russ91 Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 hi guys i was just wondering how you train a terrier to become a good marking dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiercel Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 Take it ferreting every time you go, they soon get the idea. But it will be up to you to spot the mark, some dogs dig at the mouth of the hole, some just look at the warren every dog is different. My 13-year-old terrier is so easy to read, if there is a rabbit at home he goes and sits on top of the warren and looks at me as if to say get the nets out boss. Whereas the GWP that I just lost would just stand and look down the holes and if the rabbit was close you would sometimes have to drag him away. One thing you do not want to do is make the dog "mark" as they tend to get the idea that they must mark every set of holes. (False marking.) A good way to start, is in the off season watch a rabbit go to ground then calmly show the dog the warren (smaller the warren the better at this stage) and let him have a good sniff at the warren down wind side, if he shows interest then CALMLY praise him. Then take him to an unoccupied warren and if he walks away CALMLY praise him. It does not pay to get a dog wound up around a ferreting situation; a dog that whines, barks or even tries to dig into the warren is a liability when ferreting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 Made the mistake of taking the cocker a few times and he sussed out straight away that he gets praised. So he marked every hole he came across LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ91 Posted February 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 right thanks lads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferretboy111 Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 My terriermans patterdale just digs and bites the earth away by the hole, you can see it stopping and smelling, then digging again. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ91 Posted February 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 right thanks mate but i dnt think i will be useing my dog for a wile now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dusk2dawn Posted February 21, 2008 Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 hi guys i was just wondering how you train a terrier to become a good marking dog. Russ get a copy of FOX CONTROL by SEAN FRAIN it contains masses of info on terriers, breeding working etc. Im reading it at the moment, its also bang up to date on the new laws concerning digging etc. D2D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ91 Posted February 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 right thanks D2D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 I have found that marking is a function that dogs pick up instinctively through experience....... I know my lurchers did .. some mark the fresh scent, of a scut in a hole...some will listen and hear the movements underground. I wouldnt worry to much about teaching the dog to mark..................... just show it plenty of work and warrens....... and age and experience will do the rest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codling99 Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 should come naturally ,a bit of praise when they get it right wont hurt though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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