Advice needed for Lurcher pup please...

[malc1 544]

was not on about survial rate was on about animals starting young and it does them no harm ie bone growth it allso makes them wise ie how maney people have taken an older dog out for the first time let it go on a rabbit and bang broken leg or smashed up in barbed wire or even worse dead a lot of dogs started young are more wise then older dogs

[Hannah4181 260]

I see where you are coming from on this completely. All my pups from 8 weeks have been raised in a free range, very rural setting. They are out and about in countryside all day, obviously the nature of the location means they are exposed to game every day from day one, it would be impossible not to let them living where i do. Rarely are they on leads, simply because they don't need to be, they follow me about, may see something and give chase, but then return and go to sleep in the yard. They come most places with me, as most my work revolves around rural settings, farms, stables etc, its just what they do. Stock breaking was always something that they just learnt, being around horses, sheep and cattle from the day i got them.

 

The lurcher i have now grew up in the same manor as you are describing, he was around the farm from the day i picked him up, never on a lead, mooching about with the older dogs wherever they went. He saw them kill rabbits most days around the farm, and whilst he was very interested in what they were doing, it was almost like he was de sensitised to it, seeing and scenting game every day IMO takes the fizz out of puppies. Whilst i never expected him to "work" whilst out around the farm, i also never discouraged him from taking an interest in what the older dogs were doing. I never allowed him to over exercise, he was never exposed to big long runs, but would spend most of his walk rooting about in the cover with the big dogs. He was out with hounds from 12 weeks, mooching round the yard, often following the terrier into the barn after rats, always interested but always steady.

 

The only time i ever put a restriction on him was when the older dogs clearly flushed something a little bigger and i felt the pup was in danger of giving chase . . . .. but again a quick whistle and he was back to heal.

 

At around 6 months he became a little over zealous, was more in control of his speed and MUCH more interested in the game, at around this time i stopped taking him out as much with the bigger dogs, we did lots of one to one training in the field and nailed his recall even further. In a matter of weeks he was back out with the pack and doing what came naturally.

 

Has it effected him in a negative light as an adult dog . . . my honest answer would be no. He has a phenomenal nose and will scent, flush and course his quarry unaided whilst we wander around, yet on the lamp he will retrieve back to hand and never hunts up. He is not a world beating, big bags every night lurcher, he's what i would describe as a steady, reliable, independent hunter, using his natural instincts to do what his breeding intended. He is physically strong and sound. Very clued up on his quarry, and aware of his surroundings, he knows the land he hunts inside out.

 

I am fully aware that its not everyones ideal way of raising a puppy, but i have always lived rurally and allowed my puppies to grow up in this way, never have they over done it, or been injured as youngsters. Maybe i've been lucky, but i would suspect that a lot of people don't allow dogs to be dogs when they are young, i have always found they know their limits and often as a young puppy the lurcher would be asleep in the yard and stay put whilst i took the big dogs around the fields.

 

As a mature 2 and half year old dog, i am more than pleased with how he's turned out, he knows there are times when its not fine for him to hunt up, and will always give me a look as we enter an open field to see if he gets the nod or not.

[Ideation 8,216]

was not on about survial rate was on about animals starting young and it does them no harm ie bone growth it allso makes them wise ie how maney people have taken an older dog out for the first time let it go on a rabbit and bang broken leg or smashed up in barbed wire or even worse dead a lot of dogs started young are more wise then older dogs

 

 

What i meant was - how do you know that it does no harm etc to bone growth? It's a survival of the fittest type thing and any young animals DO injure themselves when young and not survive - hence the high mortality rate of wild animals within the first year of life. A lurcher is not like this - we tend to like to ensure that the one we own makes it all of the way and are not so keen to subject it to survival of the fittest situations.

 

It's not about not doing anything with them when young - they should be out, just not put in situations where they are unlikely to come across things that they cannot handle due to their lack of physical and metal maturity.

 

Your right - a lot of dogs that are out and about when young do better than dogs that only get to the fields when older - but a lot of dogs that are 'started' on game young are shot before they get older.

