No Pain, No Gain

After a 110-mile walk for charity, Simon Whitehead goes ferreting with a new recruit, a young dog learning the ropes

The body may have been slightly broken, mind weary but my heart was still pumping six to the dozen. Ben Potter and I had just returned from our charity walk in aid of farming organisation You Are Not Alone (YANA) to coincide with world metal health day, accompanied by our lurchers Tawny and Lena.

Prior to this we had pencilled in a day for Lena’s first taste of ferreting. Unfortunately, the only free time for both of us was straight after the 110mile stomp across the Cleveland Way.

Our aching limbs helped sculpt the day. It was going to be a short and sweet few hours on the hill showing Lena the mechanics of ferreting, highlighting the contradictions to what she has been taught around her home, and to show her the job the ferrets do in providing rabbits.

Vital lesson

Around the farm she has seen and investigated my cages of ferrets, yet has no idea what they are or why they are there. She has been taught to ignore rabbits when they are in the cutting room for Ben’s birds, yet somehow we are going to show her that she can chase them, but not the ferrets, in the same breath.

This diminutive bitch doesn’t know what the game is about, not yet anyway, but these microconundrums will soon evaporate with a little help and guidance.

Starting off a young dog is something I only do around every five years. Each time I learn something new from my mistakes and the most vital lesson taught was about body language and the cornerstone of ferreting — patience. Not only do you need to be patient, but also maintain a good attitude while doing so.

The youngster will pick up a change in your demeanour, like any dog. Being nine months old, this fit collie/deerhound/greyhound cross is mentally astute, as sharp as a tac, so be able to pick up good habits quickly. All we had to ensure was that she didn’t pick up bad ones, too.