Breaking pups in.

A trained eye can spot the difference between dogmen that shoot, and shooting guys that own dogs...
I'm a firm believer of starting them young. 👍
Yes, I am not one to hang on either, but a lot depends on when they were born. The dog in the photos was born in October, trained through spring and summer, then a great intro on a beat one stand one syndicate on Dartmoor the following early November. So nothing too demanding or taxing, but he showed his worth to me, honest, biddable and fearless in cover. Some people I know will not let that happen until they are 18 month/2 years old. We are all different I guess, and you need to know if the dog is ready, but I think he was early enough tbh, some would say too early. 🤷

With regards to actual training, well that starts when you get delivery. But gently, young teeth, bones and joints need to be nurtured, too much and harm can be done. Not sure where you are Sheamus, but the terrain and cover here can be savage for a dog, especially a young dog.

Good luck. 👍
 
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This one, now gone, would never win any shows, but man, he had the heart of a Lion. Totally fearless, too much for his own good, late summer pic…..Thank goodness!

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None here and if it was there would be a few 1000 more with it.

I remember a ripping and I mean ripping bitch of mine, born and bred on the farm that was raised under the same circumstances as outlined. Bitty was her name. I was hunting through heavy tussock with my dogs and she darted ahead on "something" solo...wtf is she doing I mused and followed her up to see her panting and then as I got closer I saw she had caught and disposed of a full mature dog fox with a good bit of age to him.....she was 10 months old and had been serving her apprenticeship with the pack since a pup.
Phaaark me after a lifetime of dogs I could tell tales for hours of effin great dogs and their exploits,whether they be rabbit,fox,roo,boar,cat or deer dogs.
I really wonder now what I have done wrong....oh yes I have started them too early lol.
Here`s a pic or two of my last bitch Berry @ 10 years-ish. A ruthless and I mean ruthless bitch especially on wild dogs,foxes and cats..could point quail with the best of them btw. Notice how fit she is? This is how a hunting dog will look like if it does half a dozen k`s every day doing what they love and that`s hunting. She`s no couch potato playing on a beach.
Note toenails,here is a pup that started riding the quad in a tub at 6-8 weeks,shes a bit older in this pic. They were taken as usual out to where the older dogs were working and learned and learned. Good blokes on here know what I`m waffling about.....lots dont.

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The following is indicative of her hatred for wild dogs. A trapped bitch that I had head shot. Yet the same bitch was the most loving of all with the kids,grandkids and hell on strangers turning up at the door. Her litter brother was even better again.

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What the breed / breeding on them dogs John?
 
How many miles do you think these hounds will cover in a days hunting John.
ha ha ha,its a sort of nice try but it failed. Been there done that on a scale you simply can`t comprehend in big country wilderness. Btw i have a veritable treasure trove of Kodak ASA 64 slides of hunting Sambar over hounds. One day I will convert them from slides to digital use and post. Stag below....-37.129861254011075, 146.55638733872732

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Of course I pick and choose, I have a life outside the internet.
Really,we never see any evidence of that except whinging,whining and moaning..oh and Pip looks pretty fat too,old dogs shouldn't be overfed you know.
 
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How many miles do you think these hounds will cover in a days hunting John.
ha ha ha,its a sort of nice try but it failed. Been there done that on a scale you simply can`t comprehend in big country wilderness. Btw i have a veritable treasure trove of Kodak ASA 64 slides of years of hunting Sambar over hounds.


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somewhere around here lol. -37.31750594133815, 146.3368263893853

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Of course I pick and choose, I have a life outside the internet.
Really,we never see any evidence of that except whinging,whining and moaning..oh and Pip looks pretty fat too.
 
ha ha ha,its a sort of nice try but it failed. Been there done that on a scale you simply can`t comprehend in big country wilderness. Btw i have a veritable treasure trove of Kodak ASA 64 slides of years of hunting Sambar over hounds.


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somewhere around here lol. -37.31750594133815, 146.3368263893853

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Really,we never see any evidence of that except whinging,whining and moaning..oh and Pip looks pretty fat too.
Oh yes I can comprehend!…….Trust me. 👍😉 But I only asked a question. 🤷
 
Oh yes I can comprehend!…….Trust me. 👍😉 But I only asked a question. 🤷
Have you done any sambar hunting over hounds in Victoria...it is the only state it is legal to do so.
I only read today that one of the houndsmen got two of his hounds back after they kept going for eight days..when I mentioned big country to the uninitiated the areas are mind boggling. I`m actually surprised that they weren't killed by wild dogs in fact.
 
