Dog and Rabbit Holes

[Charlotte1486]

Hi. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can stop my delightful little dog (Max) from going down rabbit holes. He is a patterdale x jack russell about 2 and a half years old. He started doing this a few months ago and there have been a couple of times when we thought we had lost him for good, so now he has to be kept on his lead when we go for walks, which neither of us really like, he used to love running around but now we're scared he will go down a hole and not be able to get back out. And its not necessarily rabbit holes we had an incident with a rat nest but luckily he couldn't get in that one! Any suggestions? Thanks.

[what..the?]

I don't have dogs but could you get a collar that sprays water or buzzes and you just press it when he goes near he will learn then not to got near?

[ladybirder]

That's what JR's do charlotte. That's what they're made for. They are ratters and will chase anything that moves. A Jack Russell kept on a lead is a sad sight IMO. Mine used to do it all the time but I'd just wait patiently for him to appear again. He was having a great time. Luckily he loved me and always came back.

[ladybirder]

I should add - he came back when he was ready.

[Frank97]

Perhaps you could attach a locator used for ferrets to his collar, it won't stop him going down the hole but if he doesn't return at least you would have an idea of where to dig.

[RATTER15]

Ive had terriers for years, I wish you luck!! :-)

Intensive training so that your dog returns when he is told without a problem.

I actually nearly lost two Jack Russells like this.

They both managed to escape and went hunting in the fields and wood up behind my house, they were both gone for two days, I scoured the woods every spare minute I had. The dog returned severely bitten around the back end and needed emergency surgery, the bitch was never seen again. The vet assured me that the fleas found on the dog was from a badger! They obviously found a badger set, the badger would have killed the smaller bitch.

[ladybirder]

Good idea D97.

[Charlotte1486]

He does come back eventually, my boyfriend had to walk all the way back to the car the last time and out he came running at top speed through the forest covered in dirt and all sorts but what worries us is that he might get stuck down there?

[B00]

Other than keep him on the lead, there's nothing you can do. As has been pointed out, he's a ratter, and ratters see holes, and disappear down 'em.

[rsvp]

terriers hunt and chase things - this is what they are bred for - they also work on the premise "I'll return when I've finished what I'm doing" - so you are up against igf you expect this - I've heard it said an obedient terrier or an obedient hound is a contradiction in terms so my suggestion is fit a tracking device as has been suggested and learn to live with the fact that he is only doing what terriers do - seems such a shame to deprive him of his freedom cos he's doing something you don't like.

[sallybb]

This is probably a mad suggestion, but those wide plastic collars you get from the vets to stop dogs licking wounds etc. If he had one of those on it it impede him from going down the hole, or do you think he might still get down them?

[RATTER15]

>>>seems such a shame to deprive him of his freedom cos he's doing something you don't like.<<<

Have you any idea how many terriers need rescuing by digging literally tons of earth to get to these dogs that have become stuck or killed underground?

The ferret locators are quite good but you can also get these locators specifically for terriers.


BOO!!! what are you suggesting, are you casting aspersions upon my character?