 

I think its also different if you live in town - you take your dog for walks in a park etc so must make a decision to get it out into the kind of land you hunt at a certain age - even if just to have a mooch and learn. My pups from their first trip out of the house (i.e over the garden fence) are walking on land i hunt, and they will hunt as adults, but on these walks i guide them around areas where they are likely to come unstuck.

[feed the bear 13]

Nothing wrong with what your doing Buttermilk. Your only out a walk where there happens to be rabbits, not as if your taking the pup on a days hunting. Just watch the distance you walk as you probably already know.

[malc1 544]

all of our dogs have been bought up in the country side as we live rural the only one is our greyhound wich we had from the rescue my wife takes all 6 dogs out and she can get them all to stay behind her till she tells them to go and its done them all good starting them young

[malc1 544]

was not on about survial rate was on about animals starting young and it does them no harm ie bone growth it allso makes them wise ie how maney people have taken an older dog out for the first time let it go on a rabbit and bang broken leg or smashed up in barbed wire or even worse dead a lot of dogs started young are more wise then older dogs

 

 

What i meant was - how do you know that it does no harm etc to bone growth? It's a survival of the fittest type thing and any young animals DO injure themselves when young and not survive - hence the high mortality rate of wild animals within the first year of life. A lurcher is not like this - we tend to like to ensure that the one we own makes it all of the way and are not so keen to subject it to survival of the fittest situations.

 

It's not about not doing anything with them when young - they should be out, just not put in situations where they are unlikely to come across things that they cannot handle due to their lack of physical and metal maturity.i know a lot of dogs started young one being the mother of my dog and she is one of the best dogs ive seen and she is still going strong ive got a dog here that is about 10 he wasnt trained right and hes had accident after accident hes lernt more off my dog now and touch wood hes been accident free

 

Your right - a lot of dogs that are out and about when young do better than dogs that only get to the fields when older - but a lot of dogs that are 'started' on game young are shot before they get older.

 

I think its also different if you live in town - you take your dog for walks in a park etc so must make a decision to get it out into the kind of land you hunt at a certain age - even if just to have a mooch and learn. My pups from their first trip out of the house (i.e over the garden fence) are walking on land i hunt, and they will hunt as adults, but on these walks i guide them around areas where they are likely to come unstuck.

[jf1970 328]

i never have my dogs on the lead unless in town,never done them any harm,good thread buttermilk,but i think it a shame that you have to start defending your actions,cheers......john:thumbs:

[Guest Buttermilk]

i never have my dogs on the lead unless in town,never done them any harm,good thread buttermilk,but i think it a shame that you have to start defending your actions,cheers......john:thumbs:

 

 

Thanks John ...it is interesting isn't it...?

[Guest Buttermilk]

I see where you are coming from on this completely. All my pups from 8 weeks have been raised in a free range, very rural setting. They are out and about in countryside all day, obviously the nature of the location means they are exposed to game every day from day one, it would be impossible not to let them living where i do. Rarely are they on leads, simply because they don't need to be, they follow me about, may see something and give chase, but then return and go to sleep in the yard. They come most places with me, as most my work revolves around rural settings, farms, stables etc, its just what they do. Stock breaking was always something that they just learnt, being around horses, sheep and cattle from the day i got them.

 

The lurcher i have now grew up in the same manor as you are describing, he was around the farm from the day i picked him up, never on a lead, mooching about with the older dogs wherever they went. He saw them kill rabbits most days around the farm, and whilst he was very interested in what they were doing, it was almost like he was de sensitised to it, seeing and scenting game every day IMO takes the fizz out of puppies. Whilst i never expected him to "work" whilst out around the farm, i also never discouraged him from taking an interest in what the older dogs were doing. I never allowed him to over exercise, he was never exposed to big long runs, but would spend most of his walk rooting about in the cover with the big dogs. He was out with hounds from 12 weeks, mooching round the yard, often following the terrier into the barn after rats, always interested but always steady.

