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skycat

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Everything posted by skycat

  1. skycat
    That's really interesting: I read/saw something once about how people's faces are in two halves, and the left side of the face is the one we tend to look at when meeting someone: shows the true emotions or something, can't remember exactly why, but apparently dogs have also learned to read human faces in the same way, so I guess that if the eyes weren't 'right' that could freak a dog out completely.
  2. skycat
  3. skycat
    The thing is with lurcher to lurcher, if you know the lines, the parents, grandparents and even better the great grandparents, then you are actually upping your chances of getting a good un, but only if the breeder/s of each generation have been honest and unblinkered in their assessment of each dog. For example, I know that a particular generation of dogs in my line hadn't got the best of feet, so when I bred my last litter I made sure to use a bitch with excellent feet,and as many generations as I could know of with good feet....... and crossed my fingers: so far so good.
  4. skycat
    I remember seeing a wildlife film about rabbit does which were eating other does' kits: apparently for the extra protein when they (the kit eaters) were themselves in kit. My little game hen who only lays for a while each spring before going broody is also desperate for meat: worms, mince, etc: for the same reason I guess. Could it be that swans, whilst laying, also attempt to up their protein intake so they can lay good healthy eggs?
  5. skycat

    Sickening.

    skycat replied to bob.243's topic in General Talk

    Idiots who can't shoot shouldn't! But it does show what a tiny brain birds have if that bolt has had no effect on the bird!
  6. skycat
    Twice I have used non working dogs over my bitches, but they DID come from working lines. The first time I tried to use the working dog in a litter, her wasn't interested in my bitch so I took her to his non, almost non, working brother, though to be fair the dog had been ferreting a few times but was never got properly fit for anything more demanding. Tht litter produced some good workers and the bitch I kept back turned out to be one of the very best lurchers I have ever owned: hard as nails and a catch rate which beat all my other dogs hands down: talking rabbits and foxes here. Her own da
  7. skycat
    I reckon its a good post to start what might have been an interesting thread if some people hadn't wanted to nit pick it to pieces. I reckon that the skills of a properly trained lurcher can be awesome. When I did pest control full time my Beardie lurcher knew not to touch pheasants around release pens and farms, but out in cover or in the open countryside she knew they were fair game. I never taught her that but I think she picked up on my body language which told her to leave everything except vermin alone when we were round human habitat: when we thought no one was looking pheasants coul
  8. skycat
    Some really class shots there: really like the one of the bitch looking down at her pups
  9. skycat
    Male dog also mark with sh*t, and I've often seen mine desperately trying to squeeze out another tiny bit of sludge as high up a bit of grass as they can in order to leave their scent: not easy when they're fed on raw food and don't have so much to produce as dry food fed dogs.
  10. skycat
    NIce one C; though I think that most sensible people will realise that not everyone needs to be the same, catch the same amount and work their dogs to the same extent. Whatever makes you happy: envy and jealousy are nasty emotions and all too often the cause of the dog swapping cycles that go on all the time. The grass may appear greener on the other side but all too often its full of weeds.
  11. skycat
    If you haven't got or can't get a shock collar then I've found that by running them down, roaring at them, scruffing them and putting the fear of YOU into them that works just as well, but needs a fair amount of energy and perseverence. Always a problem when you take on a second hand dog even if its still a pup and its been allowed to get away with things, but IMO you'll need to be VERY firm with her. Most terriers are actually quite sensitive if you get on top of them early. I always give my dogs lots of love and attention, but woe betide them if they step out of line, BUT I always respect
  12. skycat
    5 months is a lot different to 10 months in terms of the dog's mental development, though I've seen totally unsocialised pups of 5 months never adapt to normal life if they've never known the outside of a kennel: yes, there will always be the odd one which comes from a crap 'childhood' and has the temperament and intelligence to come through it OK.(note the two traits together are essential as intelligence without a laid back and confident temperament is worse than stupid and laid back: some of the most screwed up dogs I've known have been super intelligent, which is why they got so messed up
