Rabbiting in the Dales

Simon Whitehead takes Tawny the lurcher on a trip north for rabbiting in the Dales to watch her working alongside her sire, Dan.
Ever since Tawny was born, Torchie has charted her progress closely, watching the ups and downs to maturity, and now she would finally be working the Dales.
I had no distractions other than filming, leaving me to concentrate on my charge. Her fitness was good but not what I would call “Dales fit”. This contorted earth, steep inclines and descents, all exercise and build different muscles than that of a pancake racer. I had to be careful. After meeting Torchie at the weekend accommodation, we made the slow and arduous climb to the hilltops. Rabbits all stood to attention, almost saluting us with relief as we drove past. We didn’t see that last year so it was a good sign that myxomatosis hasn’t visited just yet.
We pulled up alongside the fields we were to work seeing rabbits bobbing, going about their daily business as if we weren’t there. I hoped we were in for a good day.
As we got ready, sheep ambled over the brow out of sight. The ferrets were frantically scratching away at the lid on their well-seasoned wooden box. Dan led the way with his nose, starting to mooch about the warrens, dropping his head to the side, inhaling the scent, giving his characteristic mark. Mesmerised by a hole holding our rabbits, Tawny soon joined him. Straight away her nose began twitching at the sheer strength of the air- and ground-borne scent. She wasn’t daunted or overawed by the occasion. She is fleet of foot on flat soil; what we didn’t know was what she would be like on the uneven ground.
These warrens weren’t exactly deep or daunting, but there were so many and they were close together. We were here with two dogs; one learning her craft, the other in the twilight of his career. On a long course, the odds favoured the hunter, but over
a few yards, if the dogs weren’t positioned correctly, the odds were definitely on the side of the hunted. One dog was fast, the other experienced. Experience does catch a lot of rabbits but if they gave the bunnies too much headway, they would get the upper hand.
Ferreting this way is the most sporting of the rabbiting disciplines. The rabbits know intimately every nook and cranny of their home environment. Their conformation is designed to operate with a low centre of gravity. Their rear legs offer an extraordinary unpredictable change of speed and their instinct to survive ensures that sometimes their avenues of escape defy human logic. We had the canine athletes, which were driven individuals and knew exactly what, where and how the rabbits operated.
What levelled the playing field was the ground, jagged and pitted with limestone. The locality of the next warren was close, ensuring that we couldn’t give the rabbits too much of a head start. If Tawny got it right, she would mop up bunnies as if they were treading water, but the question was: would she start to gas and lose energy in doing so?

[@angelogouveia2487]

Wow Amazing Dogs 🐕 absolutely love watching the action of your Dogs .thanks for sharing.

[@agradina]

that dog is faster than my wife spending my credit card

[@halimakimathi4189]

Oh shit lol

[@ankitthakur4731]

make this dog as ur wife 😂😂😂

[@nileshshirke7447]

😂😂

[@AlQuranMalayalam]

Woooow

[@ederhercules5798]

😂

[@Sobersneakerhead]

That dog is a chaser boy. I've seen some fast chasers but damn he is a gem

[@salemabinhahmah4009]

บ

[@thedogman7846]

I love the senior dog giving it his best and going for the rabbits in the net like it was in it‘s prime ❤

[@Nonetoochuffed]

Excellent. It's nice to see dogs and ferrets working together. Dan looked so pleased when he caught that rabbit that hit the purse net.

[@ferretWhitehead]

Torchie got his hanky out,lol

[@teamantizonk]

Verry nice hunt with dog master . Super dog super speed n super agresive. Succes master

[@Shaddiewolf]

This dog is incredible. To be so fast and agile, and have such a soft mouth! And how it ignores the ferrets completely but doesn't hesitate when it sees a rabbit, wow! The perfect rabbiting dog.

[@mikethompson5549]

Once bitten by a ferrett twice shy

[@lea8397]

This dog is stunning :O I mean both are great, but you can clearly see that one of them is getting old.

