Terriers for tracking?

flytie

Well-Known Member
I have just been perusing a copy of the shooting times that a friend has dropped in to me. I was very interested in an article about fox terriers, in the article it mentions fox terriers being used in Sweden for tracking/flushing boar and deer. Has anyone heard of such a thing and if so is there any writing on the subject in the public domain?

I ask as I have just been through a divorce and my little Lab bitch had to be put down as she had cancer. So I am now in a much smaller house than before, I have no room for a medium to large breed of dog and am thinking of a terrier type breed.

I am afraid that the teckel looks too much like a sausage dog to me, my fault I know, but I am interested in what sort of dog/terrier would find me a deer that has run off. I feel obliged to have a deer dog but am unsure what breed to go for. What suggestions have you?

​Yours hopefully, Simon
 
FC ranger we used to deal with on some land owned by the estate had a cracking Border terrier for that purpose.Very good at the job it was too.
 
If a terrier it has to be, then perdix is is spot on, but make sure you search for a working line not just looks or convenience of distance to collect.
 
FC ranger we used to deal with on some land owned by the estate had a cracking Border terrier for that purpose.Very good at the job it was too.

Perdix,

I am fond of Border terriers, my first boss had one, but that was before I became interested in deer management. I will have to do some research on working bloodlines.

A friend has crossed a border bitch with a good working Jack Russell line and has kept the line going. He is a foxhunter though, so I wonder if it would suit?

T​hank you for the suggestion, Simon
 
When I used to stalk as a job, I would ocassionally use my terrier to help me find red deer on the hill that had fallen into rough ground and rashes.
He is a patterdale / lakeland cross who cost me £30 from a hunt kennels.
​It was not his main job which was dealing with foxes however he did a great job when required to.
 
Perdix,

I am fond of Border terriers, my first boss had one, but that was before I became interested in deer management. I will have to do some research on working bloodlines.

A friend has crossed a border bitch with a good working Jack Russell line and has kept the line going. He is a foxhunter though, so I wonder if it would suit?

T​hank you for the suggestion, Simon

No worries Simon.

You might try and look up a young lady called Lisa Jenkins on the internet.
When I was really into terriers she was one of the leading lights in the Border terrier world.
​Good luck
 
There are some excellent Sporting Lucas Terriers (and SLT X's) have been bred in recent years, really intelligent, good noses and capable of much more than people think.
 
If a terrier it has to be, then perdix is is spot on, but make sure you search for a working line not just looks or convenience of distance to collect.
I agree. I have a working strain Border who is now 9. He will find deer. I used him running free in thick cover, with hawk bells to locate him. Had to catch up quickly with him or he wouldn't be hungry when I got there. A good worker is also a problem if there are any fox earths etc. so needs keeping on a lead until required to locate the carcass. Mine was not wired up properly as he knows no fear and will kill anything that he can get his jaws around. He has collected a few battle scars from encounters with foxes and other (unmentionable) adversaries. Lovely pet dog too and completely safe with young children. Little Ba****d but you have to admire his courage.
The breeder is near Kings Lynn, Norfolk and occasionally has a litter of pups. PM me if you would like the breeder's contact details.
 
Perdix,



A friend has crossed a border bitch with a good working Jack Russell line and has kept the line going. That is what I have , a nice little 5 year old bitch out of a rough coated Jack bitch and a Border dog. She has found deer for me a few times she will also do the business on mr fox as well.
 
Is anyone working these dogs in the UK? I've not heard anything about them before.

There was a litter for sale on one of the web sites that specialise in dog sales and were allegedly from working stock a few weeks ago.

IanLuc,one of my best terriers was a russell/lakeland ,the other being a border/lakeland that I was fortunate enough to get off a hunt terrierman that lost his job.I'm talking 15 years since she died and I miss the old girl even now
 
I have used a paterdale and JR, only problem was they would find and hold, but it could be a while before they bayed.
 
I've used Borders, JR's and crosses to track deer in the past. They can do the job well, certainly got lots of determination

Al
 
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View attachment 32342 flytie do you mean fox terriers like my two here as I would like to read the article

DF,

I do mean those like yours, although yours look better fed than those in the article. It's in the September the 4th edition of Shooting Times magazine. If you can't get hold of the magazine I will send it to you if you want?

Simon
 
I have a patterdale cross Russell who I am going to start using on a line, and keep her there!! Her nose is phenomenal but she is an absolute raking aboot wee ..... Thing!

She is from working strain and doesn't go out without finding something to pester ;), and she is great round the house and with our wee lad.

Have a look at the Deutsch Jagd Terrier. The good ones are absolute machines, on a driven hunt in Germany one tried to take a Roe I had shot away by the throat and didn't give up until the handler turned up...... About ten minutes later.

Incidentally if anyone knows of a jagd terrier dog in Scotland I wouldn't mind lining it with my terrier to see what interesting mobile gin traps would be produced.
 
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Flytie,

i have used a parson's jrt in the past but found that it needed more excercise than it's size would suggest. It might sound a bit backwards but have you considered a lurcher? Many crosses make good deer dogs and like to lie around the house most of the time, collie crosses are very tractable and have a much more laid back attitude. I will never have another terrier but although not my main deer dog i will never be without a lurcher.
 
Simon if your ever in need of a dog feel free to ring me I'd be more than happy to come out with the hound and help you out and try and find any deer for you if we can....

​regards, Jez
 
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