 

The only time i ever put a restriction on him was when the older dogs clearly flushed something a little bigger and i felt the pup was in danger of giving chase . . . .. but again a quick whistle and he was back to heal.

 

At around 6 months he became a little over zealous, was more in control of his speed and MUCH more interested in the game, at around this time i stopped taking him out as much with the bigger dogs, we did lots of one to one training in the field and nailed his recall even further. In a matter of weeks he was back out with the pack and doing what came naturally.

 

Has it effected him in a negative light as an adult dog . . . my honest answer would be no. He has a phenomenal nose and will scent, flush and course his quarry unaided whilst we wander around, yet on the lamp he will retrieve back to hand and never hunts up. He is not a world beating, big bags every night lurcher, he's what i would describe as a steady, reliable, independent hunter, using his natural instincts to do what his breeding intended. He is physically strong and sound. Very clued up on his quarry, and aware of his surroundings, he knows the land he hunts inside out.

 

I am fully aware that its not everyones ideal way of raising a puppy, but i have always lived rurally and allowed my puppies to grow up in this way, never have they over done it, or been injured as youngsters. Maybe i've been lucky, but i would suspect that a lot of people don't allow dogs to be dogs when they are young, i have always found they know their limits and often as a young puppy the lurcher would be asleep in the yard and stay put whilst i took the big dogs around the fields.

 

As a mature 2 and half year old dog, i am more than pleased with how he's turned out, he knows there are times when its not fine for him to hunt up, and will always give me a look as we enter an open field to see if he gets the nod or not.

 

 

That's such an informative post Hannah....and it sounds very much like your dogs are brought up similarly to mine. Thanks for responding...

[Hannah4181 260]

I see where you are coming from on this completely. All my pups from 8 weeks have been raised in a free range, very rural setting. They are out and about in countryside all day, obviously the nature of the location means they are exposed to game every day from day one, it would be impossible not to let them living where i do. Rarely are they on leads, simply because they don't need to be, they follow me about, may see something and give chase, but then return and go to sleep in the yard. They come most places with me, as most my work revolves around rural settings, farms, stables etc, its just what they do. Stock breaking was always something that they just learnt, being around horses, sheep and cattle from the day i got them.

 

The lurcher i have now grew up in the same manor as you are describing, he was around the farm from the day i picked him up, never on a lead, mooching about with the older dogs wherever they went. He saw them kill rabbits most days around the farm, and whilst he was very interested in what they were doing, it was almost like he was de sensitised to it, seeing and scenting game every day IMO takes the fizz out of puppies. Whilst i never expected him to "work" whilst out around the farm, i also never discouraged him from taking an interest in what the older dogs were doing. I never allowed him to over exercise, he was never exposed to big long runs, but would spend most of his walk rooting about in the cover with the big dogs. He was out with hounds from 12 weeks, mooching round the yard, often following the terrier into the barn after rats, always interested but always steady.

 

The only time i ever put a restriction on him was when the older dogs clearly flushed something a little bigger and i felt the pup was in danger of giving chase . . . .. but again a quick whistle and he was back to heal.

 

At around 6 months he became a little over zealous, was more in control of his speed and MUCH more interested in the game, at around this time i stopped taking him out as much with the bigger dogs, we did lots of one to one training in the field and nailed his recall even further. In a matter of weeks he was back out with the pack and doing what came naturally.

 

Has it effected him in a negative light as an adult dog . . . my honest answer would be no. He has a phenomenal nose and will scent, flush and course his quarry unaided whilst we wander around, yet on the lamp he will retrieve back to hand and never hunts up. He is not a world beating, big bags every night lurcher, he's what i would describe as a steady, reliable, independent hunter, using his natural instincts to do what his breeding intended. He is physically strong and sound. Very clued up on his quarry, and aware of his surroundings, he knows the land he hunts inside out.

