Jimbo 0 Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 Posted a while ago about getting my patterdale used to ferts,anyway thats been done she is sound.She is 6 months old now i am thinking how can i go about entering her to rabbit before the season starts she still does not seem very interested yet. Not had a lot to do with terriers i have got a cocker which i have trained to the whistle for beating and using with hawks and he was keen at 6 months.I understand some dogs take a bit longer to come on is there anything i can do to bring it on a bit maybe a rabbbit skin dummy etc,just a bit worried if she is going to be any good she is off working stock just after a bit of reassurance.The other part is can they be used for both ratting and rabbitting and still be ferret safe cheers jimbo. Quote Link to post
stubby 175 Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 I'll hold my hands up, to knowing naff all about dog behaviour, but I would'ent personnaly, try, as with ratting, you want the dog to catch/kill anything that moves, and a rat could look very simular to a ferret, in the heat of the moment, we have 2 JRT's, one is ok around ferts, the other who has done a fair bit of "ratting" is not let anywhere near the ferts, as he will go for them on any oppotunity, Quote Link to post
para1 11 Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 Posted a while ago about getting my patterdale used to ferts,anyway thats been done she is sound.She is 6 months old now i am thinking how can i go about entering her to rabbit before the season starts she still does not seem very interested yet. Not had a lot to do with terriers i have got a cocker which i have trained to the whistle for beating and using with hawks and he was keen at 6 months.I understand some dogs take a bit longer to come on is there anything i can do to bring it on a bit maybe a rabbbit skin dummy etc,just a bit worried if she is going to be any good she is off working stock just after a bit of reassurance.The other part is can they be used for both ratting and rabbitting and still be ferret safe cheers jimbo. When you say enter her to rabbit what do you want her to do?Maybe if you can answer that, you will know what to do.Any working dog will work rat,rabbit & work with a ferrets but if you are going to dig fox it should not be worked on rabbit.So in a nut shell , what do you want the dog to do. Quote Link to post
Jimbo 0 Posted June 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 (edited) I basically want her as a ferretting dog,and maybe the possibility of a bit of ratting. Edited June 1, 2008 by Jimbo Quote Link to post
para1 11 Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 I basically want her as a ferretting dog,and maybe the possibility of a bit of ratting. So in my opinion the first requirement for a ferreting dog of any type is to mark occupied holes.With a little encouragement most workers will do it,your problem will be stopping her going all the way in and of course to leave alone when a net is set.You can't start to soon,practice makes perfect.You don't want her mangling the rabs so don't put her on rat until she is sound on rabbits as it usually makes them hard mouthed. As for rats,well I can't help you there because I don't use my ferrets on rats I use a smoker.But if you get her 100% to the ferrets their shouldn't be a problem. Good luck with her mate I hope this helps a little. Quote Link to post
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