Just when I thought I had a wide (albeit superfluous) breadth of dog knowledge, I come across something totally new. I had no idea terriers were still used for hunting.

Someone please take the stage. I'm fascinated.

What, when, how?

What is there to explain? There is a proud tradition of hunting in many countries, this is one of them. Terriers are used to go to ground after groundhog, rabbit, badger, fox, rat or whatever.

They are used (like by myself) to hunt above ground, in brush or wetland, for different nuisance animals. I hunt nutria, raccoon, possum, rat, feral cat, etc. All are considered overpolulated in my area and some are destroying indigenous species (like the nutria). Nutria kill fish, wetland birds, otter, beaver, etc. . . They are not a native animal.

The dogs scent, trail, chase, and kill the nasties. It is pretty simple, all I worry about is a very strong recall command that I train for almost daily.

Wow. I guess I was under the impression that terriers were like a miniature catch-dog, where the human does the actual killing.

Apart from obedience, what kind of training is required? Just let the dog go-to-town on the nearest raccoon and let him learn his own fighting lessons? Will they pick-up the tracking part on their own? Regimentation would seem limited with *wild* game.

How tempting! There's plenty of possums (vile things) and other garbage-spilling game around here. Although, being in suburbia, I just don't think the neighbors would understand. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Well I've been reading up on Terrier hunting since I have a new found fondness for the Jack Russell Terrier.

From what I've learned, most terriers have retained their hunting instincts. Some breeds more than others. Some breeds may have the instinct but have lost the ability to hunt - breeds like the Fox Terrier have been molded by show people to create a dog that cannot function underground.

When hunting in an AKC or other club-sanctioned
event the dogs go-to-ground in pre-built tunnels, at the end is a caged rat that they agitate but must return to their owner when called. The level of difficulty increases with each title. There are trick openings in the tunnels so the dog has to follow the scent and not just whatever path he fancies.

There is also tests sanctioned by the JRTCA that differ in the type of titles offered and the requirements for those titles. Then there are the American Working Terrier Association Tests which differ from the two above.

It really depends on what kind of game you are hunting. The dog's purpose is to "bolt" the quarry and only fight it underground if necessary. But don't just send a terrier out into the wild and see what happens...you need a locator collar in case the dog go underground, you have to dig them out.

Most terriers don't just dive into the first who they see. It would take going into a lot of detail to explain the training, but introduction to (caged) rats and mock tunnels will get them on the right track. Once they get the idea they get over their reluctance real fast.

Depending on the terrier, (i'm speaking from what I've read on the JRT), you also have to worry about them getting into other dangers of being out in the wild. I read somewhere that terriers will actually accidentally go over cliffs or into dangerous rivers just getting too caught up in the hunt.

Terriers do need a lot of exercise and if you have cats and other small animals (hamsters, ferrets, rabbits, ets) , they often don't get along and need kept seperated at all times. Also take into account your neighbors - if you have a terrier it could be a threat to their animals as well. And of course small children - terriers don't take well to tail and ear pulling.

Hunting with terriers is still used often over in England...most people here tend to do the go-to-ground trials rather than actual hunts.

What kind of terrier are you interested in?

I'm not SERIOUSLY considering it...not now at least. I'm just saying... having hunted with dogs for larger quarry, I know how fun it is. And the prospect of doing the same thing on a smaller scale, with an abundance of available game while contributing to pest control, and simply having an ass-kicking dog...it just sounds too cool. To boot, I've onlyjust "discovered" this prospect since frequenting this forum.

VanCamp
Why you "old" dog, I knew there was something besides your brain I liked.
Kurze Haare
I take a back seat to 90% of this board when it comes to Working GSD's,Mals,Rots,Dobes,etc, but unless someone else is hiding something,I DA MAN when it comes to working terriers. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Hence the name,Old earth dog. I have been doing earth work for the last 20yrs with terriers. Earth work goes way back in Great Britain, and if you know where to look there are quite a few terrier men/women in the USA. The JRT(I have one) is basicly a baying terrier, meaning they get up close to the quarry, without making contact with Quarry, and hold it at bay till you dig to it. Most other terriers, Borders(Ihave two),Fells,Patterdales,Jag Terriers, were bred to go in and kill the quarry. Quarry in the States is fox, ground hog, possum, racoon, anything that takes refuge in a burrow, usually dug by ground hogs. A dog may enter a 6inch hole at your feet, but when you find them they might be 20-30ft away and anywhere from 2-5ft deep on average. I have been in on a few8-10ft digs and that gets a little hairy. The dog wears a locator collar that has a range of 15ft and we carry a box that pinpoints the dog very acuretly. When the people on this board talk about courage, these little guys will go in a hole and have it out in total darkness, 6in in front of the quarry. The harder dogs will often kill the quarry. Not a small feat for a 13lb dog to kill a 20 lb coon. I prefer the softer dogs, not just for humane reasons, but for practical reasons also. The harder dogs can take quite a beating(the reason I retired my borders early) and they might be laid up for a week or two. The softer dogs will hold the quarry at bay without making contact, and will hunt day after day. I could go on for hours because I'm in my element now but if you have any specific questions feel free. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

A lot of terriers still have the "brass" but structurely, they suck because of show fads. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

VanCamp
My three terriers are the only terriers I have dug to(dozens) that can be called out while in the earth while working quarry. It kept getting harder and harder with my old Border dog though, and that's why he took such beatings and was retired. That old guy is still as sweet as a puppy with people and other dogs, but he is COMPLETELY DEMONIC with Quarry.

VanCamp
What is the height, weight, chest circumfrence of your Jagd Terriers. Are their a lot of porcupines in Oregon where you are at? I talked with a lady from Idaho who has lost a terrier to them. The little guys have to much heart to quit when they get quilled and just keep on hammering.

Kurzehaare
Unless you have two or more terriers, you don't want them tackling racoons above ground. Under ground the dogs aggression and the tight quarters favor the dog. Above ground the advantage goes to the usually larger quarry. I have coon hunted with a man that raises B/T coonhounds. His wife raises working JRTs. He has won money betting the JRTs wil tree a coon faster than a B/T. The reason is that with the coonhounds, the coon hears them comming from way off. The JRTs are on them before the coon knows they are in the woods. It sure doesn't sound the same though. Nothing like a pack of hounds in the woods running a track and treeing.