Collie Mix Rabbit Hunting?

Question

I have a 18 month old Border Collie cross Springer Spaniel. He is a very keen hunting dog and loves chasing rabbits (our main game). He has killed a rabbit before but not by chasing it down (it was blind and he sneaked up in it). In what way can I train him to properly track down and catch rabbits? Does anyone have any methods they are willing to share?

Thanks

Answer 1

Well he isn't going to have the speed to course rabbits, although I'm sure he would have a bloody good go LOL, how about netting and using ferrets?

It is not something i have ever done but you could research it

EDIT there is not many dogs that DO NOT have sighthound in them that can catch HEALTHY rabbits, they just do not have the speed, this is why many Lurchers are collie crosses, so they have the stamina and the love of 'a job' but they have a faster, more agile dog thrown into the mix.

I also know many Lurchers who are no good at catching rabbits so i would like to see videos of a collie that regularly catches rabbits. would be very interesting indeed (i'm not saying other dogs can NEVER catch a rabbit but it will not be a 100% healthy rabbit otherwise poachers would use collies to hunt with, after all they are one of, if not THE brainest dog about, what more could you want when you are poaching?!!)

Answer 2

I don't know much about your dog or where you live. Here, we are over run with rabbits but I don't let my Collie chase them because they run for miles and then duck into holes between rocks.  Once she is out of ear shot and on the chase she does not want to come back, she also tries to get down the hole after the bunnies and I know of dogs that have got stuck.

You need to be sure you can get your dog to leave the rabbit in mid chase if you don't want to lose it.

On the speed thing, I do know a Collie that regularly catches rabbits so they are fast enough.