its been a long time

[howard 0]

Ime not to keen on summer time hunting a bit of bushing to keep the dogs fit is just about excusable but the killing of foxes outside of the winter months just doesnt turn me on and i think its just to easy, to conveniant even to use the excuse of pest control.having said that myself and ratkilla chose to look over some new permission early one evening last week,he had his proven lurcher and a handy terrier with him,me i had my patt bitch that was not showing a great deal of promise though her nose seemed to immprove along with her confidence with every walk and she had started to assosciate ratkilla and his dogs as the signal for a good excecise and run around.We got to the new bit of permission leashed up ratkillas terrier but let my terrier and his lurcher run loose the area was fairly well wooded and there wasnt much chance of the lurcher catching in this heavy cover (and the land owner plus an earlier reconasance had shown badgers were definatly absent from this area ) and the terrier well a good run around would do her good and she wasnt going to learn much on the lead.About 10 minutes into our little mooch the lurcher winded something and shot up a woodland ride with my terrier in hot pursuit after 3 or 4 minutes no longer, the lurcher returned and it was obvious as usual in these conditions had made no contact but had had a good run around,no sign of the terrier bitch as of yet.We walked a little further but with no sign of the terrier decided to retrace our steps expecting the terrier to either catch up with us or be waiting by the car,nothing no sign .This may sound odd but those that have done a lot of dog work will understand,ratkilla asked his lurcher to find the bitch the lurcher moved up the wooded ride he ran up earlier and led us to a a very dense area of bramble and myself and ratkilla could here the bich clearly baying and it was obvious she was to ground.I cut my way through the brambles with some digging gear that had now been fetched from the motor,always carried incase of emergencies and the unexpected.The bitch had entered a 3 eyed earth under the bowl of an old and now dead sweet chestnut coppiced stump,after 20 minutes not much of a dig but fairly stiff through some stony ground we broke through to the bitch that in the style of her dam and sire was giving it some stick,the bitch was lifted out and a big fox was dispatched.

I know I had made a few mistakes and I know I had no excuses as I had made all these same mistakes before and should have learnt.My only explanation was that I had under estimated the bitch she had shown no signs before and to be honest even though she was only a few weeks off her second birthday I was a little dissapointed with her,one swallow doesnt make a summer and one dig doesnt make a working terrier but she has been promoted a division or 2.Never under estimate working blood in a terrier.

[greggy 18]

nice,iv heard rumers about these lurcher locators befor,are they much cop?and how much are they mate, cheaper than the bellman???................................only kiddin mate well done to the bitch sometimes youv just got to let them figure it out for themselfs,all the best with her,,,any pics?

[felltool 5]

Well done that young bitch, hope she makes the grade for you pal

[howard 0]

Used to post pics under kane or postie she is from the same blood as the black dog in those threads,will get ratkilla to get some pics of the bitch next time out as for the locator lurcher almost all dogs that get out a bit soon learn the score.