HOW OLD

[Guest Pick&Shovell]

Just wondering how old some of you were when you first started working your terriers is anyone else brave enough to post any early photos they may have of themselves. I started a little time before this photo in which i am fifteen, actually starting at thirteen digging mainly urban Fox's.

[Squirrel_Basher 17,102]

Nice pic mate .I was lucky enough to start at about the same age as you but a bit before your time I think .The old boy at the end of our lane kept a kennel of russels and dug badger regular .This was before the badger laws were even thought of mind .Every Sunday I was picked up in an old van of some sort and off we went ,picking up a mate of his on the way.I was in charge of terriers for a season or 2,then I graduated to holding back a dog at the end of the dig while the quarry was despatched .Once I got thier trust I was allowed to have one of thier dogs ,a black throw back to something they outcrossed to ,a dog they said was unlucky?.I dug this bitch with them but was never allowed to break through ! ,It being the job for a skilled man I was told .The old man was a wiry fellow and dug with a purpose but not fast .The other chap was middle aged and fattish and soon got tired.I learnt to dig watching these pair and learnt to keep sides straight and tubes open .We never travelled far it seemed but never had a blank day .The funny thing about this pair was that if a fox was present it was cussed thoroughly as they said a fox ruined good badger dogs ?The old boy has recently passed on at god knows what age but I am greatful for the introduction .

[Ricky-N.p.p 0]

I'v been goin to digs since i was about 11 but dint start diggin on my own till i was about 15 !

[Guest oldskool]

went digging at the age of 12. at that time i didnt even know wat a terrier was even used for. a big lad tom henry came to knock on the door wanting to know could he dig foxes. i went after him and he made his way to the holes which he obviously had seen a time or two before lol. after a watching pantomine with him and his son argueing they eventually broke through and dug a dog fox and vicky. it was a hell of a wee terrier they had, i think he told me it was a wheaton/russell/lakey. il never forget the atmosphere of it,, after a year of begging my old man i eventually got a russell pup of my own. hunting has been like a drug ever since!!

[Guest Pick&Shovell]

Some good stories there fellas, its great to look back on times gone by when they bring back so many good memories.Looking back when i started digging we were at it every weekend and found most of the time such was the large number of Fox's in the towns, however that was well before mange decimated their numbers.

[ratkilla 42]

16 was my first time i dug a fox i didn't go out with the fella much but i was hooked, but i meet some great lads now who have been a god send helping me out getting hold of well bred dogs for me.

[Guest bone]

i was 14 ,in the days were you could dig almost anywere ,without plod being called when all you got was the fxxxk off treatment ,in the days were you could take a well used tyke to a WORKING TERRIER SHOW!!! and not bat an eyelid :thumbs-up:

[Stabs 3]

Can't remember how old I was but the dog I first saw being dug to was mentioned in this months EDRD (Peter Tulips article) called Jasper. That dog was a revelation to me. I must have been about 7 or 8 I suppose.

[Guest billy boy]

Dear pick and shovel,

Just replying to your particular question as to the regards of age when a certain person starts digging. For most of my life I have been surrounded by Terriers, just the Russell type Terrier. However, I Have seen some good coloured Terriers also. Bert Gripton , a good friend of mine told me a tale about his first dig.He was 8 years in age digging with a Russell type Terrier.Having entered the dog , the dog found the Fox and started to bay.Bert eventually broke through to the dog and fox.Due to to lack of knowledge the young Bert Gripton became afraid. Terrier popping out of hole, Fox running one way the terrier the other and a young Gripton the other way!

 

Best Regards.

Billy boy......

[pickaxe 23]

i was about 8 (1973)it was with my uncle, cousin and a old farmer called Mike Stacey a big wild hermit, nothing great about it just a a litter of clubs dug with a black tan and white russell crossbred, the next dig was to a badger with the same terrier only a little place,before the law where changed :whistle: carried on digging with him off on until the mid 90's .

Edited July 31, 2006 by pickaxe

[foxlamper 5]

i started [bANNED TEXT] i was 11 and i started digging on my own [bANNED TEXT] i was 14

[THE STIFFMEISTER 17,779]

FELLMAN IS 46 AND HAS NEVER BEEN DIGGING..

[chrissy 2]

I AM 16 NOW A DUG MY FIRST FOX WHEN A WAS ABOUT 10/11 WITH A OLD BORDER CALLED GYPSY

[liampatterdale 0]

hi im 16 now

and started digging last year

got a patterdale and i love it