[@realmvp7347]

Hanzo what bread

[@adamcheang3991]

Hanzo looks like bull/grey x collie grey

[@joewhittam7661]

Dog is deer hound grey x collie grey x whippet grey

[@approachinggnosis4613]

Joe Whittam how do you know for sure?

[@stephenkelly9633]

that lurcher is a absolute beast. i bet days out with tawny are always amazing, shes great!!!!

[@williampage8882]

Beautiful.. nothing can be added... simply beautiful

[@jimbojet8728]

That dog! Is truly amazing. So quick off the mark catches the rabbit in a matter of a few metres on occasion. Perfect reflexes and good training , no doubt. Great to watch. Thanks for sharing.

[@Moostafa78]

That dogs a master of its craft 🙌

[@thomasregan8960]

A good lucher is what you need and you have one🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕

[@chiiz0lit82]

Damn thats a real elite dog. Puppies of him have to be expensive. Hes so pretty, well trained and fast af.

[@johnrussell914]

Watched this dog a few times and it's a corker. Very determined. Must be one proud owner

[@corycornelius1356]

WOW! RED DOG IS EXCELLENT!🎩

[@huntme2]

What a gorgeous lurcher!

[@timgabemgabe6145]

What is the type of this dog? I need it

[@watjejanssen7535]

what a speed,great show

[@Jesuswarnedus]

I had mini greyhounds n they were fast n heard n read a lot about whippets n watching this confirms all that info I read n heard. Beautiful dogs n love their hunting abilities. Good Bless n much love!!

[@friscoHub415]

what a great dog amazing and fast as i ever seen

[@NorCal415]

That brown dog is really great👍 fast and accurate

[@rudejase]

rabbit stew n dumlpins for dinner! Love it.

[@johncuccia8207]

Be one Hell of a Vacation Destination. Cheers from The States

[@christopherch7307]

👍❤️👍 awesome video

[@Murlocsluvmeat]

Damn, your pup is quick !

[@Hatarue]

That greyhound type dog is amazing at her job!

[@connordrummond]

He can move for sure 💪💪

[@trevorcollins9297]

Nice vid mate, I bet that collie cross was good in his /her time too , love to see such good dogs working and doing what they are bred to do!! keep the vids coming mate..... such a pleasure t watch, thank you!!!!!!

[@rufcdunnyrufc]

I'd love a morning up on the dales with Torchie and his dogs, just to learn from an old master, bet he's got a few stories to tell!

[@mvenuvenu2692]

Super dog 🐕❤️

[@ShahHussain-kc1eb]

Good dog nice day

[@user-pd1ej7cv9u]

Good job! Dog it's good boy!

[@jem0911]

Great to see. Love watching dogs work.

[@Dougwituik]

i find it amazing the differences between the continents regarding hunting. Completely illegal to do this here in Canada, both in technique and limits. Good quality video, Cheers from your old Colony. Doug

[@smokingrammy828]

Damn, those dogs are quick.

[@coreym8145]

its like a mix between a jack russel and one of those race dogs. insane how fast it was and its amazing how it can instantly tell teh different between the ferret and rabbit

[@cristobalsantiago823]

It looks like a cross between a collie and an English greyhound. She's a fantastic bitch, she seems to change gears running, she's like a Ferrari

[@TheWizzkid67]

lovely dogs fantastic to watch

[@abidababida7096]

thats dinner for a few nights! Probably didnt even dent the population of wild bunnies. They breed unbelievably fast

[@Daniella-bs1vd]

Beyond amazing lurcher! Good work

[@robertblog2493]

The other dog be like 'Hi bro why are you so fast .give me a chance to chase them'😂😂😂😂

[@rampauhinglak8253]

Nice doy I love the dog

[@Lee-dq2lw]

love to see dogs doing their job

[@alexrichardson2481]

fantastic dog mate .

[@craigellishtravler2221]

Nice day out

[@cutebabe6762]

Wow the dogs are so cool 😂

[@tigerbalm666]

Amazing teamwork! I've never seen this before!

[@jaibhagva7]

That dog is faster then flash 😂😂😂

[@dansbruskofans9943]

i love those dogs

[@j.mageshmagesh1705]

Awesome👏👏👏👏👏

[@andresetc]

Awesome dogs! Worth their weight in gold!

