some advice

[staffyspen 43]

just wondering if anyone has taken a lurcher on at an older age (12months +) with any success?

i ask as i have a few pieces of land to work (golf courses) which are very difficult to ferret and shooting isnt really an option as air rifle doesnt have the range!!

obviously good manners, recall, working at night and speed is a must, anything else?

a friend of mine on here has a cracker but he lives miles away to come over to "have a mooch"!!

 

thanks

[BEARINATOR 2,924]

Had a few in the past I've taken on when they have been 10 - 14 months old and nearly every one has been decent, good luck finding one

[ferretess 230]

I got mine off a guy on here, she was ment to be 18 months ( although I think she was maybe slightly older ) she turned out a good yin and settled in well with the other dogs after a few days

[Ideation 8,217]

If you drop lucky you will be ok, but most dogs are sold for a reason. Being honest though, if its just about dropping rabbit numbers quick, a dog isnt the answer, and if you want a dog as a ferreting and lamping buddy etc, then start from a pup.

 

P.S Why is air rifle not an option, a lamp at night, with an air rifle, on a golf buggy, will drop more bunnys than a dog on a golf course, they are a fecking nightmare to catch on with a dog, turbo charged rabbits and lots of hazards.

[the big chief 3,099]

i have a 4 year old bull x she is bang on but not all of them come good i had a 2 year old dhxgh and she didn't come good

[3175darren 1,102]

Be careful a lot of people will tell you how good a dog is,truth is do your home work on the previous owner,if you find one unspoilt then you will have no problems as such, A pup is better mind, you never know wether you are buying somone elses problem,if its local ask to see it run or work, you may be lucky and drop on a dog thats really worth buying,but any serious hunting man wont sell a good dog,

[staffyspen 43]

Was thinking, why would a person sell/rehome there hunting partner, I know that many wouldn't sell there best weapon but there must be many reasons why [bANNED TEXT] might have to!!

I don't have the option to use a golf buggy, so I can't do any drive by bunny shooting!!

The club don't want me to do any shooting!

Obviously it is to reduce the numbers but also to have a nights fun, keeping a dog sharp and fit.

I don't want to smash the world record in the amount of bunny taken in 1 night by 1 dog.

I know a pup would be an all round better choice, stock breaking from a young age but I'd also like to think I have explored all avenues before purchasing and training a pup.

 

Thanks all

[reddawn 2,173]

tried a couple a times an they all failed, best off way a pup imo, call me wierd but i wanna have my dogs from as early as possible

[trinder 127]

I got my dog at 13months old and he has come on realy well, he came from a bad pet home and all he has known since he came to me is work and he loves it , he doesnt switch off ever it can be quite embarassing when im walking the dog up the canal with my daughter and he pulls ducks out of hollows in the bank .

If the dog is unspoiled 100% then it can be a good worker but buying a dog thats been entered is a mine field cause as said you could be buying someone elses problem

[paulus 26]

if you intend to work golf courses regular you will be needing deep pockets, get an air rifle aswell for all the weeks the dogs in sick bay more hazzards on golf course than anywhere else. can you not sit up near a warren at dusk and shoot them that way

[Dan Outdoors 13]

Golf coarses ain't worth it with a dog, I've got permision on a 350 acre one, did it a few times last season, super fast rabbits n bunkers posts n trees to look out for and drop offs, did my dog no good at all so I gave it a miss entirely this season, get on the air rifle.. Maybe have a word with the green keeper n steer him in the direction that you would get best results from.. It's in there best interest to get the best method and results.. Thought about long netting on the right night myself..

[staffyspen 43]

Thanks for all the info lads,

Like to ask a lot of questions before I do anything,

Have a friend who give me sound advice but also like opinions from others!!

A dog is still on the cards as we have unused farm land we can use and for ferreting,

What type of dog x would be useful for this?

 

Thanks

[trinder 127]

Whippet or a whippet x would do the job for ferreting , if you wanted to lamp then id get something a bit taller like a collie/grey

Atb Trinder