 

I am fully aware that its not everyones ideal way of raising a puppy, but i have always lived rurally and allowed my puppies to grow up in this way, never have they over done it, or been injured as youngsters. Maybe i've been lucky, but i would suspect that a lot of people don't allow dogs to be dogs when they are young, i have always found they know their limits and often as a young puppy the lurcher would be asleep in the yard and stay put whilst i took the big dogs around the fields.

 

As a mature 2 and half year old dog, i am more than pleased with how he's turned out, he knows there are times when its not fine for him to hunt up, and will always give me a look as we enter an open field to see if he gets the nod or not.

 

 

That's such an informative post Hannah....and it sounds very much like your dogs are brought up similarly to mine. Thanks for responding...

 

 

Its a topic that i find really interesting, i was knocked by lurcher guys a lot when the pup was young, all telling me by allowing him to hunt up i'd get him into bad habits, but as you stated earlier there is a massive difference between a dog that has been brought up roaming and a dog that has been kenneled and taken for walks, in their attitude to game. I'm not stated either way is the better way, just i favour the free range lifestyle.

[malc1 544]

I see where you are coming from on this completely. All my pups from 8 weeks have been raised in a free range, very rural setting. They are out and about in countryside all day, obviously the nature of the location means they are exposed to game every day from day one, it would be impossible not to let them living where i do. Rarely are they on leads, simply because they don't need to be, they follow me about, may see something and give chase, but then return and go to sleep in the yard. They come most places with me, as most my work revolves around rural settings, farms, stables etc, its just what they do. Stock breaking was always something that they just learnt, being around horses, sheep and cattle from the day i got them.

 

The lurcher i have now grew up in the same manor as you are describing, he was around the farm from the day i picked him up, never on a lead, mooching about with the older dogs wherever they went. He saw them kill rabbits most days around the farm, and whilst he was very interested in what they were doing, it was almost like he was de sensitised to it, seeing and scenting game every day IMO takes the fizz out of puppies. Whilst i never expected him to "work" whilst out around the farm, i also never discouraged him from taking an interest in what the older dogs were doing. I never allowed him to over exercise, he was never exposed to big long runs, but would spend most of his walk rooting about in the cover with the big dogs. He was out with hounds from 12 weeks, mooching round the yard, often following the terrier into the barn after rats, always interested but always steady.

 

The only time i ever put a restriction on him was when the older dogs clearly flushed something a little bigger and i felt the pup was in danger of giving chase . . . .. but again a quick whistle and he was back to heal.

 

At around 6 months he became a little over zealous, was more in control of his speed and MUCH more interested in the game, at around this time i stopped taking him out as much with the bigger dogs, we did lots of one to one training in the field and nailed his recall even further. In a matter of weeks he was back out with the pack and doing what came naturally.

 

Has it effected him in a negative light as an adult dog . . . my honest answer would be no. He has a phenomenal nose and will scent, flush and course his quarry unaided whilst we wander around, yet on the lamp he will retrieve back to hand and never hunts up. He is not a world beating, big bags every night lurcher, he's what i would describe as a steady, reliable, independent hunter, using his natural instincts to do what his breeding intended. He is physically strong and sound. Very clued up on his quarry, and aware of his surroundings, he knows the land he hunts inside out.

 

I am fully aware that its not everyones ideal way of raising a puppy, but i have always lived rurally and allowed my puppies to grow up in this way, never have they over done it, or been injured as youngsters. Maybe i've been lucky, but i would suspect that a lot of people don't allow dogs to be dogs when they are young, i have always found they know their limits and often as a young puppy the lurcher would be asleep in the yard and stay put whilst i took the big dogs around the fields.

 

As a mature 2 and half year old dog, i am more than pleased with how he's turned out, he knows there are times when its not fine for him to hunt up, and will always give me a look as we enter an open field to see if he gets the nod or not.

 

 

That's such an informative post Hannah....and it sounds very much like your dogs are brought up similarly to mine. Thanks for responding...

