Dogs - who owns what and how did you choose it?

[Paul_B]

One last thing. Meeting those JRT X puppies my son wasn't comfortable with them around him. They jumped up on full lead on their rear legs pawing at us. He shrunk away from them. Plus when the owner invited us to meet them he said no then kind of said he wasn't sure. He spent most of the encounter hiding behind me a bit.

Now how should I take that? He does that with dogs that jump up at you in excitement. Other dogs he'll cautiously stroke them. He's hit a bit more cautious around dogs. At 18 months he had no fear. Except around staffie/bulldog types.

Is it fear, caution or what? It is a concern. If he's not OK with a dog it's a non - starter. I think a puppy is excitable but I think he'll get used to it and the puppy will possibly lose interest in jumping up at him after a short time.

 

[santaman2000]

It's not that puppies "lose" interest in jumping up, chewing, play biting, etc. Rather they eventually "outgrow" it. S to your sons reaction, that's a bit more complicated. Smaller breeds (like JRTs) do get a rep for being snappy with kids. In my experience it's partially true and at the same time partially false. The problem is that kids are as exuberant and playful as the puppies; add to that the fact that smaller dogs are more easily hurt when playing rough and it can often end with the smaller breeds acting defensively more often. That brings us back to your son's reaction. The dog will also pick up on it and while some dogs (particularly therapy dogs) simply ignore it and push up to be petted, most dogs will avoid him (if he displays this reaction) which defeats part of your purpose in getting a dog. I'd look a bit longer for a dog he's comfortable with.

 

[Stew]

We were lucky enough to get our latest dog because of the very reason of jumping and boisterousness of being a puppy. The owner had a young child that didn't like it so she was returned to the breeder.

 

[Paul_B]

How tough do you think a dog bred to go down foxholes to flush out fixes need to be? I'll give you a clue, very tough! I once got told what the job parsons russel terriers (similar origins as JRT) job involves. It's a horse based fox hunting dog that runs with the hounds keeping pace with horse and hound. Then after cornering the fox down a hole its real job starts. What that involves is the dog goes down into the dark hole searching for the fox that's cornered. It then has to fight the fox out of the hole. The fox would rather go out the hole than stay with the terrier.

If you think you have to treat a terrier gently you're mistaken. Even toy terriers like Yorkies aren't fragile by any stretch of the imagination if you've ever been around them. My gran had two in a row and I used to practically throw it around by its teeth playing with a toy it could hang by its teeth and if you did shake it loose it just rolled away, got to it's teeth and came back for more. I doubt a chihuahua would be like that but I have no doubt that any terrier is tough enough for responsible owners and their kids.

However I must emphasize responsible. You should never let your kids play unsupervised with any dog unless you can be sure they know how to be around dogs and will treat them right.

PS I just did a bit of research into JRT dogs and smaller dog issues. It seems a lot of small dog issues reported widely are down to the difference between how humans handle small and larger dogs.

For example, a little dog jumps up at you it's being friendly. A large dog is intimidating. You let one and train it out of the other. You should train these things out of small dogs too. If you don't you have a small dog with a problem. That can be a more yappy, snappy behavior or it can be an aggressive little dog with dominance issues.

Personally my only real issue with a JRT is the whole terrier trait. The way they can turn a deaf ear to do just as they want. They're intelligent and trainable but if a scent interests it more then training is out the window.

My partner reckons this withdrawal behavior my son had towards those two JRT X dogs isn't an issue. She is certain the puppy would not be an issue and my son would get used to any puppy or dog we got. I tend to agree. He's not like that with all dogs.

Indeed when younger we had a camping holiday and the nearby caravan had a 7 year old girl who took him under her wing. She had two Labrador dogs that he had no fear of. One (younger dog) was actually frightened of my son despite the fact he was 18 month old IIRC. The other was the dog's dam and had grown up with the little girl. So it was not too bothered with a young child who it turns out had not been at good with the dogs as he had seemed when we were watching. Poking the older dog in the head didn't bother it but the younger dog was bothered. Good it just took itself away and didn't do anything. Guess that's the Labrador for you.

Still once we realized what he had done we stopped him going near the dogs. He doesn't do anything like that now. He's old enough to know better. We've taken any opportunity we could to introduce him to dogs and teach him how to treat them.

 

[santaman2000]

Yeah JRTs are tough (hence my earlier post about the one Barbara used to own making me drag him away from the possum under the feed shed) Likewise dachshunds (they were originally developed to dig badgers out of their holes) Which brings us to another potential problem with terrier type dogs: they love to dig. Hence the very name, terrier (earth dog)

 

[Paul_B]

Currently no garden but we plan to move. Trust me though we're not gardeners so a digging terrier isn't an issue for us.

A great uncle took on a rescue JRT. Poor thing was the subject of a criminal cruelty case resulting in jail time. It was brain damaged badly and very timid. It b read unsure of carpets, grass and hid most of v the time behind ceiling to floor curtains my parents had when it visited them. I was a kid at the time with my sister we really tried to calm out down in a few hours it was relaxed with us.

That dog was so badly damaged it saw everything to one side. This meant it kept walking into door frames. It was still a lovely dog and did come out of its shell with ppl it knew eventuality.

The thing that I remember well read the walk we all went on together that that meeting. They let it off the lead and it went into the mass of brambles at the side of the path after rats and / or rabbits. Classic terrier! It was a dark, dense mass of undergrowth that sight wasn't much use so it did well with its other servers judging by the squeals of animal after animal being dispatched by this nearly broken JRT.

