Rock Dogs

[neil cooney 10,415]

That's the thing Jigsaw, there's no point your terrier walking out or one that can be called out if he's trapped or stuck several feet down.

I remember years ago talking to a man who seen a lot of terriers worked in the rocks in the North of England before the locator came along.

They were a specialist type and baying was out of the question and a terrier who'd quickly worry his fox was the only type that was practical.

BUT, when this type started to be worked away from the rocks they were not everyones cup of tea.

The lowland pack didn't want a fox killer and when they worked badger they either died or quit.

As a result the way they worked was changed.

This and the fact that a lot of lads nowadays wouldn't have the practical knowledge of working rock that the old boys had is probably the reason the specialist rock dog is not as common nowadays.

If I was looking for a terrier to work rocks nowadays I'd definitely have to get a pup who's parents were very good rock dogs.

There's a few quarries around me with rock piles in them and the foxes love them. We used to work them a few times a year and thankfully we never lost one in them.

[bunny tickler 875]

a good rock dogs a different animal , ive had some of the best , not bragging ,ive done foxing for the shepherds here for 30 yrs fore i packed in through bloody hikers following me giveing abuse on one spot ,i had to ring the national park ranger the night before then leave a note in the rangers office ,park my vehicle at the farm , then every tom dick & harry seeing me with terriers ringing police saying im badger digging , if you watch a rock dog at work you would be impressed the way the hunt & skip over the rocks ,watch them use their head and necks to lever themselves up or down crevices squirm & get where no normal dogs would get ,if a fox can get there so can a good terrier , admittedly ive lost 3 dogs over 30 yrs bloody good ones too but thats the nature of the game like it or loathe it ,each man to his own ,,

[perthshire keeper 1,237]

 

heres some i found last week,and in the area theres tons more

who in gods name would be crazy enough to stick a dog in these spots.maybe a dog that'll walk out after a half hour might be wortha gamble but not anything else

before the ban......we would push foxes into wooded borrans like this all the time and drop a terrier in. in the lakes and fells thats what their for if you said "ohh bit bad looking that" then the hunts wouldent get half their foxes. they have to be clever dogs, a bayer isnt much use as the fox will dance and slip about in them rocks all day long just keeping out the way you want a dog that can kill his fox and not get to bashed up doing it, if it all goes wrong then with the hunt you will have 30 or more willing sets of hands to help..

[dogs-n-natives 1,181]

 

heres some i found last week,and in the area theres tons more

who in gods name would be crazy enough to stick a dog in these spots.maybe a dog that'll walk out after a half hour might be wortha gamble but not anything else

A little local knowledge helps you avoid dangerous places that have lost terriers in the past... but those look no worse than many of the crag holes we work up north here.

[spindolero 1,109]

on a trip to Ireland couple years back i met a man that kept staying/digging terriers and he'd refuse to enter them in the rocks.

His words were "you need a w@nker that can dance like a cat"

Can't comment as no experience with rockpiles but the phrase made me chuckle.

[top cat 19]

Only voicing bunny tickler words once you've seen a good rock dog there something else I've never owned one but seen plenty work

[tank34 2,178]

A rock dog must have a very an i mean a very good nose on them as sents get blown about in piles,my mates bitch just new how to shift em from piles,would like a pup out of two rock dogs but dont think am going to find one

[david901 162]

I used to do a lot of rockpiles when I lived near Bradford.

If you didn't hunt rockpiles you didn't do a lot of terrier work as most foxes seemed to lie up in them.

Most terriers good in rocks would be fairly hard. You didn't want a dog just to stand off its fox and bay waiting to get dug.

I had a dog stuck a couple of times, but with a lot of help from mates, I got them back out.

At that time the Fell and Moorland Terrier Club was a godsend.

[bunny tickler 875]

my old mate long albert ha ha those in the know will know him ,had the best lile black bitch i ever seen that bitch could find ,get to & bolt near enough any fox in any place ,, i allways drew the line in mine shafts i would never enter a terrier in them ..never ..

[leethedog 3,071]

There is a spot near me massive pile of dumped reinforced concrete always see fox in and out of it makes my toes curl to think of putting a dog in there

[top cat 19]

I know the bitch your on about pal qualty

[Rat face 1,655]

like david said in some places if you dont work rock your not gonna get on to much,there is still a lot of lads who still do the piles and get on a lot of stuff, i have done a fair few with my mates dog in the rock but on the other hand we have had to dig him out more times than i like, and going down 12 ft+ in rock is not easy. we have been lucky you only need to come across a stone you cant shift and its game over. my old man worked rock for over 30 year and only ever lost one dog, he mostly worked buck or cowan dogs some might say they was bred for working the rocks.

[tank34 2,178]

Young man if run one in dont rush to drop dog in take all dogs away sit back give fox time to settle an think its save then you will get a bolt mate

[Lenmcharristar 9,172]

This is an interesting thread. Rock is never something I've had experience off

[morton 5,367]

Not to many years ago terriers were bred for rock work,in the heartland of the Lakeys,Fells etc.The breeds seem to have developed along lines now unsuitable for rocks and better suited to the shovel.My terriers work rocks as par for the course.Any time a terrier enters there is a risk factor,ive been in situations over recent years where dogs have almost been lost,ill guarantee my fortune will not last,such is terrier work.Mine are a Red Fell bitch,she,s worked rocks for 4 seasons now,a Bedlington dog,been rescued twice in 3 years and their progeny in their first season and 3 of which are getting experience in rocks,my old Beddy bitch worked rocks until she was 9 and never once got into trouble.I have a Lakey that id not enter in rocks,not athletic enough and to head strong.Around my location earths are hammered by all and sundry,rocks are less frequently visited and have a better chance of holding.Being selective in where a terrier enters is as fraught with danger as what are deemed riskier locations,many rock piles are easier to work than earths,that receive attention throughout the season.Be safe.