Thinking of getting a terrier, talk me out of it

Siggy

Well-Known Member
Seriously thinking of getting a working Lakeland primarily for ratting. Already got two GWPs, what could got wrong?
 
Go for it bud. Just get the right sort of terrier, there are still plenty of lads digging with their dogs. You may as well keep a good 'un as a bad 'un, you'll have years of fun ratting with a decent little dog. I've no proper terriers anymore, just a couple of KC Borders, but they still give me a bit of fun hunting rats :tiphat:
 
Great little characters…..but they are after all..terriers and so like a scrap. I loved my Jack Russel, but by God was he a killer.🤣
 
Have two terriers, wouldn’t change em for the world - loyal little mates. I don’t think you’ll only ever have one, you’ll just keep coming back for more
 
I have had terriers all my life and my last one is sitting with me now. Her and my GWP get on when I am there but would kill each other when I am not and once when they thought I wasn’t - I had to revive the terrier
The GWP is fine with other dogs and terrier loves my cocker and the previous one .

Get a nice natured terrier as said previously- best mates you will ever have
 
Dogs are dogs they self -limit in play and respect the other pack members ( yes even terriers ) . if its not going to go to ground , why get an earth dog for rats? Something like a Beddlington or Bedlington whippet will be less cloth eared and ignorant and faster . Earth dog ? true terrier everytime and just put up with the fact you facilitate more than train em ! LOL
 
I'm currently training a 10 month old Border; never trained a working dog before so I can't judge against training other breeds.

Definitely stubborn, however great nose (found her first Red this morning), pretty good recall, don't think she will every walk to heel as her nose is constantly to the ground, so have her on a short-leash and belt round my waist whilst out stalking (open to any tips here from other Terrier owners...).

Great fun though, and teaching me a different way of stalking after being solo for 20yrs+
 
I'm currently training a 10 month old Border; never trained a working dog before so I can't judge against training other breeds.

Definitely stubborn, however great nose (found her first Red this morning), pretty good recall, don't think she will every walk to heel as her nose is constantly to the ground, so have her on a short-leash and belt round my waist whilst out stalking (open to any tips here from other Terrier owners...).

Great fun though, and teaching me a different way of stalking after being solo for 20yrs+
used to know a contractor years ago who used a border ( said widely to be the most trainable of the true terriers ). He did very well with his , good thing is of course you can take them up into high seats bad side is of course they have not got the physical ability to anchor even a roe even let alone something bigger, small dogs take up a lot less space though and are not shy of making noise
 
used to know a contractor years ago who used a border ( said widely to be the most trainable of the true terriers ). He did very well with his , good thing is of course you can take them up into high seats bad side is of course they have not got the physical ability to anchor even a roe even let alone something bigger, small dogs take up a lot less space though and are not shy of making noise
Used to train my pups at an early age.with Labs, simple heel method as they will follow you anyway. Just swing a stick from side to side as you walk. Best to do it where there are no scents. Very easy to train, could sit them up and stalk in, only thing I couldn't stop was running in to shot. Regarding anchoring Roe, my first bitch at six months old and out with my wife and a guest trailed and held a lively Roe buck by the nose the guest had wounded until my wife despatched it. That is the bitch laying down, both those worked underground as well from fox to otter.
 

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To a lab the run and find bit is the reason for living LOL ! 1 in 3 at best and lots of sessions when you pick them all and just reward the wait . But things like wildfowling and sending on running deer still screws that up , i just hope they are 75% . A good deer dog should run in if it knows it needs to those deer can run a heck of a long way with three good legs etc
 
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