Please share your new pup with us, including pictures and info
My son operates a dachshund rescue, back end paralyzed, discipline problems etc. so all the dogs have problems...and I am inclined to say..."What freakin horrible dogs"...however, after they are with him for a while they turn into intelligent sweet (mostly) dogs. I am not a dog person...but meet Franklin...a 3 yr old doxie paralyzed in the back...and I would take him in a heartbeat...what a really sweet dogOkay. You asked for it. This is Otis. I got him in October from another forum member who has become a great friend over the years. Otis is out of falconry lines, so he will grow up to be a terrific hunting partner for me and the hawks. He's already off to a great start and he's been out in the fields with me getting acquainted with his new job nearly every day. He is about 6 months old now and I don't think I've ever had a more adorable and fun puppy. He runs around doing wheelies and flailing his little T-rex arms about. He just had his first job on set two days ago!
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In one of our hunting fields, we found this abandoned car and Otis and Axel decided to check it out:
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I'm well aware of the common problems with the breed. Otis has two important factors working in his favor though.My son operates a dachshund rescue, back end paralyzed, discipline problems etc. so all the dogs have problems...and I am inclined to say..."What freakin horrible dogs"...however, after they are with him for a while they turn into intelligent sweet (mostly) dogs. I am not a dog person...but meet Franklin...a 3 yr old doxie paralyzed in the back...and I would take him in a heartbeat...what a really sweet dogView attachment 367247
Franklin is wearing a pink diaper and is hiding his face under the blanket...Loki is the harlequin...there's only 5 dogs in the picture...but there's 3 more...
"Flailing little T-Rex arms" 🤩 Thanks for sharing all the pics!Okay. You asked for it. This is Otis. I got him in October from another forum member who has become a great friend over the years. Otis is out of falconry lines, so he will grow up to be a terrific hunting partner for me and the hawks. He's already off to a great start and he's been out in the fields with me getting acquainted with his new job nearly every day. He is about 6 months old now and I don't think I've ever had a more adorable and fun puppy. He runs around doing wheelies and flailing his little T-rex arms about. He just had his first job on set two days ago!
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In one of our hunting fields, we found this abandoned car and Otis and Axel decided to check it out:
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Do you worry about hunting with a small dog in terms of becoming prey themselves?I'm well aware of the common problems with the breed. Otis has two important factors working in his favor though.
1. He's a mini. Dad was 6 pounds and mom was 8 pounds. The mini's don't tend to have as much problem orthopedically.
2. He's out of long standing well bred falconry lines. Working lines of dogs can't have orthopedic problems, or they don't work. The best performers are bred and the lines get stronger as opposed to pet lines that get weaker over time.
No. The hawks are very selective about what they will go after. They recognize their prey compared to other animals. They don't like dogs much, so it might be the opposite of the problem you asked about. They may keep their distance because a dog is present. It will likely only take one or two instances of them realizing that when the dog goes in a rabbit comes out, for them to clue in to this.Do you worry about hunting with a small dog in terms of becoming prey themselves?
What about coyotes, etc?No. The hawks are very selective about what they will go after. They recognize their prey compared to other animals. They don't like dogs much, so it might be the opposite of the problem you asked about. They may keep their distance because a dog is present. It will likely only take one or two instances of them realizing that when the dog goes in a rabbit comes out, for them to clue in to this.
Falconers sometimes make a joke about using dogs under Harris' hawks. Once they all get the routine down, you can just bring a lawn chair and a beer and sit back and watch the show.
Not an issue at all. They stay wayyyy away from me stomping around out in the bush. I see them almost every day rapidly leaving the area. The birds see them a mile away and let out their coyote/canine call to alert me and each other of their displeasure at the presence of a predatory canine in their area.What about coyotes, etc?
would love that - except for the actual hunting part! lolNot an issue at all. They stay wayyyy away from me stomping around out in the bush. I see them almost every day rapidly leaving the area. The birds see them a mile away and let out their coyote/canine call to alert me and each other of their displeasure at the presence of a predatory canine in their area.
You should come with me sometime and see what its all about. Its a nice nature hike, and sometimes you get to see and hear a rabbit close up at the end of it.