Thinking of getting a terrier, talk me out of it

[Siggy]

Seriously thinking of getting a working Lakeland primarily for ratting. Already got two GWPs, what could got wrong?

 

[Rake Aboot]

Could be worse, it could be a Patterdale, in which case your GWP's would be on a limited lifespan lol.

 

[Brittany boy]

What a team that would make, Ive got a JR and the GWP just now , had a border / Lakeland cross before she was as hard as nails, would work rats on a chicken farm night after night, wouldn’t be without a terrier great characters.
Go for it

 

[Dunwaters]

You could be in for a lot of vet bills, interventions from RSPCA, complaints from the neighbours and a terrier with a very short life span, especially if one or both of the GWP’s are a bit hard.
A good little one has no chance against 2 good big ones.

 

[Rake Aboot]

I keep a Teckel and 2 large lurchers.
As long as you make sure they can't mix in a kennel they should be fine. I always lock the wee mans cage door to avoid accidents as yes, a kennel fight could prove harsh on the wee dog.

Doesn't stop him having a go at dogs 6 times his size mind, shoulda named him Napeoleon.

 

[shakey jake]

wouldnt have another terrier, ready to fight any thing any time. if you have any earths or sets near you, better buy a good spade terriers have there place but unless you have enough work i think it will be a pain in the ar+e. if you do have enough work the vets bill could be expensive as you shouldnt do any vet work your self

 

[Fair Hill]

Don't listen to the negative comments, terriers are great dogs.

Put the time into training any terrier and you'll have a perfect companion, even Patterdales. Loved above, feared below.

 

[Magnificent 7]

I have never read so much rubbish regarding terriers above.As long as you are careful at introducing them all and keep a good eye on them until you are completely satisfied they have all accepted each other you will be fine.I’ve owned working terriers since I was a kid and have possibly owned more than thirty over the years working them every weekend.Some will naturally go to ground and some won’t but before loosing any dog surely recall ect should be first and foremost.Ok some will fight but a lot of that is down to poor socialising as a pup the fighter was never normally very good for work normally like the saying goes the quiet ones you had to watch and I always kennelled them in pairs.I always found the big dogs lurchers and hounds ect never really had an issue with them either even having one live with my bull cross permanently what I may add eats dinner first and once full would let the lurcher have hers quite comical to see tbh.What I have found is once a terrier moves into your life love for them runs deep and the terrier will become the foreman of the pack of the dogs but also the household .Just my opinion and view on the whole situation.

 

[Magnificent 7]

 

[LarryLightFoot]

I can only go on my own experiences, I had Lakies as my dog of choice whilst training as a Keeper, they were obedient, I put time into training them to ignore anything other than fox’s . My first one went everywhere with me, everyday on my beat, wouldn’t look at sheep, cattle chickens etc . Loved a bit of ratting and was dedicated when gone to ground, was happy with walked up shooting above etc, wasn’t much for scrapping either with others when there was a congregation but then he was a junior but even the older Lakies seemed chilled some what, just my own experienc, I do have a soft spot for them…

 

[ashray]

i have a ten year old ex working patterdale ,a more friendly loving dog you wont find ,he hates collies with a vengence !!!

 

[Norfolk Horn]

 

[Magnificent 7]

i have a ten year old ex working patterdale ,a more friendly loving dog you wont find any human perfectly safe BUT IF ANYTHING has four legs and fur god help it ! he now lives in the garden and kennel he never likes to be inside and has in the last year killed four cats one dog eight rabbits two squirrels and is always looking for more and he hates collies with a vengence !!! he now spends every minute he can with me which is fine but his walking out days are over. too many up set locals . just a note,he is always on a long lead but is far to quick to grab and rag another animal so thats why he stays home with me,shame as he likes a run but it is what it has to be.

I’m afraid wouldn’t matter how good a worker he had been if he killed another dog and was so much trouble he would of been pts nothing but trouble and the last thing you need on a day out having to spend half the day watching the terrier

 

[splash]

Mine is 10 she’s obsessed with killing small animals, spiders and birds.
But is not interested in cats, livestock or chickens, she is great with people kids and other dogs.
She’s loving and loved by everyone has an amazing temperament and welcomed the spaniel pup two years ago as her own !
Forgot to add she’s also very good beating and will retrieve duck or pheasant from the shoot lakes. But has to go on the leash between drive’s once we have shot birds as she’s got a tendency to grab them

 

[LarryLightFoot]

When there’s a gathering of terriers the last thing you need is a numpty one that is more interested in scrapping than the job at hand, a good bunch will all want to be first in line to crack on but won’t be fuxing about with each other, sure you might get the odd snap or snarl but that’s over before it goes anywhere, the gooduns have only one thing in mind, getting to where the action is and cracking on.

 

[User00033]

I have never read so much rubbish regarding terriers above.

The golden rule is socialisation as a young pup, as early as possible, and equal rights so to speak. A mistake a lot of guys make is to treat the terrier as an indoor dog family pet, and the larger dogs as working dogs that live outside in kennels, subject to different rules. The terrier very quickly develops an exaggerated self-importance that gets right up the noses of the other dogs and pretty soon the pecking order is unstable and there's constant risk of violence.

In my view it’s important to treat the dogs as a pack with you as the Alpha, and not spoil the little dog with favouritism. If the terrier gets to run with the larger dogs from a very young age, generally speaking they will learn the ropes and how to fit in (and consequently survive).

Bringing an older terrier with a high prey drive and self-importance into a home with larger hunting dogs can be a recipe for disaster.

 

[sharkbait]

Go for it you know you want to

 

[landkeeper]

I've not been without a terrier for the last nr 40 yrs bitches are x10 worse than dogs if they decide they don't like another bitch it's a lifelong hatred IMHO
Only trouble with true working Bred terriers is once they have worked out what's in their dna its impossible to stop them you can train all you want but when the red mist depends and that prey drive kicks in Goodluck with recall etc lol
Still I wouldn't be without one and prefer them to most other types of dog

 

[Siggy]

i have a ten year old ex working patterdale ,a more friendly loving dog you wont find ,he hates collies with a vengence !!!

That’s okay, my GWPs hate collies too!

 

[Bo Diddley]

This stamp of dog is nice.