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
    rather than narrow fronted what about shorter in the front leg,would that enable a dog to turn sharper than say a longer one? rather than narrow fronted what about shorter in the front leg,would that enable a dog to turn sharper than say a longer one? never seen one with legs shorter at the front unless it was a growing pup. but saluki types an bedlington bred dogs mostly hav front legs close together an there all good at turning It's not about having a narrow front end: dogs whose front legs are too close together can't turn properly, as their shoulder blades lack the corr
  2. skycat
    So long as there is no open wound with bits of bone sticking through it should heal fine. Immobilise the end of the tail in a small rigid tube to protect the break: hold it on to the tail with sticking plaster. Leave the end open for the tail to breathe.
  3. skycat
    I remember Dick Francis: the racing jockey turned crime writer; once describing them as creatures with tiny brains and overwhelming emotions: about sums it up. Superb animals who put up with humans in the most amazing ways, and capable of forming strong bonds with us too. Just gotta remember that they are big and potentially lethal in the wrong situation, just like anything much larger than us.
  4. skycat
    I keep slices in pads slathered with Padsanol: helps keep the edges of the wound supple. The edges can dry out and leave a hard leathery edge to the wound if you're not careful. If you run a dog with a pad sliced open it will take a lot longer to heal and can leave hard, dry skin which is painful to run on. Don't try and dry it up with powder, will only lead to crusty edges and a longer healing time.
  5. skycat
    Agreed. If the dog is powered correctly both front and back it will not only be able to work better, but also stand a better chance of going through life without the muscle and tendon injuries so often seen in dogs without the correct proportions and balance. Obviously it goes to say that the dog should be fit for purpose: running an unfit dog, no matter how well made it is, will result in injury.
  6. skycat
    Between ongoing myxie and floods this season's a bit of a wash out: lamping is like running the dogs in a slow-mo nightmare up to their chests in mud, or like a skating rink on grass land. Terriers look as though they'd be better off wearing flippers most of the time. Bit of bramble bashing is all I've really done, but at least the dogs are still able to have a bit of fun doing that.
  7. skycat
    A small amount of high fat/high carb/high protein will help a dog if it is out for many hours: something that won't sit heavy in their guts: I've used a small tin of mackerel in oil with a slice of brown bread in the past when out coursing all day. Seems to help: but just as important is to get a similar food into them as soon as they've stopped running for the day/night: once they've had a drink and stopped panting of course. Bad idea to let a dog drink a lot after eating when tired: likely to bring it all up again straight away. I always feed a small meal in the back of the van before we mak
  8. skycat
    Better still, catch it up and put it somewhere safe until it's owners are found.
  9. skycat
    I know what you mean Ideation: the English have a horrible reputation abroad, as well as at home: the drinking yourself senseless ethos that prevails nowadays is predominantly white and British. But WHY did it come about? That is the real question. I may not be right in saying this, but I get the general feeling that the British white natives, the ones that cause trouble, have nothing to feel proud of any more. Or is it just a case of a once great culture coming to its natural end? Maybe pushed faster into oblivion by the fact that what once formed the basis of our culture has been lost in t
  10. skycat
    There's another book called Watching the English, which is sometimes very funny, and very true, but times change things a lot, and people are definitely getting 'ruder' as you put it. There is no respect any more, especially in large towns and cities. I put this down to several things: the so-called multi-cultural society we live in, where a large percentage of the population in cities know nothing of traditional British manners. Also, the fact that so many people are just materialistic, with self-centred attitudes and a 'must have it now' attitude towards what they want. There's probably load
  11. skycat
    Good offer there. If everyone who wanted to get into hunting was able to find a good sensible mentor, there'd be a lot less idiots in the game and far fewer dogs passed around.
  12. skycat
    .... little did the intrepid gang know, but they were being stalked by a pack of unholy pigs (the four legged kind), bristling and huge they were, with tusks more suited to those of an elephant. "Oh-oh-oh" cried Baw. "They are the Hell Pigs from Rannoch, sworn to protect all that lives on the moor. We are undone!" "Your'e dead right your'e undone" replied Socks, looking hard at Baw's flies, where a morsel of pink flesh was showing between the teeth of the zip. "I'd get that wee man outa sight if I were you. I've heard those pigs are partial to a bit of tender meat from time to time". E
  13. skycat
    Spot on. All this talk of using force to make a ferret release a rabbit Never yet had a ferret that doesn't lose interest once it realises the rabbit is dead. Patience is something that seems to be lacking in the modern world: animals generally act and work better if their needs are understood and met.
