Border Terriers: any experience?

[Two_Sheds]

So, Mr TS has set his heart on one of these little dogs and apparently we are viewing a puppy in the morning

From what I've read so far, they are:

- barky esp if left alone
- dig like mad at every opportunity (my poor garden)
- chase anything that moves (so can't be let off the lead)
- will chase & kill anything it can catch (I have guinea pigs and free range parrots)

Please will someone tell me that they have a Border who hates long walks, hates getting muddy, doesn't yap and is scared of parrots

[Glutton4...]

Friends of ours have a youngster - she's adorable! Digs like there's no tomorrow, and loves chasing Chickens - typical Terrier. Almost never runs out of energy, but when she does, only needs a ten minute recharge to be back at full power.

OK for them, as he takes her to work with him, so she gets plenty of exercise, and they have a huge garden.

Just check out the conversations that have been had on here in the last few months, probably in the Chicken section...

Good luck!

[Two_Sheds]

he takes her to work with him, so she gets plenty of exercise, and they have a huge garden.

We have a small garden with all my plants in it

As for exercise, Mr TS says he'll walk the dog twice a day, but I know the novelty will last about a week, then it'll just be to the poo bin and back (20 yards) - we've already had a practise by dogsitting his brother's pet

[Glutton4...]

Sounds like a no-brainer to me. Probably to you too, by the sound of it!

[Glutton4...]

I heard today, that the Dog I was hoping to take on, is actually staying with his owners, as they can't bring themselves to part with him! So, in a couple of months' time, when you've house-trained it, I'll come and take it off your hands!

[Shadylane]

Himself used to hint at getting a dog, but I would tell him if he wants one he'd have to get up at the crack to walk it and clean up it's poo and wipe it's bum when it's got poo stuck to it and be perfectly fine with coming home from work after leaving it alone all day to find the house in bits and covered in poo. He agrees it may be an idea to wait until we retire.

Maybe you could suggest a hamster?

[Scarlet]

We have a small garden with all my plants in it

As for exercise, Mr TS says he'll walk the dog twice a day, but I know the novelty will last about a week, then it'll just be to the poo bin and back (20 yards) - we've already had a practise by dogsitting his brother's pet

We had one when we were kids, my mum has a parson terrier now and it is as mad as a hatter! My chickens are only safe bacause of the electric fence, she will dig forever. Two little jaunts to the park wont be enough to wear a terrier out and I would worry about the guinea pigs : try to change his mind unless you really want it - they are a handful..

[Glutton4...]

What, Mr TS?

Not on your Nelly! LOL

A Terrier will be easier to train than him, anyway!

[vicky]

We got a Norfolk terrier cross a while ago - she's 6 months now.

She only barks when there's something to bark at - people at the door etc - so good in that respect.
She loves to dig! I am filling in a hole in the lawn (again) tomorrow, generally it's on bare soil (ie freshly planted onion sets etc) and she likes to bury stuff too. So ok in a big garden but very bad in a small one.
Chasing animals, well she'll have a sneaky chase of the chickens but hasn't tried to 'get' them yet and will stop if I shout for her to 'leave' - so ok, but I'd never leave her alone with them.
On walks we don't have her off the lead as she will just run away.... but I think she'll be ok after say, 3 years...
Overall I'd say far less trouble than Mr TS - can you do a trade?

[FionaH]

I would scrap the terrier idea, (high maintenace) and trade Mr TS in for a nice dopey lab

[PAULW]

Terriers are like kids its all down to how you train them, if you give them an inch they will take a thousand miles, be firm, give their brains plenty to do this will stop them getting bored and getting up to mischief, give them toys this will stop them chewing anything that isnt theirs, get a big stick.

[northepaul]

They're lovely dogs, but as everyone else has said, hard work and ceaseless energy. If they dont get enough exersise they're liable to be snappy with people and rip up your carpets etc.
On the other side though, it might encourage Mr TS to do some exercise??

[Seahorse]

Oh dear TS. Can we look forward to you featuring in a forthcoming episode of It's Me Or The Dog?

Mr TS must have his good points but from everything you've said, today and in the past, this will end up as *your* dog, so do try and stand firm and just say no.

[Florence Fennel]

Yep. Trouble is, when he gets an idea in his head, he won't budge. I've been avoiding the subject for the past year. He tells everyone that I "won't let" him have a dog, when what I've actually said is "you can have a dog if you do ALL the walks and ALL the poo-picking-up"

I have enough to do with my own pets: he doesn't help, and I don't need more work

Don't do it TS, please don't do it. I agreed to just one German Shepherd dog about 30 years ago as long as the family did all the looking after and walking. We have had a succession of German Shepherds, in pairs, until about 2 years ago and I ended up doing everything for them.

[Two_Sheds]

Terriers are like kids its all down to how you train them

... and I am a strict mistress

Don't do it TS, please don't do it.

I don't have very much choice FF - if he wants something, he buys it. I've been trying to steer him towards a more suitable breed, but he ain't budging.

Thanks everyone for your input, it's (as usual) been v.reassuring