A question for terrier/x owners please. I know all dogs temperaments are different but had never had a terrier until 3 years ago(rescue). She is the most wonderful dog (behavioural issues since adopting much improved, especially socialisation other dogs, fear, confidence) and I love her to bits. Her re call is brilliant and she will 99% of time stay with me if strange dog/ folk appear or in new places. Some deer appeared yesterday and she sat looking,gave a little bark but didn't chase them or anything. But I've found she needs bossing a lot? firmer handling(not being cruel) than any of my previous dogs, is this a typical thing with terriers? Some owners I have spoken to have said it is Many thanks
Depends on the indivisual dog in my opinion.... My first dogs were 2 Cairn terriers, Rusty you had to be quite firm with but if I used the same tone of voice to Angus he would do the nervous shakes! Cherry and Parker I don't have to be firm with either of them -just finding what motivated them helped with training. People always say about terrier being stubborn but the most stubborn dogs I have met at training classes over the years have been Lhasa Apsos who have been stubborn to the point where I would have been really annoyed (inside) but because they are small and cute and fluffy looking they get away with it and don't have a reputation of stubbornness. I don't want to use the dreaded term "pack leader" but with terriers you definitely have to be the one that makes the house rules and have discipline in what you want them to do otherwise they will just walk roughshod over you. By the way-congratulations on how your dog behaved near the deer! We went to Holkham Hall in Norfolk for my birthday treat on Tuesday and I was so worried by the way Parker was behaving lunging on his lead and going generally nutty after the deer that I got his seat-belt harness out of the car and put it on him (thought he might slip his collar). This is a terrier that can be recalled away from cats and rabbits....but not deer I think!
Thankyou for your replies, Krusewalker yours made me giggle Kerryowner thankyou for the info and kind words, feel better knowing I'm doing something right, Parker is very good not to chase cats and rabbits, if mine sees a cat she just goes crazy, and there are lots of them round here