 

 

Its a topic that i find really interesting, i was knocked by lurcher guys a lot when the pup was young, all telling me by allowing him to hunt up i'd get him into bad habits, but as you stated earlier there is a massive difference between a dog that has been brought up roaming and a dog that has been kenneled and taken for walks, in their attitude to game. I'm not stated either way is the better way, just i favour the free range lifestyle.

i agree all our dogs have been bought up round sheep horses cattle and they all live in doors they are spoilt rotten

[Guest Buttermilk]

I see where you are coming from on this completely. All my pups from 8 weeks have been raised in a free range, very rural setting. They are out and about in countryside all day, obviously the nature of the location means they are exposed to game every day from day one, it would be impossible not to let them living where i do. Rarely are they on leads, simply because they don't need to be, they follow me about, may see something and give chase, but then return and go to sleep in the yard. They come most places with me, as most my work revolves around rural settings, farms, stables etc, its just what they do. Stock breaking was always something that they just learnt, being around horses, sheep and cattle from the day i got them.

 

The lurcher i have now grew up in the same manor as you are describing, he was around the farm from the day i picked him up, never on a lead, mooching about with the older dogs wherever they went. He saw them kill rabbits most days around the farm, and whilst he was very interested in what they were doing, it was almost like he was de sensitised to it, seeing and scenting game every day IMO takes the fizz out of puppies. Whilst i never expected him to "work" whilst out around the farm, i also never discouraged him from taking an interest in what the older dogs were doing. I never allowed him to over exercise, he was never exposed to big long runs, but would spend most of his walk rooting about in the cover with the big dogs. He was out with hounds from 12 weeks, mooching round the yard, often following the terrier into the barn after rats, always interested but always steady.

 

The only time i ever put a restriction on him was when the older dogs clearly flushed something a little bigger and i felt the pup was in danger of giving chase . . . .. but again a quick whistle and he was back to heal.

 

At around 6 months he became a little over zealous, was more in control of his speed and MUCH more interested in the game, at around this time i stopped taking him out as much with the bigger dogs, we did lots of one to one training in the field and nailed his recall even further. In a matter of weeks he was back out with the pack and doing what came naturally.

 

Has it effected him in a negative light as an adult dog . . . my honest answer would be no. He has a phenomenal nose and will scent, flush and course his quarry unaided whilst we wander around, yet on the lamp he will retrieve back to hand and never hunts up. He is not a world beating, big bags every night lurcher, he's what i would describe as a steady, reliable, independent hunter, using his natural instincts to do what his breeding intended. He is physically strong and sound. Very clued up on his quarry, and aware of his surroundings, he knows the land he hunts inside out.

 

I am fully aware that its not everyones ideal way of raising a puppy, but i have always lived rurally and allowed my puppies to grow up in this way, never have they over done it, or been injured as youngsters. Maybe i've been lucky, but i would suspect that a lot of people don't allow dogs to be dogs when they are young, i have always found they know their limits and often as a young puppy the lurcher would be asleep in the yard and stay put whilst i took the big dogs around the fields.

 

As a mature 2 and half year old dog, i am more than pleased with how he's turned out, he knows there are times when its not fine for him to hunt up, and will always give me a look as we enter an open field to see if he gets the nod or not.

 

 

That's such an informative post Hannah....and it sounds very much like your dogs are brought up similarly to mine. Thanks for responding...

 

 

Its a topic that i find really interesting, i was knocked by lurcher guys a lot when the pup was young, all telling me by allowing him to hunt up i'd get him into bad habits, but as you stated earlier there is a massive difference between a dog that has been brought up roaming and a dog that has been kenneled and taken for walks, in their attitude to game. I'm not stated either way is the better way, just i favour the free range lifestyle.

 

 

I know exactly what you mean.

My ex-husband is well known and respected in working dog circles and when we got married, he was totally against my way of bringing up pups. We had quite a few rows.

Anyhow...to cut a long story short, 20 years later, he tells anyone who'll listen that my way is best and infact, in his opinion, makes them better workers.

Now I'm going to sit back and wait for them all to rip me to shreds!!

