Entering Young Ferret

New Ferret Entered.

Went to try a few holes at a friend's place today, lots of rabbit sign but none present in the small buries there. There is lots of cover so I assume they are staying above ground except to escape foxes or just running through to play. After running my experienced jill through a small bury, I introduced my new ferret, born last summer, to a small hole at the bottom of the bury, she went down with now hesitation at all and worked her way through methodically coming out without hesitation.

Here she is coming out with out a glance backwards. There are few things more annoying than a ferret which hovers at the entrance and bobs back inside every time you put your hand down to pick them up. I think the secret of making them willing to march out is plenty of handling and no dogs diving in to scare the fitchuk. 


The field was covered with sign that rabbits are there but as soon as they suspect being hunted they dive into an old scrub oak wood, and like brier rabbit they are more than at home in the midst of the bramble patch.

Ferret locators are one of the best things ever to hit the ferreting world. I well remember the nightmare of trying trying to use a line hob. Most of the time I seemed to end up digging him out because he had got the line caught around something, or had wandered through most of the warren before finding the jill and dead rabbit. I still have my original Deben receiver and it works as well ow as when I first bought it some 30 years ago. 


 When digging down to a ferret, you of course dig to the side and not directly on top as this may cause a cave in or with heavy handed diggers may chop into the ferret. I find that the act of digging will usually get the ferret moving anyway and she can be picked up. Where it is crucial is when the ferret has gotten herself trapped in a hole by killing a rabbit and blocking the hole. A ferret has to be dug up fairly quickly as the heat build up and danger of suffocation increases with time. Season is coming to an end again, and once again I have not spent enough time working my ferrets, but there is always next year.

Jack Russell Terriers

Parson Jack Russell's Terriers.

I am reading at the moment; Hunt and Working Terriers by Jocelyn Lucas, the book was recommended to me by a friend who breeds and judges working terriers. It is, without doubt one of the best books I have read on working terriers. Written in the 1920's the author has working sealyhams and has many accounts of his work with them.

What struck me was the description of Jack Russell Terriers, which alter quite a lot for the Kennel Club Jack Russell of our day. Why is it the Kennel club seem to make a real hash of preserving a breed as it was originally intended? It probably says a lot about the low self esteem of those who take part constantly seeking perfection but only succeeding in producing freaks.

Jack Russell said he sought a type rather than a breed; this type was rough haired, predominately white, with narrow shoulders and a broad head. It coated needed to be mat like to survive the weather, and Jack Russell believed a smooth coat was a sign on Bull Terrier in the type, and he did not want any of that. His terriers were to mark its prey to ground and if possible bolt it, he did not want hard terriers which would grip the fox and fight silently under ground. A broadish head because he wanted his terriers to be able to grip when necessary and be able to get them selves out of trouble.

When I look at the Jack Russells today there is an increasing divide between the show world and the working world, I know which one has a better track record and which one I trust.

As an aside Joclyn Lucas has an account of the equipment needed for Badger digging, given by a French Nobleman in the 1600's, as well as spade, iron bar and tongs, it also includes a barrel of wine a cart with a mattress and and 17 year old willing girl! Not sure the Rev Russell would approve.