What is the best bushcrafting dog?
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True not ALL wolves are grey. It varies by subspecies. However the Southern Red Wolf is now so limited that it is believed only a dozen or less still exist in the wild, entirely in the Carolinas. As far as I know, the Mexican Wolf (which was a reddish color) has been extinct for a half century or more. All Arctic, Canadian and European wolves were grey originally. Now some other colorations have started turning up (mostly black) but it is still extremely limited and generally attributed to having crossed with dogs. It is believed that the only reason that even black shows up (and that's only in colder climates) is because any other color arising from a cross results in early mortality. It seems that black is compatible with survival and reproduction (again, at least in colder climates) All that said; WOLVES RULE!!!! Gotta love 'em.
I've had the pleasure of working with quite a few breeds and mixes.
My two penneth:
Had a collie bitch who had a great nose on her and would hunt up or course rabbits/squirrels etc. Very biddable one man dog who would also keep a fair watch - and the seat of my van warm when I wasn't in it.
Had a great big wolf-like Samoyed male, he really was huge. He was great off lead which was not typical of the breed. He was big enough to carry his own pack and was a good hunter. Also, very cuddly!
A lurcher is a great plus to any household! Mine is a collie/whippet/grey mix. Very collie like in the head, very grey like in her speed. Very loving. Catches most things, but also stops when you tell her to - it's good to have a bit of collie blood
My old saluki lurcher (about 75% saluki) was good company. Deerhound mixes are meant to be one of the best house dogs.
If I think of any others I'll be back.
My two penneth:
Had a collie bitch who had a great nose on her and would hunt up or course rabbits/squirrels etc. Very biddable one man dog who would also keep a fair watch - and the seat of my van warm when I wasn't in it.
Had a great big wolf-like Samoyed male, he really was huge. He was great off lead which was not typical of the breed. He was big enough to carry his own pack and was a good hunter. Also, very cuddly!
A lurcher is a great plus to any household! Mine is a collie/whippet/grey mix. Very collie like in the head, very grey like in her speed. Very loving. Catches most things, but also stops when you tell her to - it's good to have a bit of collie blood
My old saluki lurcher (about 75% saluki) was good company. Deerhound mixes are meant to be one of the best house dogs.If I think of any others I'll be back.
The difference between your dog and your spouse is simple: After several years, the dog still gets excited when you come home!
our "lurcher" if you can call it that ( a standard poodle / whippet cross, we saw the mum and dad ) is now 5 months old and coming along nicely, pretty good off the lead, and comes back 95% of the time when you call her ( the other 5%, she cocks a deaf 'un and comes back when she's finished or i go and get her ) but she's young yet and still learning.
one thing i have found though, if she's not doing 30mph, then she's sleeping !!...very fast pup and i presume she'll get faster as she grows up
anyone else got experience with this type of cross ?
one thing i have found though, if she's not doing 30mph, then she's sleeping !!...very fast pup and i presume she'll get faster as she grows up
anyone else got experience with this type of cross ?
I have chalk and cheese. Irish setter who is great with a shotgun, and my Lab/ Bavarian Mountain Bloodhound cross who will walk next to me and follow what's shot for the next day. Both great out next to a fire.
I like your thinking, a lit more rugged than your 3/4 cross. What about even a reverse 3/4 cross?
Hancock's dogs have always had that legendary status but some say he's more puppy farmer than lurcherman these days.
I know david and sally hancock quite well and its true he does breed alot of dogs but they are all good. You could do alot worse than buy one of his. I've owned one of his dogs in the past and he was a good all round worker, one thing i will say is you have to be patient with them and get all the basic training in before you start hunting with them, but i suppose that goes for all lurchers. As regards colouration, it doesn't matter, you would be better of choosing according to size and sex. After all if you take it out lamping what sticks out more a dog thats mainly white or a million candle power lamp?
mate he is awsome, i have a bullmastiff rottie mix, and what you desribe in your dog, is exactly like mine is.Bullmastiff for me. Scares away the chavs, hardly barks...gives me a nudge and a slight growl if he hears anything, carries his own food on a pack, very protective, carries his own jumper when it's cold and is hard as nails....err maybe not lol
stunning when i loose my rotti bullmastiff mix, i don't think i will ever be able to replace him, one very special dog indeed.I think I'm going to find Rocky hard to replace. Easy to train and very obedient, loyal and very intelligent, what a great breed! No matter whether out for a walk, a night under the stars or in the canoe, a great companion. Very much missed.
Very true Andy, them lamps are bright. Not as bright as the ones on the front of the Police helicopter though!! Mind you, after he'd shone his (or hers) at me, I shone mine back and he seemed content with that
Interesting that you've actually had a Hancock. I've not spoke to many folk who have. Which if you consider how many he must've bred over the years it is quite surprising. For out and out hunting I love the turn of speed my lurcher has - she's mainly a lamping dog but hunts up well. But if I was after an all rounder I don't think I could go far wrong with one of his.
love this dog would be lost with out him, out of the 3 dogs i own now, and all the dogs i have had, and my parents have had, this is the only one, that just seemed to have got it, with out training, its like he No's what you want of him, with out you telling him, i have never felt so in tune with an animal, its like he No's what i'm thinking, no trouble in the house, fantastic with my children, he is the best judge of character i have ever met, if some one comes to the door, he will let me no in seconds if they are ok or not, one very special dog indeed.
hardly barks, when he does there is something wrong, he has proved it to me time and time again, the other 2 bark at bloody anything. i could go on forever about this one, i'm not sure if its the 2 breeds that make him so special bullmastiff and rottie mix, or whether its just him.
well i dont have a hammock but when its time to sleep i got a cheapy argos bag for around 5 quid which i fold double for the dog. he sleeps in the porch, which he's found that if he really tries he can squeeze under for a wander about. but he never goes far away.
to be fair he probably doesnt even need a bag but if we're out in the winter i know i wouldnt want to be lying on the ground!
Just a heads up
CH5 Tuesday 7.30 Extraordinary Dogs
A new series (for ch5) of 13 programmes
First one is about Newfies used by the Italian rescue teams and an Australian dog sled race.
CH5 Tuesday 7.30 Extraordinary Dogs
A new series (for ch5) of 13 programmes
First one is about Newfies used by the Italian rescue teams and an Australian dog sled race.
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