dogs-n-natives 1,182 Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Hello all A thread to remember old terriers past and present, who gave a full working life and made it into retirement, or at least over 7 years. I count myself as very lucky to have a terrier still doing some work now who will be 9 years old in January, although phisically (appart from the obvious scarring on the face) he is still fit and well! I belive his excellent teeth have kept him in work, and he still has 3 1/2 canines! It would also be nice to hear of some of the more memorable digs to them, or other interesting facts. What do you think helps a dog to work so hard for so long? SCRUMPY He has had some good digs to his credit, and also some long shifts to ground when there was nowt we could do but wait.... one time we found a fox to ground on a steep rocky hillside, it was early one winter morning as we let scrump enter the earth. We soon had him located at around 6 feet, and set about digging.... well we cleared the bracken roots and peat and hit a crumbly sandstone, I sent for backup to come with more bars and grafters/picks, and three of set about chiselling our way to the dog. Well to cut the story short, it fell dark before we opened up to the dog and an almost dead fox. A good 8 hour plus, was a real tester for us all, and scrump went limp when we lifted him... so it was on the quad and straight home for a night in front of the fire. Another time he entered an old quarry and didnt reapear until a couple of days later, well brayed up. I was planning on calling the rescue team out that night aswell...was a worrying time for me!! Another grand dig was a huge sandy sett that no-one I knew was willing to try, until scrump managed to find it after bolting a fox from an artificial and hunting it away through the wood, the fox ran over another sett, but scrump, instead of following the fox, entered the dreadded place!! Luckily I had company to help dig, and we were well toolled up, and equally lucky it was early in the day. We were supprised to see a reading of 12 feet, which were very shocked about, just thaught f**k it, cant be that far, we made a good size cut-out and got going. The digging got easier as we got down until the sand was so fine, you could almost sink into it. The danger now was that we would cause a cave in, as we could hear the dogs steady bay not to far off. Luckily our step held out, and we broke through to find the dog with three in the end! All were released back into their castle, and I felt so very proud of the dog all the way home, he stuck to the quarry, what more can you want!!! His last dig saw a bit of luck too!! A local vermin job.... the farmer wanted foxes thinning out! The place used to be a well hunted spot for the mounted pack that hunts the area, but since the bypass was built, hunting in the area has been kept away from the busy carrigeway. I said I would try the earths, then see whats what... so off we went, with little time remaining as it was about 2.30 by now! First spot saw the lurcher mark keenly.. BINGO! In went Scrump, nets on incase of a bolt... the ground shook, hes on, an easy dig to the first fox, result, then noticed the lurcher marking again, at another entrance.. in went Scrump, and BANG, hes on! A bit further this time at 3 feet, but was easy enough and we soon pulled number 2 from the hole! Again the lurcher marked keenly, this time into the dig, also the terrier was doing cartwheels to get back in, we knew there must be another at home, and sure enough, after trenching on a bit we pulled a big dog fox from the earth. I was chuffed, and the farmer was well pleased too... Im now looking forward to reading about your workers that have made it to old age, dogs that can be relied upon to get the job done, that have done you proud... Cheers DnN Quote Link to post
tatty 101 Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 good read that mate the old dogs done you proud. Quote Link to post
Guest bone Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 great read ,grand old warrior Quote Link to post
goldfinch2007 2,337 Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 love the story mate you cud write a book about him hows he bred Quote Link to post
smasher 1,055 Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 This is one of my veterns,he is 12-13 years old,had a lot of digs with him over the years,he is nuttal/cowan on the bitches side back to border cross on the dogs side,he has been dug to 3 times this season at this ripe old age,on one of those digs when we got to him and lifted him he keeled over on his side and had to be revived,after a tense minute or 2 he came back to himself,we let the game run and the dog wanted in to the stop end again so let him have a look and he was on again,got to the dog lifted him and let game off,another memorable day was digging to him with 4 backed up in a stop end Quote Link to post
goldfinch2007 2,337 Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 This is one of my veterns,he is 12-13 years old,had a lot of digs with him over the years,he is nuttal/cowan on the bitches side back to border cross on the dogs side,he has been dug to 3 times this season at this ripe old age,on one of those digs when we got to him and lifted him he keeled over on his side and had to be revived,after a tense minute or 2 he came back to himself,we let the game run and the dog wanted in to the stop end again so let him have a look and he was on again,got to the dog lifted him and let game off,another memorable day was digging to him with 4 backed up in a stop endLOVE IT LADS.GOOD THREAD. Quote Link to post
Zerky 133 Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Great thread Quote Link to post