Have you done any sambar hunting over hounds in Victoria...it is the only state it is legal to do so.
I only read today that one of the houndsmen got two of his hounds back after they kept going for eight days..when I mentioned big country to the uninitiated the areas are mind boggling. I`m actually surprised that they weren't killed by wild dogs in fact.
No I haven’t, but have been to Victoria three times, and yes hounds are an amazing animal. They never fail to amaze me, another brilliant English “invention”. You should be very grateful. 👍
 
Yeah, yeah, yeah, 30k, just 18 miles! 😳

This dog will do that before he takes his first shite John, on a good day working the dog I will do 12 miles, the best part of 20k these dogs when hunting will cover, at the very least, five times that, on hard terrain and through thick cover. A sheepdog working on the moor, fells or highlands here would easily cover 40 miles, not little Ks, but miles. What a Husky has to do with it I don’t know, but they will knock any animal on earth for stamina.

Horses for courses mate, these dogs are bird dogs, so no, he won’t drag down a deer, he is bred to hunt, flush and retrieve. Something he absolutely lives for.

But seeing as you asked nicely, here are some pics of my absolute machine, an English Springer Spaniel. He is my only dog now, and he loves the beach. 👍
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I am starting again,after losing my two.
A tank of a pup from Bodmin way,he has all the promise l had hoped for.
He has exactly the same look and chops as the picture looking over the wall.
 
that is one seriously good looking animal!
Aye,your eye is on today FB and there`s nary a worm in her. Her litter sister and brother were the same as were all of my dogs over the years It comes down to a good diet, lots of exercise and being worm/parasite free.
My old man raced greyhounds,I did learn a lot about dogs in those years especially about conditioning. Like all dog owners I wished I could have another 15 years with her and others.
Rock solid with a sambar knobby.
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And here she is at circa 13-14 years in a wild dog trap. Got her twice in a week..silly old ****. Being on several 1000 acres she was often left 'on her honour' to camp on the door mat...yeh right! I came out of the house,looked over to the paddock and saw activity on a cow carcase...beauty another $120 scalp...scope on...aah **** its ****ing Berry!
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A trained eye can spot the difference between dogmen that shoot, and shooting guys that own dogs...
I'm a firm believer of starting them young.
Thats a yes from me Sheamus. I could opine about some other dogs but that would be like offering an opinion on a blokes wife,its not politically correct to do so.
 
I am starting again,after losing my two.
A tank of a pup from Bodmin way,he has all the promise l had hoped for.
He has exactly the same look and chops as the picture looking over the wall.
I hope all goes well mate, and you get years of fun and good days out with him, as I have with all my dogs. The one I have now is a machine of an ESS, not had one quite like him before, 25kg believe it or not, he is the biggest I have ever seen in all my years of working dogs. He certainly keeps me fit, and I definitely haven’t seen the bottom of him, the engine just keeps going.

Sorry to hear about your other two, it’s a shame they can’t stay with us for longer.

Here he is thinking Long Tailed Tits are a summer prey! 🤷

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I hope all goes well mate, and you get years of fun and good days out with him, as I have with all my dogs. The one I have now is a machine of an ESS, not had one quite like him before, 25kg believe it or not, he is the biggest I have ever seen in all my years of working dogs. He certainly keeps me fit! I certainly haven’t seen the bottom of him, the engine just keeps going.

Sorry to hear about your other two, it’s a shame they can’t stay with us for longer.

Here he is thinking Long Tailed Tits are a summer prey! 🤷

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I took mine for 2nd jabs and a 14 month mot at the vets, he weighed 23.70kg.
My bigger one was 25 at working weight.
My shoot mates wonder where l get these monster springers from.l look long and hard.
Mine were father and son.
I looked for months to find Rytex lines,with a bit of Badgercourt.
 

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He has had a haircut and looks less pretty now.
Looks a cracking lad! Proper working dog that mate. 👍. Just had mine done as well, also had his nails painted and a bit of a perm. 👍😉

Whereabouts in gods county do you work him?……We may have met! 👍😂
 
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