[feed the bear 13]

I see where you are coming from on this completely. All my pups from 8 weeks have been raised in a free range, very rural setting. They are out and about in countryside all day, obviously the nature of the location means they are exposed to game every day from day one, it would be impossible not to let them living where i do. Rarely are they on leads, simply because they don't need to be, they follow me about, may see something and give chase, but then return and go to sleep in the yard. They come most places with me, as most my work revolves around rural settings, farms, stables etc, its just what they do. Stock breaking was always something that they just learnt, being around horses, sheep and cattle from the day i got them.

 

The lurcher i have now grew up in the same manor as you are describing, he was around the farm from the day i picked him up, never on a lead, mooching about with the older dogs wherever they went. He saw them kill rabbits most days around the farm, and whilst he was very interested in what they were doing, it was almost like he was de sensitised to it, seeing and scenting game every day IMO takes the fizz out of puppies. Whilst i never expected him to "work" whilst out around the farm, i also never discouraged him from taking an interest in what the older dogs were doing. I never allowed him to over exercise, he was never exposed to big long runs, but would spend most of his walk rooting about in the cover with the big dogs. He was out with hounds from 12 weeks, mooching round the yard, often following the terrier into the barn after rats, always interested but always steady.

 

The only time i ever put a restriction on him was when the older dogs clearly flushed something a little bigger and i felt the pup was in danger of giving chase . . . .. but again a quick whistle and he was back to heal.

 

At around 6 months he became a little over zealous, was more in control of his speed and MUCH more interested in the game, at around this time i stopped taking him out as much with the bigger dogs, we did lots of one to one training in the field and nailed his recall even further. In a matter of weeks he was back out with the pack and doing what came naturally.

 

Has it effected him in a negative light as an adult dog . . . my honest answer would be no. He has a phenomenal nose and will scent, flush and course his quarry unaided whilst we wander around, yet on the lamp he will retrieve back to hand and never hunts up. He is not a world beating, big bags every night lurcher, he's what i would describe as a steady, reliable, independent hunter, using his natural instincts to do what his breeding intended. He is physically strong and sound. Very clued up on his quarry, and aware of his surroundings, he knows the land he hunts inside out.

 

I am fully aware that its not everyones ideal way of raising a puppy, but i have always lived rurally and allowed my puppies to grow up in this way, never have they over done it, or been injured as youngsters. Maybe i've been lucky, but i would suspect that a lot of people don't allow dogs to be dogs when they are young, i have always found they know their limits and often as a young puppy the lurcher would be asleep in the yard and stay put whilst i took the big dogs around the fields.

 

As a mature 2 and half year old dog, i am more than pleased with how he's turned out, he knows there are times when its not fine for him to hunt up, and will always give me a look as we enter an open field to see if he gets the nod or not.

 

 

That's such an informative post Hannah....and it sounds very much like your dogs are brought up similarly to mine. Thanks for responding...

 

 

Its a topic that i find really interesting, i was knocked by lurcher guys a lot when the pup was young, all telling me by allowing him to hunt up i'd get him into bad habits, but as you stated earlier there is a massive difference between a dog that has been brought up roaming and a dog that has been kenneled and taken for walks, in their attitude to game. I'm not stated either way is the better way, just i favour the free range lifestyle.

 

 

I know exactly what you mean.

My ex-husband is well known and respected in working dog circles and when we got married, he was totally against my way of bringing up pups. We had quite a few rows.

Anyhow...to cut a long story short, 20 years later, he tells anyone who'll listen that my way is best and infact, in his opinion, makes them better workers.

Now I'm going to sit back and wait for them all to rip me to shreds!!

 

LOL, must be a wumin thing............

[Ideation 8,216]

i never have my dogs on the lead unless in town,never done them any harm,good thread buttermilk,but i think it a shame that you have to start defending your actions,cheers......john:thumbs:

 

 

Thanks John ...it is interesting isn't it...?

