Advice: One big one small?

[Ratreeper 441]

I will hopefully be getting two lurchers soon (which I think I have been saying for about 9 years) and wouldn't mind some advice to make sure my plan isn't silly.

 

I don't really have a specific cross in mind, I would rather just get a dog from a good line but for a while I have had an alaunt/grey (not too bulky) in mind so far, as my first dog. This would obviously just be for rabbits but I think it would be very useful in case the ban is lifted too. So it would be an all-rounder but mostly for pre-ban stuff hence sacrificing speed for strength.

 

I wouldn't get the second for a while, but I am thinking collie/grey x whippet or something like that. Possibly even a whip/bull or kelpie/greyxwhip etc but just something small, quick to turn and clever. I really want this dog as a ferreting companion but there are some big bunnies around so I would like it to at least scare them away with enthusiasm.

 

But how well do you think I could work them together as a team? Would I be better off just getting two Bull/grey X collie/grey and be done with it? I have it in my head the bigger dog will be strong enough to do the job single handed and then the little dog can fill the pot for me (although there is a good opportunity round here for the big dog to fill the freezer too ). But realistically I need them to work together so then I envisage the small dog zipping away after a big bunny and the big dog getting left behind and eventually losing his mojo. Then on the other hand I don't want a dainty little whippet type getting smashed up! (by rats).

 

Not much of a question here just looking for opinions, I am really bored....

[WILF 49,206]

My pal has two and was thinking very much along the lines of you BUT what he has found is that the little one is practically useless even for rabbits on some ground.........he would have been better sticking to one big dog that can do everything and working it more or having two big dogs if he really needed two.

 

I would say, a good big dog will do much more than a good little dog and you may as well give one dog all the work you can JMHO

[watchman 256]

My pal has two and was thinking very much along the lines of you BUT what he has found is that the little one is practically useless even for rabbits on some ground.........he would have been better sticking to one big dog that can do everything and working it more or having two big dogs if he really needed two.

 

I would say, a good big dog will do much more than a good little dog and you may as well give one dog all the work you can JMHO

iv planned for the future as it were and am going along the same lines although not the same types as ratreeper but totaly understand where your coming from,well put

[barry lurcher 27]

collie grey or beddie grey-whippet

[trenchfoot 4,243]

Stick with 1 dog at a time. Take your time training and entering it. Then once you know what its strengths and weaknesses are, you can go on to find the right partner to complete the team.

[NEWKID 28,136]

I got a 3/4 whip 1/4 beddy, for ferreting and lamping rabbits and she's doing fine, but if I'm honest I wish she was a bit bigger so I agree in principal with wilf. I'll be getting another lurcher once I'm happy she is performing as well as I can get her to, it's all coming together now so maybe next summer I'll get another pup in to work with her and my terrier in the day and lamp with.

I would say by the sounds of your post and what you want to do you wouldn't want to go too small, also definately 1 at a time get something that covers all bases and you may only want 1.

[TonyOrmy 128]

I got a 3/4 whip 1/4 beddy, for ferreting and lamping rabbits and she's doing fine, but if I'm honest I wish she was a bit bigger so I agree in principal with wilf. I'll be getting another lurcher once I'm happy she is performing as well as I can get her to, it's all coming together now so maybe next summer I'll get another pup in to work with her and my terrier in the day and lamp with.

I would say by the sounds of your post and what you want to do you wouldn't want to go too small, also definately 1 at a time get something that covers all bases and you may only want 1.

a lamping mate of mine has same cross as you mate just turnd 8 year old but one hell of a dog

[Ratreeper 441]

cheers for the replies.

 

I would be looking to get the larger dog first (possibly an older dog, 1-2 years old) and getting a decent season under my belt. I have been out quite a lot with other peoples dogs and borrowed them for the night but it isn't the same. I wouldn't be getting a second dog until I am confident the first dog is up to scratch and will teach the new dog (hopefully a pup) how to do it.

 

I would want the allrounder-type first as I like a bit of mooching about, but my opinion might change over time and I might decide to get a one-quarry dog (for bigger rabbits perhaps, I haven't really dabbled in that area to form a proper opinion). The quarry might change after I have been out a bit more so I want to leave my options open, as once I have bought a dog I will have it for life. 100% guaranteed.

[bird 10,014]

Stick with 1 dog at a time. Take your time training and entering it. Then once you know what its strengths and weaknesses are, you can go on to find the right partner to complete the team.

spot on, get 1 sorted 1st ,Regards what x go for lurcherto lurcher bred, maybe bit of collie in the mix or bit of bull either way a 1/4 is plenty of either.Just go for proven dogs that are working now, and 24-26in will be bang on for most quarry.

[Ratreeper 441]

My pal has two and was thinking very much along the lines of you BUT what he has found is that the little one is practically useless even for rabbits on some ground.........he would have been better sticking to one big dog that can do everything and working it more or having two big dogs if he really needed two.

 

I would say, a good big dog will do much more than a good little dog and you may as well give one dog all the work you can JMHO

 

That is good advice I would normally follow. I don't really need two dogs, it is more because I want two dogs to keep each other company and what I have in mind for the larger dog I wouldn't want to ask a smaller dog to do. So the bigger dog will need to be strong and probably not the quickest (turning), but that does ruin my ferreting/lamping plans a bit so that leads me back to two dogs again. I am just out to enjoy myself and not bothered about having the best of the best, I just don't want to try and knock a nail in with a kettle if I can get a hammer

[NEWKID 28,136]

I got a 3/4 whip 1/4 beddy, for ferreting and lamping rabbits and she's doing fine, but if I'm honest I wish she was a bit bigger so I agree in principal with wilf. I'll be getting another lurcher once I'm happy she is performing as well as I can get her to, it's all coming together now so maybe next summer I'll get another pup in to work with her and my terrier in the day and lamp with.

I would say by the sounds of your post and what you want to do you wouldn't want to go too small, also definately 1 at a time get something that covers all bases and you may only want 1.

a lamping mate of mine has same cross as you mate just turnd 8 year old but one hell of a dog

 

Mines still young mate around 15 mnths, but I'm really pleased so far, she's very steady and is coming on well on the lamp, runs the beam well and recall is really good, retrieve is a working project but we'll get there or there abouts ,

I'm sure she's gonna be a good alround rabbiting dog, she works with my terrier bushig and ferreting too.

Her downsides are she's a bit nervy especially around dogs she doesn't know, I don't know why as she was well socialised as a pup and I think another couple of inches would be handy for lamping especially.

Glad your mates dog has done well for him mate all the best Kev

[BROCK DOG 126]

I would say stick to just the one dog so u can put all your time into to it me personaly if I wanted a dog for all quarry I would go with a 1/4 bull 1/4 saluki 1/2 greyhound