  13. skycat
    Know what you mean: I've never been really able to bond with a dog that has come to me as an adult, even if the dog is great with no baggage or problems. I've taken in quite a few rescues over the years but I've found them all nice homes even if they were stunners: none would have been world beaters in the field due to the fact that EACH AND EVERY one of them had never been properly trained or exposed to the game in the field properly. Had some poor buggers come to me at 9 or 10 months old that had NEVER been out of the kennel How the hell can anyone expect a dog to make good if its never bee
  14. skycat
    I know, the tail's horrible isn't it! The guy that bred them lives in Scotland and I doubt he'd ever consider doing it himself: an Airedale is a big dog to keep under wraps if its illegaly docked and as it isn't classed as a working breed I doubt even a vet in England would do it. As far as I know mine has the only curly tail in the litter, the others were more like hounds' sterns.
  15. skycat
    Disobedient, wanting to hunt away and do her own thing? Sounds like a season is brewing! Mine all hunt harder, and on the run up to their first season can be downright obnoxious, but its NOT obnoxious really, just the hormones making her behave in a way which humans find annoying. Try to be tolerant, not let her get into situations where she can disobey outright. Or just ride it out and praise her a lot when she does do something right: punishment for hormone related behaviour will only confuse the dog. Don't take any sh*t either though. A mixture of being firm and not standing for any nonse
  16. skycat
    Missed that! the parents are barely more than pups themselves: why on earth breed and then keep even more when the parents aren't even in their prime yet?
  17. skycat
    Fantastic looking dog that Bruce, the bitch is nice too but that dog is just superb.
  18. skycat
    Do a search on here: just type in Airedales into the search bar top right of the screen. There are a few, parents imported from Canada.Here's mine:
  19. skycat
    Almost certainly to be blocked anal glands: I would imagine that is what caused the abscess in yours Willum. Bum scooting along the ground, obsessive licking: classic signs of anal glands full or infected. The vet will show you how to unblock them but get the dog on a natural diet of meat and bones and I can almost guarantee you'll never have the problem again. Speaking from experience here.
  20. skycat
    What do you feed him on? Some dogs which are fed cereal based complete foods lack fat in their diets: feed animal fat, not vegetable oil and you should see improvement. Since feeding my dogs on raw meat and bones and fat I've never had a problem with cracked pads, and their coats are a lot better too. My dogs spend a lot of time with wet feet due to where I exercise and work them, but there's never a problem. Feet wet a lot of the time can crack too, especially if the diet is lacking.
  21. skycat
    In that case you've answered your own question LOL I've done it, it IS a lot of hard work and you need plenty of time to devote to each pup in turn: if you can do that then there shouldn't be a problem, but don't expect them to come on at the same rate or do the same things; they might, but they might not: don't get into the habit of comparing them to each other or you'll find one wanting.
  22. skycat
    I've found that some pups are really whingy sods, until they start work. Its as though they don't know what to do with themselves, but once they are out in the field and finding an outlet for all the energy and frustration they calm down. Personally I'd not put up with a whingy dog: hate the things. If the dog lives in the house just ignore it when it whines, as others have suggested, but do make sure it always has something to do: big bones, toys to chew. Also, has the dog got its own personal space to sleep? It should have its own bed in a quiet corner somewhere out of the way of kids and
  23. skycat
    Dogs will be moulting at this time of year: it is normal to shed skin cells along with dead fur, though of course the right diet will help keep the skin in good condition as well.
  24. skycat
    Even if you get a dog from a rescue centre you still have to pay money: a lot charge well over £100 for a dog. The only rescue dog you don't actually pay for is one you have taken in yourself either as a stray or because someone handed it over to you because they didn't want it any more for whatever reason, reasons which often involve the owner having neglected the animal.
  25. skycat
    Looks like a good bit of fun you had there.
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