not picking up

[blando 0]

Hi I have a non-ped racing whippet at 19†I was intending to use her for lamping and ferreting I have taken her out a few times on the lamp and she catches up and turns with the rabbit so well but she wont pick it up she will keep on chasing it until she looses it. It was the same with ferreting she is brilliant at marking and will watch the holes but once one bolts she makes no attempt to pick it up. Shes only been at it for a few months as she is only 1 years old this month so do you think she may learn to pick up? I was thinking of catching some live rabbits when ferreting and put her in a small area with them but I don’t think that will help. Any sujestions?

Thanks

 

 

(old picture of the dog will get a more recent one soon)

 

http://img347.imageshack.us/img347/7027/dscf01103cb.jpg

[blando 0]

ok thanks i will give running her with my mates dog a try. i was told not to run 2 dogs together when young as it can ruin them is this true?

[Guest pat 88]

shes still young mate at just under 12 months plenty of time yet for her still to click my bros whippet seen some rabbits put out of cover through day at 8 month oldjust running free dint chase them just looked at them i know not the same but hes too young yete arent boherd just stick with it mate she will click

[rob reynolds uk 3]

id say it was a bit young as well ,i remember 28yrs back we had a whippet doing just the same fast as feck it was cought the rabbits up real easy then would run along side of them just looking at them,it made the rabbits look slow ,that too was a young whippet ,id say give it time ,but run it with another dog that catchs as you dont want it to get into the habbit of just running them and not catching , give it a few more months it sould be ok then ,

[juckler123 707]

let it watch the other dog doing the job on the lamp but only if it can retrieve to hand let it watch 4 or 5 retrieves always showing her the bunny then try her on her own if she dont attempt to pick up then run her doubled up till she starts grabbing em she will soon click and at least when she does i bet she will be well soft mouthed sounds about spot on for her age some have trouble clicking and thats the way of it get her out especially now theres young uns about!

 

Cracking looking bitch

[Guest stantheman]

All good replies, try ragging a rabbit skin on a long bit of rope this should get the dog going best of luck.

[blando 0]

If tried ragging a rabbit skin and using it to train her to retrieve from when she was young. I think I will give running her with another dog a try, but the only person I know with a lurcher in this area is not very good on a lamp seems to have no confidence in the dark for some reason, mite be something to do with a late start because of the foot and mouth.. So until I can start ferreting again I don’t know how it will be possible.