  14. skycat
    OK Hound, just that to me it looks like you already have your sales pitch in order. But, like I said, time will tell. A few things confuse me though. You say they're rare. When I used to write to Henry a good bit I was of the impression that there were plenty of working Airedales in the states. You say they'll be the best HUNT terrier. What's wrong with the types used nowadays ? Also, are you trying to tell us you dig to them ?? I'd also find it hard to believe they're better in covert than a foxhound , but that's just my own opinion. Good luck with your new scheme. the only thing
  15. skycat
    OK Hound, just that to me it looks like you already have your sales pitch in order. But, like I said, time will tell. A few things confuse me though. You say they're rare. When I used to write to Henry a good bit I was of the impression that there were plenty of working Airedales in the states. You say they'll be the best HUNT terrier. What's wrong with the types used nowadays ? Also, are you trying to tell us you dig to them ?? I'd also find it hard to believe they're better in covert than a foxhound , but that's just my own opinion. Good luck with your new scheme. When you say pl
  16. skycat
    If you pm me I'm sure I can sort something out Based on the 'those that ask ...' lines.
  17. skycat
    I've found that by 'wedding' the pup to a dried rabbit skin through play at home, is a very good distraction technique when you need to get the pup's attention when out. Timing is everything: take the sheep for example .... the pup seeing the sheep legging it, wants to chase. You shout NO. LEAVE IT in a very loud and nasty voice, jerking on lead at same time, then straight away show him the rabbit skin, let him have a tug on it, praise him too, turn around and walk in opposite direction to sheep, letting pup hang on to rabbit skin. When pup is sniffing rabbit holes, call him with a command
  18. skycat
    God to see he's got a decent home: looks happy enough anyway. That must have been a bad break, looking at the big lump above the wrist.
  19. skycat
    She didn't know it as wrong, she lowered her head because of the tone of your voice being cross with her. It was your fault she had the accident inside because you didn't spend enough time outside with her. When outside, try running back and forth, encouraging the pup to chase you. Have a game, let her chase a toy on the end of a piece of string: get her rushing about. Then take a break: chances are she'll pee then. Pups often forget that they need to pee if they are interested in sniffing about or playing, but once they stop, they'll remember their bladder is full, and after playing they usu
  20. skycat
    They are not dumb at all, but if you look at their history and background, they've never evolved to work with humans and obey orders in the way a Collie does, for example. I always liken them more to a cat than a dog, and you need to get a really good bond with them if you are to succeed in working with them. They are some of the finest hunters, and their prey sense is superb. They are also as tough as they come, physically, and can often run on ground that would smash another type of dog to pieces. I've had Saluki lurchers be very good ferreting and lamping dogs, as well as the more usu
  21. skycat
    They are like that when they shut down mentally. Depressed and in pain as well. Sadly, I've had several dogs in the same mental (but not the physical) state as that come to me. It is pure joy to see the light come back in the eyes when they realise that they no longer have to fear people and that they'll never have to starve again.
  22. skycat
    Just ordered mine: phew! Finally sorted the OH's Christmas present Is the book actually out yet? If not, when can we expect it?
  23. skycat
    All dogs are not born equal: some will always be better than others, no matter how they've been entered, but the average pup can become good if it is lucky enough to have a really good owner/trainer who understands how to tap into what the dog already possesses. Unfortunately, most dogs belong to people who don't understand how to read a dog, and have no idea how to improve on what is already there, so they just muddle along and hope for the best. When the best doesn't happen they feel that the dog has let them down, and get shot of it. I know that everyone has to start from a place of ignoran
  24. skycat
    Why are so many people obsessing about catch rates? Sure, dogs need to catch, but unless you are coursing competitively or trying seriously trying to reduce rabbit numbers, isn't it more about the enjoyment of being out with a dog that is doing what a dog should be doing ... hunting. I get just as much satisfaction from watching my dogs working cover, a scent etc as I do when they catch: well almost! If I wanted to kill everything I saw I'd get a gun.
  25. skycat
    If a pup has got to 5 months old without ever learning to go outside to pee then it will be far more difficult to house train it: I don't think those training pads are much good as they get the pup into the habit of peeing in the house when it should be learning to go outside. If this were my pup I'd take a couple of weeks holiday and spend 24/7 with the pup, starting from scratch, treating it like an 8 week old pup that has come into the house for the first time. Getting into the right habit after being in the wrong habit will take some doing and it is only by making sure that the pup never
×
×
  • Create New...