Cade Pocock 1 Posted December 16, 2014 Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 I have a 1/2 Border Collie, 1/4 Catahoula, and 1/4 Pharaoh Hound lurcher named Carl. His father was hunted on hogs, and his mother was just a border collie without any significant hunting ability. I also hunt with a mink, and he has been incorporated into that. I originally only planned on using him for rats and rabbits with my mink, as well as a bay dog to work with a terrier. Since I got him at 5 months old last June, he has displayed a surprising amount of drive for his cross. He went on a good number of rabbit hunts when he was younger, but only once caught anything for himself due to his young age and the thick brush we were hunting in. At right around 10 months, we took him ratting in a friends chicken coop. We got 11 rats between him and the 2 mink, 3 of which he caught without our help. He did get one specific bite that was particularly painful, and not expecting him to have any real grit, I didn't expect him to continue on the rats with the same vigor. He continued on just fine. After that, he caught a couple feral cats that had been killing our chickens and rabbits while we were away. Now, as he is approaching 11 months, we went out for a walk and found a large raccoon underneath a bridge. He stopped it before it could escape from under the bridge, and tried to find an opening as the coon lunged at him. I distracted the coon, and he went in for it. He held it by the throat and didn't let go until it was finished. The only wounds he suffered were a small hole in his cheek from a bite, and a tiny hole above his eye from it's claw. Seeing as he is still so young, I am very concerned about starting him too early and making him reluctant on game later on. I figured I will hold off on any game tougher than rats until he is a year old, unless I am working him with other dogs, and proceed carefully from there. What are your opinions on whether or not I should hold him back, and if so, how long should it be until he sees another raccoon without other dogs working with him? Quote Link to post
socks 32,253 Posted December 16, 2014 Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 If he is killing cats and coons on his own no problem then just leave him carry on ... Obviously don't give him to much that he sickens of it but that comes down to you to know your dog ...... Quote Link to post
jimmythejacker 19 Posted December 16, 2014 Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 Jank Quote Link to post
Qbgrey 3,944 Posted December 16, 2014 Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 ive had a dog self enter on fox at 11months.took 17 red before breaking his neck.like said dont sicken it,i would take it slow until its 15 to 17 months old.only my opinion 1 Quote Link to post
jimmythejacker 19 Posted December 16, 2014 Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 Let the dog have it .see if worth feeding Quote Link to post
TOMO 24,777 Posted December 16, 2014 Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 Don't think you can really call it a lurcher,,with just 1/4 pharaoh hound,,,lol Like the others have said just take it easy. Quote Link to post
Silversnake 1,099 Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 I wouldnt hold him back but wouldnt work him too hard either build him up and by 2 years you should be able to send him in on anything Quote Link to post
Cade Pocock 1 Posted December 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 I have decided that I will be getting rid of some more of the feral cats soon, but not to put him on a coon solo. I do know a couple other people with terriers, so we may go hit some coons with other dogs. Thanks for all the input. Quote Link to post
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