They took a hare General Chat

my dogs took down a hare today
we were walking and they had already taken 2 mixi rabbits
i seen somthing move out from the cover so set the dogs on it thinking it was another rabbit,
the chase lasted 10 mins and they finally brought it down so i went over and they had a hare pinned to the floor

If I were you, I'd delete your post, and keep your dogs on lead.

Hare coursing is banned, not that most people actually know what hare coursing is, but chasing down a hare and killing it is really unacceptable. Apoloies if that sounds harsh, it's not meant to be, more just factual.

Great, rabbits and hare today, somebody's cat or dog tomorrow.................................

Fantastic!

Personally I'd be ever so slightly concerned if my dogs were chasing something for 10 minutes and I could not recall them in that time. Did you allow them to chase it for 10 minutes or could you not recall them?

Accidents happen and my dogs have killed a few things (rabbits, squirrels, etc.) so I'm not going to be hypocritical about it, but I think context is everything here...

especially when they took off for hours not very long ago........................

i didnt try to recall them because i have permission from the farmer for them to take as many rabbits as they can,
i thought it was a rabbit which is why i didnt recall,
and they ran of so they didnt get attacked tbh i was happier with that than if they stayed and got hurt
oh yeah and they would not hurt a cat they live with 6 of them and they are at the bottom of the pecking order

How unpleasant

Stick the cat in the middle of a field and have it run off and then see if you can still say that!!

You have permission from a farmer but don't know the difference between a rabbit and a hare? I hate to sound condescending, but I'm assuming you're not that old?

Honestly, ask for this thread to be deleted, keep your terriers on lead, and learn about the law and hunting with dogs, or not, as the pertinent point should be!

its called pest controlle,
well the rabbit bit is i didnt want them to kill any hare i didnt even know there was hares on the land

Oh dear......................................

they still wouldnt kill it,

i didnt get a good look just seen somthing run across the path that looked rabbity out the corner of my eye,

What would you do, if someone had recorded the incident and reported it?

Ask yourself that question, every time you take your dogs out. And then think of the 'Fenton' video with the flatcoat chasing deer that went *viral*, do you want to be shown with your dogs killing a hare, and possibly be subject to prosecution??

Doesn't matter, if you set out to do pest control, you can't let your guard slip just because you've been given permission. You need to know what's there, and most of all, you need to keep those dogs under control, and use them in a controlled manner. This sort of incident does nothing for the hunting and shooting community, but you live and learn, so please, don't be complacent.

How very sad. :-(

dont worry im going to be a lot more vigilant now i know there is hares there,

It's not called pest control if your dogs bring down something they shouldn't. And it's not pest control if you can't tell the difference between a rabbit and a hare, whether it was running quickly or not. ;-) It's also not working your dog if you can't control them and recall them when needed. Every person I know who works their terriers/hounds can recall them off something they shouldnt be chasing.

As for the cat thing, you have no idea what they would do. Yes they may not chase your cat because they know them. An unfamiliar scent and a running animal = chase. Whether they live with them or not.

Poor Hare...poor rabbits xxx

I have a JRT I don't set her on anything she doesn't even chase the rats now xx

I don't have a problem with it and the dogs Woking if it's done in the correct way. This way however, sounds as if it is not done correctly. I wouldn't call it pest control.

I agree, but I don't encourage any of mine to chase as it could be someone cat.....and we do have cats crossing our fields from the farm next door quite often