[@Sablewai]

She's a beaut dog and fast to boot!

[@dillon_sheeley]

Could watch this dog all day

[@yakubuhamdan6904]

That's good I like the red dog

[@scottcole1458]

Far that dog is great 1 of the fastest I've seen

[@mikelowrey5275]

Good dogs bravo

[@fourskin3816]

This is humane and natural. The rabbits do not suffer for long and those are some damn *GOOD BOIS*

[@rammie1976]

fantastic lurcher, and each catch is by the head/neck not just grabbing the hind legs or torso. great to see her working.

[@pablofuentes5152]

That's one fast dog!

[@MrPeoples]

Tawny looks like a seasoned pro... great dog

[@ashleyrenton7257]

Very impressive. That dog has wheels.

[@arindambhattacharjee1121]

Amazing , great dog .

[@PobbieRoops]

Shit hot!!!! What a speed !!!

[@sumanchakma38]

Good dog

[@faultindication]

Damn that younger dog is speeding! 💥

[@jobybarney4784]

Good dog that is

[@georgefletcher6844]

great dog

[@ferretWhitehead]

Makes me wince at times,lol

[@singola100]

I have dream for having such an extra ordinary dog.

[@moraes1453]

Espetacular esse cachorro Muito bom Perfeito

[@alecsabkan]

I love this dog!

[@KnightLifeVlogs]

is so cool how the dog and ferret are in cahoots

[@artisansportsman8950]

Nice video , long time ago i used to walk a dog up in the dales & had a lot of fun . It's not all about speed a clever dog could fill a van in afternoon up there no more though not many rabbits left now.

[@feskijulmisa3142]

Finally i can see dogs can catch these damn rabbits.

[@bobsmalls7812]

well done good video

[@ferretWhitehead]

Thanks

[@andrewedwards67]

Great spot alright,well done

[@kingmexi5017]

great video

[@ferretWhitehead]

Cheers

[@spectralcodec]

Amazing dog!

[@henryorton184]

What a good Dog that is...

[@kiddbraiin3487]

the brown dog is a very good dog

[@daniella_nzatkins4209]

i love the fact the dogs have a good time and there getting rid of pests

[@MichaelHeinrich1]

This dog in Incredible fast!

[@felixbett4893]

Awesome dog, I like it

[@allisongasparini7602]

Wow, that's a great dog.

[@user-ff8rd8zj6t]

nice dog in life. awesome team

[@kenruru100]

Awesome, mate!

[@saiporeddy7303]

That brown dog 🐕 is badass

[@jerrywilliams9934]

That is one buffed up dog.

[@narrowgoat-scout]

Thats a stunning dog. Fast as fk aswel

[@irmaolan1742]

that is the best dog every

[@christianmelbourne19]

I've seen some fast dogs in my time but bugger me thats fast a try credit to the old boy

[@WaxmanHenry]

that tan/brown dog is 1 hard working animal.

[@XAVargasX0206]

Brown dog don't fuck around...good dog right there.

[@CAMEL66CHANEL]

I really want to have this dog😎

[@harrysadler7403]

Amazing content I hope to have a dog like that one someday!

[@williecosgrove]

Torchie. So proud of his grandkids.

[@ferretWhitehead]

I thought i saw his hanky come out,lol

[@chris-ip4pk]

awsome dog ...i love rabbit stew..the best..keep it up..makes it look a doddle

[@Ribry11]

That’s an incredible animal you have there lad

[@amytrimble7152]

that is one fast dog I don't even think my lurches could beat that 😅

[@anantgoel5947]

The dogs name should be Flash

[@paulgrain7952]

best type of rabbiting or should I say easiest foot digs n big hobs for the big bunny's had a half spaniel xterrier used to do double figures nearly every time a dogs only as good as the land it's on the glorious dales great stamp of dogs lads

[@sanmiguel6726]

Tawny is amazing

[@robertmortimore3024]

Brilliant bit of Rabbiting and thats the fastest Lurcher on the planet...Where did you get the cost/jacket Ian please