Calling time on a ferreting career

At nine years old Millie has a lot of rabbiting mileage on her clock. Her body and mind now cannot withstand the rigours of a hard winter, but that does not totally exclude her from the odd few hours out. This is one of the beauties of ferreting; your dogs can, if managed well, continue to work even after you think their best days have gone, but you must be vigilant. Their physique may have changed, their once powerful hindquarters may have weakened and their muzzles greyed, but their nose and mind are still young.
My dogs have worked hard for me and will hopefully enjoy a long and good retirement, but on the odd days they do go out, I hold them in too high an esteem to pit them against rabbits I know that they have no chance of catching. But nets, which I like to use, are perfect for aiding and abetting the mature dogs we had out recently. No brace of lurchers fits the bill more than the Hinge and Bracket of our rabbiting pack: my Millie and my friend Steve Taylor’s Maze. One was an out-and-out ferreting dog in her day, while the other went ferreting after time was called on her lamping career.
While checking out some opened-up warrens locally, we decided to give the old girls the chance to stretch their limbs. Their speed may have long gone, but they still have their noses and combined with their experience and an understanding of how we ferret, they are still as quick over one yard as the youngsters.

[@smashtthesnobsfun]

These gentlemen are true dog lovers and not just " users". It is heartwarming to see them respect and love their old working dogs and that is just how it should be. Thank you both.

[@philipprint9510]

Many, many memories of happy days. Let them dream of great times past by the fire. Well done chaps.

[@jrammy5]

Total respect to this had a lurcher who died at 16 but worked till 10 year old and was keen every time I was going out up till death but he had a gd life and retirement

[@MrStavross30]

Cracking little film, I love the way she stalks down the beam, it great to see an older dog getting a go at the rabbits they never forget about what they love

[@paulcoxon2134]

Good working family dogs good working lads you know the game another game keep up the good videos lads

[@markmason13]

I do not know if its just me but I think Millie always looks happy when shes out working with you.

[@joey4199]

Love it, great video and a true show of respect for your dogs.

[@neilgilbert7672]

excellent boys and thay call us cruel and killers so little thay no

[@jospargo8417]

What a fantastic dog Millie is.

[@jennifersimpson4433]

Great Vid, Great Dugs..enjoy the fireplace 👍

[@paulreynolds9003]

Great to watch lads I remember these days but it got to hard to get permission with dogs. To many poachers spoiled it for lads that was always happy to knock on a farmers door and ask for permission.

[@jamesbyrne295]

lovely dog looks like Collie greyhound bedlinglington cross great to see her working so well.

[@motomeadyhuntingndmotocros6147]

Brilliant

[@rogerpadilha22]

Congratulations guys...

[@ferretWhitehead]

Thanks

[@gallopingg1]

LOVELY.

[@Ritercrazy]

Lovely video.

[@chrisfletcher975]

Thanks for the video, lovely to see two beautiful lurchers. Would be grateful to know what Maze's breeding is (3/4 cross pos?) and her size. Love the way Millie turns on a sixpence, have watched Tawny also, she is an incredible acrobat and has the looks and determination of a mythical hound.

[@danram69]

brilliant

[@ferretWhitehead]

Thanks, glad you liked it.

[@cerberus9982]

+Simon Whitehead first time watching this type of videos on youtube. very interesting. i just cant stop watching. perhaps because Im from mexico and people dont do that in the country I was born. may I ask what you do with the rabbits after that?

[@ferretWhitehead]

All of the rabbits go for food, either animal or mostly human consumption.

[@aileenlynch9893]

Is millie a wheatan cross cut my dad got me a lurcher cross wheaten for my 1oth birthday last year and he is hairy like millie

[@rickrolfe]

Is Millie Hancock bred?

[@ferretWhitehead]

No, just a collie cross fens bred type of lurcher.

[@lauracocchiarella8741]

I do a lot of ferreting

[@shubhamgupta326]

I want to job in usa please help me.