Dotty shows net worth

To the walkers on the moor, we were simply another man and his dog admiring the view. But behind the large rock sat my ferret box, a sturdy spade and a probe. We were watching the rabbits’ scuts bob, weave and run among grassy tussocks under the crisp morning sun.

For the first time in many months, I could see my breath hanging in the air as I talked to my young lurcher, Dotty — a sure sign that the rabbiting season is well and truly under way.

The air carried a little sharpness. Not too much, but enough to let us know that it won’t be too long before jumpers are replaced by jackets. These cooler days have helped me and my dogs get fit. Both Dotty and her mother Tawny