Blaise 2,253 Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 12 inches isn't so small for a working terrier. I have 8 working dogs in the kennel, 4 under 12 inches.The bitch below's less than 10, under 4,5 kg. Very usefull on badgers.But I use stronger dogs too, under 15 inches. They are slower in the tunnel but they can easily be dominant with badgers.My rule :Little badgers, little dogs because young badgers can be faster than dogs. In sand, little dogs because the dogs have to join the badger quickly and closer otherwise badger will dig.Strong badgers, stronger dogs. In hard grounds, stronger dogs because the work is longer and dogs has to wait for a long time with his prey. 12 Quote Link to post
pengelli 365 Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 had a russell bitch back in the early eighties could dig anythin with her she was only ten inches at most but had a bay like a mastiff and would stay all day wish i still had her now 2 Quote Link to post
CBdogsA1 420 Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 1 Russell at 9" 1 Russell at 11" 1 Russell x Border 11" 1 Pat 10" 1 Pat 12" Any bigger no good to me here. 1 Quote Link to post
Flacko 1,732 Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Well cleanspade have you found any think we had a chat about this before I can't find 1 out of working stuff this way on ?? Let me know if you have better luck. 1 Quote Link to post
Tracy Priestnall 83 Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 nuttalls strain does throw some small 9-10 inch terriers, his terriers of 11-12 inch were not considered small back in the 70s-early 80s. read plummers fell terrier, most of the out an out foxing men thought 11-12-13 inch was ideal size. they told us big terriers were needed to follow hounds, they told us beddys had to be big to catch rabbits, they told us that lakelands needed to be big to work rock-piles what they seldom tell us is the main reason for breeding big terriers is because it is vary easy to breed big, good looking terriers and vary hard to breed good quality small terriers. check the smaller bull headed smooth coated patterdale of the early 80s...they quickly became the taller, bigger bull headed smooth coated patterdale. now most are the lighter, taller black rough coated patterdales, the black uns! is this a naturel swing towards the lakeland type or are breeders having trouble maintaining the harder to bred smaller type? border terriers are getting taller, parson Russell are getting taller, plummer terriers are getting taller, ...why? because big smart looking terrier are easy to breed...its that simple. hats off to Brian nuttall for maintaing a good strain of smaller terrier, well made dogs, lumps for their size, straight legs, dropped ears, substance. best small terrier ive seen in years was a 11 inch russell bitch bred by parkin, also seen two russells-parkin bred- on front cover of e d r d magazine...but i dont know who parkin is? 3 Quote Link to post
Bosun11 537 Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Good post Tracy , I'd agree with you on why we see bigger terriers these days. The only Parkin I know is Walter Parkin and he's long gone. Quote Link to post
Blaise 2,253 Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 nuttalls strain does throw some small 9-10 inch terriers, his terriers of 11-12 inch were not considered small back in the 70s-early 80s. read plummers fell terrier, most of the out an out foxing men thought 11-12-13 inch was ideal size. they told us big terriers were needed to follow hounds, they told us beddys had to be big to catch rabbits, they told us that lakelands needed to be big to work rock-piles what they seldom tell us is the main reason for breeding big terriers is because it is vary easy to breed big, good looking terriers and vary hard to breed good quality small terriers. check the smaller bull headed smooth coated patterdale of the early 80s...they quickly became the taller, bigger bull headed smooth coated patterdale. now most are the lighter, taller black rough coated patterdales, the black uns! is this a naturel swing towards the lakeland type or are breeders having trouble maintaining the harder to bred smaller type? border terriers are getting taller, parson Russell are getting taller, plummer terriers are getting taller, ...why? because big smart looking terrier are easy to breed...its that simple. hats off to Brian nuttall for maintaing a good strain of smaller terrier, well made dogs, lumps for their size, straight legs, dropped ears, substance. best small terrier ive seen in years was a 11 inch russell bitch bred by parkin, also seen two russells-parkin bred- on front cover of e d r d magazine...but i dont know who parkin is? I'm agree, it's may be easier to breed taller than smaller. And when the breeders don't work to earth, dogs become taller (Excepted some breed like Yorshire, pinscher...). But if some lads like working taller dogs, it isn't just a matter of easier good looking. Here in France, if you have to hunt badger in deep and hard soil, a strong dog is better because he must stay with the animal during a long time. On the other hand, I don't think the height is the first criteria. Concerning working dog, my favorite criteria : 1) mental 2) barking (we hunt without collar and we don't need biting dogs) 3) chest diameter 4) height at withers. We could speak of "density", an indefinable notion, mixing mental and physical criteria. So I known a lot of brilliant working dogs on badger with 15 inches. 2 Quote Link to post
Cleanspade 3,322 Posted September 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 more than likely s parkin. ive had a few of his terriers. they have all been decent enough fox dogs. but they dont all come small. . i agree that breeding smaller workers is difficult. and a lot of big terriers that are raved about are just bullies that get found out once they are up against it. or when you breed down in size the offspring arnt up to the standard of the stronger sort. . but it has to be remembered that weak terriers are not generally up to much either. shouldnt we be breeding for something inbetween the two. and passing on the smaller or oversized to folk that they suit. breeding for extremes is never a good idea. flacko i gave up long ago. i have a very nice plummer that is just under twelve inch though. and a couple of russells of average size. Quote Link to post
Cleanspade 3,322 Posted September 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Well cleanspade have you found any think we had a chat about this before I can't find 1 out of working stuff this way on ?? Let me know if you have better luck. ive spoke with a few folk about this. and none of them has found anything suitable mate. Quote Link to post
Flacko 1,732 Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Well cleanspade never give up we know what we like and as they say what goes around comes around atb Flacko and if you breed any thing give me a shout Quote Link to post
AXUM 255 Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 ive seen a few about but like the smooth russells there aint many decent lines. breeding for this quality. what can a big terrier do that a good little un cant . lie up for weeks re covering lollol Quote Link to post
leethedog 3,071 Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 (edited) Good dog good bone good coat no nackers 9 1/2 Edited January 10, 2015 by leethedog Quote Link to post
leethedog 3,071 Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 Good dog good bone 11 ttw 4 Quote Link to post
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