 

Yes my darling its interesting. . . . . .. that you asked for advice. . . . .. . got a range of responses, all civil and all offering advice. . . . . . . .. and because it does not support what you do entirely, you take it as having to 'defend' yourself. Lets be honest, you did not want advice, you wanted confirmation that what you were doing was ok/right, which you already believe and have 'defended' against all other advice and opinions.

[Ideation 8,216]

I see where you are coming from on this completely. All my pups from 8 weeks have been raised in a free range, very rural setting. They are out and about in countryside all day, obviously the nature of the location means they are exposed to game every day from day one, it would be impossible not to let them living where i do. Rarely are they on leads, simply because they don't need to be, they follow me about, may see something and give chase, but then return and go to sleep in the yard. They come most places with me, as most my work revolves around rural settings, farms, stables etc, its just what they do. Stock breaking was always something that they just learnt, being around horses, sheep and cattle from the day i got them.

 

The lurcher i have now grew up in the same manor as you are describing, he was around the farm from the day i picked him up, never on a lead, mooching about with the older dogs wherever they went. He saw them kill rabbits most days around the farm, and whilst he was very interested in what they were doing, it was almost like he was de sensitised to it, seeing and scenting game every day IMO takes the fizz out of puppies. Whilst i never expected him to "work" whilst out around the farm, i also never discouraged him from taking an interest in what the older dogs were doing. I never allowed him to over exercise, he was never exposed to big long runs, but would spend most of his walk rooting about in the cover with the big dogs. He was out with hounds from 12 weeks, mooching round the yard, often following the terrier into the barn after rats, always interested but always steady.

 

The only time i ever put a restriction on him was when the older dogs clearly flushed something a little bigger and i felt the pup was in danger of giving chase . . . .. but again a quick whistle and he was back to heal.

 

At around 6 months he became a little over zealous, was more in control of his speed and MUCH more interested in the game, at around this time i stopped taking him out as much with the bigger dogs, we did lots of one to one training in the field and nailed his recall even further. In a matter of weeks he was back out with the pack and doing what came naturally.

 

Has it effected him in a negative light as an adult dog . . . my honest answer would be no. He has a phenomenal nose and will scent, flush and course his quarry unaided whilst we wander around, yet on the lamp he will retrieve back to hand and never hunts up. He is not a world beating, big bags every night lurcher, he's what i would describe as a steady, reliable, independent hunter, using his natural instincts to do what his breeding intended. He is physically strong and sound. Very clued up on his quarry, and aware of his surroundings, he knows the land he hunts inside out.

 

I am fully aware that its not everyones ideal way of raising a puppy, but i have always lived rurally and allowed my puppies to grow up in this way, never have they over done it, or been injured as youngsters. Maybe i've been lucky, but i would suspect that a lot of people don't allow dogs to be dogs when they are young, i have always found they know their limits and often as a young puppy the lurcher would be asleep in the yard and stay put whilst i took the big dogs around the fields.

 

As a mature 2 and half year old dog, i am more than pleased with how he's turned out, he knows there are times when its not fine for him to hunt up, and will always give me a look as we enter an open field to see if he gets the nod or not.

 

 

That's such an informative post Hannah....and it sounds very much like your dogs are brought up similarly to mine. Thanks for responding...

 

 

Its a topic that i find really interesting, i was knocked by lurcher guys a lot when the pup was young, all telling me by allowing him to hunt up i'd get him into bad habits, but as you stated earlier there is a massive difference between a dog that has been brought up roaming and a dog that has been kenneled and taken for walks, in their attitude to game. I'm not stated either way is the better way, just i favour the free range lifestyle.

 

 

I know exactly what you mean.

My ex-husband is well known and respected in working dog circles and when we got married, he was totally against my way of bringing up pups. We had quite a few rows.

Anyhow...to cut a long story short, 20 years later, he tells anyone who'll listen that my way is best and infact, in his opinion, makes them better workers.

Now I'm going to sit back and wait for them all to rip me to shreds!!

 

Haha. . . . so you did come on here already thinking your method is 'the best and makes better workers'. . . . . . . . .