Ratting with lurchers?

[Thieving Mac 1]

i wasnt sure it was possible but iv been watching various ratting videos on the enternet and theres always a lurcher having a go. the rabbiting around me is very scarce and i have had ratting permission before with air rifles and i could get more very easily. id love to get the dog out more working so i was wanting to know if there was any pros or cons to it? or even better if any one on her does any some pics of the work or even there dogs.

[GrCh 856]

I'm taking my young half cross ratting tonight with the terriers lol.

[jcm 2,327]

there was a post on here a while back about whippets ratting and im sure he had a good night with them and famer was happy

[Thieving Mac 1]

It just sounds a good idea for me the more work and time I can spend with the dog the better he loves killing squirrels so a rats no problem. I'm going to ask about this weekend, the dogs injured at the minute so perfect time to seek some permision.

[SKA 18]

Only downside is makes lurchers hard mouthed, but if there are killing squirrels allready it make any difference

[Thieving Mac 1]

That's what I was worried about he's only had the odd rabbit because there's very few about I might hang on untill he's had a good number of rabbits first then he might know the differance

[fitchet 788]

I use mine for a fair bit off ratting and squrrieling it doesnt make them hard mouthed at allas the dogs know whats what. i have permission on a pig farm and even when we are ferreting for rabbits you normally get some rats bolt aswell. ATB

[SKA 18]

I had a whippet type bitch 20 yrs ago only used her for rabbits very soft mouthed never killed a single rabbit for about 2 years until she caught a squirrel In between 2 woods she dropped it first time then picked up second time and killed it after that she killed everything she caught

[fitchet 788]

SKA as i said it doesnt make mine hard mouthed the will ritrieve rabbits live to hand but rats and squrriels are shaken and crunched hard. All depends on the dog i suppose. When we are at the pig farm my dogs cuaght rats and killed then but when a bunny bolts into the net they are as soft mouthed as ever. ATB

[Chid 6,809]

Only downside is makes lurchers hard mouthed, but if there are killing squirrels allready it make any difference

dogs know the differance... my dog will kill foxes (legal here in NI) and rats yet bring rabbits live to hand with out any damage to them ...

[Ideation 8,217]

The only down side i can think of is the combination of very quick acceleration and the usual bits of old machinery, ragged metal, wire etc, you find around the places you can go ratting! Other than that . . . . . fill your boots!

[fitchet 788]

The only down side i can think of is the combination of very quick acceleration and the usual bits of old machinery, ragged metal, wire etc, you find around the places you can go ratting! Other than that . . . . . fill your boots!

 

Thats our normal suroundings when we are ferreting ! I allways find it helps if you can block off likley escape roots aswell.

[rogue with a running dog 22]

both my lurchers are pukka ratters and will bring rabbits back live to hand

[DOGGINLAD 538]

Seen lurchers ratting loads of times.. some of them are actually quiet good...

here is a pic from a day at the rats, with a big team of us, as you can see

there are 2 lurchers in the pic there was actually another 2 lurchers there on

the day.. i think one was a collie x and its one of the best ratting dogs i had

seen....

think we had just over 450 rats

 

...

[morton 5,369]

The lurchers that ive used at rat tended to bite harder on other things,handy at times but bunny,s were wrecked and dripping.