's the way to rear pups
  22. skycat
    Lovely pups there Would be a good idea to nip the hooked ends of their claws off with human nail clippers> makes it more comfortable for the bitch when they are paddling against her teats and stops her getting sore. Some bitches get so sore that they are reluctant to feed their pups.
  23. skycat
    Get some good minced beef and breast of lamb into the bitch: helps them keep in good condition: bitches need tons of protein to make a lot of milk.
  24. skycat
    Because their tails are too small Sorry, I'll go back to work
  25. skycat
    Wow! Awesome scenery. Love the first water photo. I guess the dogs wasn't as tired as you were, something to do with four legs instead of two?
×
×
  • Create New...