Squatters?

[krawnden 1,036]

My previous lurchers have never really cottoned onto picking up squatters on the beam. But my current youngster knows full well what they are and is trying his hardest to catch them but hasn't managed any yet. He runs at them full pelt and just as he's about to strike they take off. So because of his momentum at that moment of committment he then has a lot of ground to make up by the time he's turned and got going again. If he ran out a bit slower and more controlled I think he'd be more likely to take them. And if they start to run before he gets to them he's nowhere near as likely to be wrong footed from the off.

 

Do you guys whose dogs regularly pick up squatters find success comes from a slower, more controlled run up? Do dogs that scream out full pelt manage to nail 'em that way? Or do they learn that they need to tone it down a bit on the run up?

 

I was out with him last night and out of 8 runs we had 3 squatters, all 3 of which he charged up to at full speed. All 3 he nearly had but at the very last split second they bolted at a sharp angle, so he had a lot to make up. (Mind you, he ended the night on 3 so I was still really pleased. One of them was an absolutely stonking run.)

 

Going out again tonight, so we'll see if things are any different...

[young man 225]

Try walking him up on the sqatters untill they rise then slip but if your lampin from the road id say he will learn from his mistakes

[socks 32,253]

The best results from squatters are from a controlled run ... The dog gets down to the squatter fairly rapidly but then eases up ready for the strike ... You can plainly se it as they are up on their toes when they get about 2 to 3 meters out ready to strike in whichever direction the rabbit moves ... I am sure the youngster will soon suss this out .......

[boyo 1,398]

Hopefully you've left some for tonite bud? Looking forward to seeing you later & getting dogs out tonite. Cheers Dunc

[Allan P 1,150]

I never walk the dog up to squatters just slip him. Yes he walked over some and didn't even see some at all. But now he will stalk up to them and picks them up before they run for it or waits until they move. He knows now if the beam is on there's something at the end of it but be prepared to get seriously pissed off.

[bird 10,013]

well got 2 dogs take them different, my older dog slows down the last yard ,and try's to suss which way there going to run,so most times they will get up+run from couple feet away, so as to still catch them in field or edge.My young dog will take them right out full speed, a lot of the times hits the rabbit that fast goes arse over tit lol, but very impressive to see and the rabbit been took as squatter ,not normal run up, I know what I prefer

[Qbgrey 4,187]

Mine do a controlled trot up and bang.

[pigeonphill 69]

Mine do a controlled trot up and bang.

you mean to say your dog actually shots the rabbit

[morton 5,368]

Ive had dogs that rushed,walked and slunk down the beam,that all managed to pick up squatters,i prefer a dog that as a steady attitude in the lamp,something that many of them cotton on to with experience,i tend to find the time when the squatters make the sudden leap from their seat are caused by the dog breaking the beam just before they strike.I tend to walk up to squatters until these dogs settle down a touch.

[Qbgrey 4,187]

 

Mine do a controlled trot up and bang.

you mean to say your dog actually shots the rabbit

 

yup,got this one trained up a treat

Edited November 21, 2014 by Qbgrey

[BIGLURKS 874]

Experience will change a dog in how it will run you may find in a year or 2 it may be completely diffrent I know the dog I've got the now in he's first season it was all speed anything that moved it was a straight shot too were it was at the time but he struggled with squatters it wasn't until he's 3rd season I seen a completely diffrent dog in the way he runs now I find now with squatters he runs but slows right down before getting to the rabbit and won't make a move till he sees them get of there seat so he can judge what way there going kind of funny thing is he won't pick them up out there seat he has too wait for them too run or too move before a strike as when he was younger he would try and grab and flip them then catch on the downfall even now if a rabbit has alrdy taken off he won't do a straight missile for them like he used too instead he will try and cut them off for the bracken that there heading for and still to this day will surprise me in the way he will put pressure on at the last minute just before they get too home and push them out but catch them on there second attemp too head for home dogs can change from season too season they just learn from doing keep trying and getting out the dog will learn

[wild rover 548]

Young dogs until they gain experience tend to fly down the beam, some never stop others adopt their own strike, they fathom out whats best for them, some never learn, difference in dogs, some dont think for themselves, talking of taking squatters and learning dogs to lamp, I have used this method for a few years and never had a dog that didnt take squatters, have a read see what you think.

 

STARTING_A_LAMPING_PUP.doc

[krawnden 1,036]

Thanks for all the comments. Will see how things progress...