You can't keep a good dog down I've heard and that dog was a very good dog!

 

[santaman2000]

Yeah, my gardening has been in the front yard for some time now (away from the fenced back yard where I let the dogs run and romp) My problems have been with then digging under the fence to escape into the world at large, or with huge holes under the shed and house. That said, I expect you should have less a problem as IIRC y'all have harder soil (it's sandy here)

 

[Janne]

Seems your dogs want to escape you, Santaman?

 

[santaman2000]

LOL. They love to roam. I wish I still lived out in the country where I could let them.

 

[Paul_B]

Believe it or not if I get a JRT digging to escape is impossible (hard ground back yard). But the small dogs I know from experience they jump high for their size. My local animal rescue (used to volunteer for them) gives the advice to make sure prospective JRT owners have 6' fences. They officially still own all rehomed dogs and they have taken JRT dogs back because the owner only had 5' fences. The dog ends up being caught and brought back to the rescue.

My grandparents JRT regularly jumped up into high counters to reach food. Can't leave them for a moment they're quick and springy little dogs. Lot of fun but boy do you need to control them.

To think my partner thinks the only problem with JRT dogs is they're snappy and yappy!

 

[bonzodog]

Daisy,my four year old patterdale.Family member owners her mum so an easy choice.

 

[Paul_B]

Border terrier bitch. There's a KC registered one where I live. It was one breed we looked at. So tempted to call and take a look.

My other half gave me a birthday card with two border collie puppies on it. The breed she really likes the look of. If I spotted a BC puppy going in our town she'd go for it if we took a look.

I have this idea that BTs have less of the problems of terriers than say Patterdale terriers. More of a suitable family pet. Still need rabbit proof wire mesh buried in the ground around fence boundary to prevent escape. Not an issue here because it's tarmac yard with 6 for stone or blockwork walls.

How wrong is it to take on a puppy for Xmas? It feels wrong after all those "puppy for life not Xmas " ad campaigns I saw on TV as a kid.

 

[santaman2000]

...How wrong is it to take on a puppy for Xmas? It feels wrong after all those "puppy for life not Xmas " ad campaigns I saw on TV as a kid.

You've already done your research and agonizing to be certain you'll be able to care for an adoptee for life. In your case those campaigns don't apply because it's not just a Christmas whim. In fact you might be doing the pup a favor by adopting it BEFORE it can go to somebody less committed.

 

[Paul_B]

Did a bad thing yesterday evening. Visited a friend's new litter of labs. Just before they opened their eyes but so cute. Yellow to fox red. Gundog bred not show dog bred. Mother is good pedigree with clear health checks (father genetically clear so offspring unable to be born with those tested issues). Plus the best hip and elbow scores. The puppy's brother from another litter (same parents) is a slim but very strong looking fox red dog. It's expected to have even better hip scores and is showing instinctive gundog skills. As in it does all the actions you need for a gundog before proper training.

If the puppies are like that they'll be great dogs for someone.

Hmmmm!

NO! Be strong and resist. I know there's not many border terriers nearby but that's no reason to get a lab. Even a great lab like those will be.

 

[Paul_B]

Hey guys, after all your advice and comments we've finally gone for a female border terrier. Picking her up tomorrow, after we've bought the kit we need.

Just what do we need again?

Bowls, leads, collar, harness, bed, cage, toys, puppy pads, food, treats and a name. Anything else needed?

BTW what's a good name for a female border terrier? So far macy, lexi I think, Oatie and an out there option is ketchup. Yes I know, they're rubbish. I've got it into my head anything ending in an y, eee or similar sound is more effective to grab the dog's attention.

 

[Janne]

Bucket and some rags.
She will wee and poo indoors before you teach her.

I would avoid a collar and lead in the beginning, before she gets trained. It will oput to much pressure on her neck and throat. A harness is nicer to her!

And - congratulations to a new baby in the household!.

 

[Robson Valley]

Congrats on the new fur-baby. I put a well-worn & unwashed shirt of mine in the crate.
Just to remind the pup that the "pack" is never far away. Never a whimper.

Put your name list on the 'fridge in the kitchen. You'll come up with something.

"Muddy" and he always was. There's only a straight line between the hold and the bird.

 

[Janne]

Come up with a selection of names and make a poll here!

 

[santaman2000]

Most of my dogs thought their names were "dammit." As in, "Dammit, get back in here!" or "Dammit, put that down!" or something similar until their training caught up.

 

[Dogoak]

Congrats Paul. Kept meaning to post on this thread but not got round to it.

ID tag, U.K. law in public places and the easiest way for someone to contact you if needed. Get the micro chip done as soon as the vet says she can have it.

Training starts now! You can introduce some quite easily, if you see her going to sit down say 'sit', same if she lays down, 'down', when she comes towards you 'come', just introduce the word to her natural behaviour, try to time it just as she's about to, or as she does it, seconds later and your wasting your time saying it.

My first dog chose me, an ill treated Rottweiler from a rescue. Didn't know much about them, I was only 20. I originally thought I wanted a collie but I kept going back to this dog and that was that. I've rescued 3 that I kept, sadly the last one passed about 2 years ago. Also fostered, rescued and re-homed a few others along with other breeds.
We got a collie, eventually, 10 years ago. We have since rescued a cute girlie Teckle, a brilliant character, and about 6 months ago we rescued a very, very badly treated lurcher who was only 7 months old. He's the work in progress at the mo, gaining trust in humans is not easy for him but very slowly things are getting better.

Good luck, have fun and remember patience is a virtue