dogs-n-natives 1,182 Posted January 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 (edited) This is one of my veterns,he is 12-13 years old,had a lot of digs with him over the years,he is nuttal/cowan on the bitches side back to border cross on the dogs side,he has been dug to 3 times this season at this ripe old age,on one of those digs when we got to him and lifted him he keeled over on his side and had to be revived,after a tense minute or 2 he came back to himself,we let the game run and the dog wanted in to the stop end again so let him have a look and he was on again,got to the dog lifted him and let game off,another memorable day was digging to him with 4 backed up in a stop end Good stuff smasher, he has had a good career for you then! Well done that dog! Edited January 17, 2009 by dogs-n-natives Quote Link to post
smasher 1,055 Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Hello all A thread to remember old terriers past and present, who gave a full working life and made it into retirement, or at least over 7 years. I count myself as very lucky to have a terrier still doing some work now who will be 9 years old in January, although phisically (appart from the obvious scarring on the face) he is still fit and well! I belive his excellent teeth have kept him in work, and he still has 3 1/2 canines! It would also be nice to hear of some of the more memorable digs to them, or other interesting facts. What do you think helps a dog to work so hard for so long? SCRUMPY He has had some good digs to his credit, and also some long shifts to ground when there was nowt we could do but wait.... one time we found a fox to ground on a steep rocky hillside, it was early one winter morning as we let scrump enter the earth. We soon had him located at around 6 feet, and set about digging.... well we cleared the bracken roots and peat and hit a crumbly sandstone, I sent for backup to come with more bars and grafters/picks, and three of set about chiselling our way to the dog. Well to cut the story short, it fell dark before we opened up to the dog and an almost dead fox. A good 8 hour plus, was a real tester for us all, and scrump went limp when we lifted him... so it was on the quad and straight home for a night in front of the fire. Another time he entered an old quarry and didnt reapear until a couple of days later, well brayed up. I was planning on calling the rescue team out that night aswell...was a worrying time for me!! Another grand dig was a huge sandy sett that no-one I knew was willing to try, until scrump managed to find it after bolting a fox from an artificial and hunting it away through the wood, the fox ran over another sett, but scrump, instead of following the fox, entered the dreadded place!! Luckily I had company to help dig, and we were well toolled up, and equally lucky it was early in the day. We were supprised to see a reading of 12 feet, which were very shocked about, just thaught f**k it, cant be that far, we made a good size cut-out and got going. The digging got easier as we got down until the sand was so fine, you could almost sink into it. The danger now was that we would cause a cave in, as we could hear the dogs steady bay not to far off. Luckily our step held out, and we broke through to find the dog with three in the end! All were released back into their castle, and I felt so very proud of the dog all the way home, he stuck to the quarry, what more can you want!!! His last dig saw a bit of luck too!! A local vermin job.... the farmer wanted foxes thinning out! The place used to be a well hunted spot for the mounted pack that hunts the area, but since the bypass was built, hunting in the area has been kept away from the busy carrigeway. I said I would try the earths, then see whats what... so off we went, with little time remaining as it was about 2.30 by now! First spot saw the lurcher mark keenly.. BINGO! In went Scrump, nets on incase of a bolt... the ground shook, hes on, an easy dig to the first fox, result, then noticed the lurcher marking again, at another entrance.. in went Scrump, and BANG, hes on! A bit further this time at 3 feet, but was easy enough and we soon pulled number 2 from the hole! Again the lurcher marked keenly, this time into the dig, also the terrier was doing cartwheels to get back in, we knew there must be another at home, and sure enough, after trenching on a bit we pulled a big dog fox from the earth. I was chuffed, and the farmer was well pleased too... Im now looking forward to reading about your workers that have made it to old age, dogs that can be relied upon to get the job done, that have done you proud... Cheers DnN Did you ever breed any pups from him,to carry on his legacy,he's a tidy lookin dog that has served you well over the years by the sound of things,and the memories he's given you will stay with you for a life time. Quote Link to post
Guest whitser Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 great thread. hope you lad know how lucky yes are to have owned good solid workers that have served you so long,well done. Quote Link to post
thebolt 4 Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 great thread hope the storys and pic's keep cuming Quote Link to post
dazbo 15 Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 great post mate keep em comeing Quote Link to post
anythingoes 28 Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 nice 1 there mate Quote Link to post
The one 8,585 Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Nice reading Quote Link to post
diggory 130 Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 arnt these the sort of dogs we should be breeding off,been through the mill,nothing to prove !not the :hes rock hard and 2 year old brigade : got an old retired bitch myself, she would love to get out for just one more dig!!! great thread and some old warriors on show Quote Link to post
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.