Confidence???

[cymruguy69 5]

As some of you know I had some trouble with my bitch 2 months back where she opened up! So Iv'e held her back until last night I felt she was ready for another crack. She has calmed down a fair bit she listens much better her recall is spot on in the day and she used to yap chasing the terrier but thats stopped now! she is also nearly 13 months old.

 

I was full of confidence I was ready to take her out last night for a slip. I arrived at my permision to find that as soon as I flicked the lamp on the rabbits were very lamp shy. considering I havn't been up there this year this is strange

 

I spotted a rabbit down the lamp a nice bunny just sitting there so I got closer to give the pup her best chance and the rabbit sensed something and up it got at half pace I slipped the pup and off she went like a cruise missile. the rabbit sensed pursuit and crashed the cover quicker than Iv'e ever seen before. flash had a little sniff then came back.

 

I thought one more so I walked down through the fields and came accross another rabbit squating close to a tree I crept up on it and the rabbit took off 10 yards from me I slipped the dog she got up on it but didnt manage to turn it before the rabbit hit cover once again. little did I know that the rabbits home was very close in a nearby bush. A new bury this season.

 

I decided to call it a night, but now I'm worried that her confidence might of dropped and this could cause me a fair few problems in the future.

 

Does anybody else think that this little mishap could cause my pup into frustrating yaps again. she didnt open up on the last two rabbits but she didnt manage to turn them as they hit cover so quickly.

 

Thanks

 

Cymru

[wilba1985 0]

only time will tell on this 1 i wouldn't excpect a dog to get dishaertend after 2 runs imo. but if you think that she will the only thing i would do is wait till you can get right up on the bunny before you slip her. Let the dog do the rest she will soon enough realise that she got to force a turn or the rabbits gunna get away you will be surprised how soon a young dog will pic this up. when i took my pup out last week for the first time he didnt have a clue what he was doing he chased a few and that was that. the second time he was a totaly diffirent dog who realised what he had to do and caught the rabbit. so don't let yourself get dishaertened she's only a young dog learning the ropes so keep at it and she should prove you wrong.

[cymruguy69 5]

I hope she does Wilba I hope she does. The weird thing is she's caught 3 rabbits in 3 slips all on diffrent days. Then she decided to open up on her fourth slip thats why I held her back thinking she's to young. Iv'e never been out with her and missed two rabbit's in one night. That's why I'm concerned.

[Leon 0]

Missed two bunnies in a night, don't worry about it if at the thirteen months your bitch catches half of what you run her on she's doing well. Two misses don't stress over that...