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My border terrier was a little beast, she was fantastic at recall, never chased sheep, would chase rabbits and squirrels when I wanted her too and stopped when needed too.
Her main problem was other dogs when she was on a lead, the typical scene of other dogs being off the lead and them running up to her was 99% of the time going to end up badly for the other dog! I'd warn the owners to keep their dogs under control and to get them back but quite often I'd have to let her off her lead so she wouldn't be so stupid! She would still be aggressive but not as bad as when that lead was on.
I've now got a springer spaniel and apart from being a dirt and hair magnet compared to a border, I'd not change back again.
I have a 5 yo Westy, he's generally well behaved, doesn't exactly "come" when I call him, but when I shout him to stay he stands still. I have to go to him to leash him up, but he doesn't move. 😆 He hasn't been neutered and he does go a bit haywire when he's on a scent, but he's no fighter and loves everyone!
To reiterate Pepper's point, my Westy behaves much better around other dogs when he's off the lead, I don't thin khe likes being restrained if there's a potential punch up coming. 😆
That lead thing is "fight or flight" instinct no? No option to "flight" by running away so dog gets ready to "fight" by being more aggressive as its the only option left to it?
Edit: beaten to it above 🙄
Not just terriers
Just back from this mornings walk with my Border Terrier who in the dark is ALWAYS on his (long) lead, he was hunting, sniffing, searching and all the time (I guess) he was looking out for something to chase.
Above on this thread there are those who let their dogs do this and those who train it out of them, each to their own but for those with "well trained" terriers. I feel sorry for your terriers been forced to be a dog they are not.
Ive got a english bull terrier, had him from a rescue when he was 1 year old. I walk him off the lead when over the park or canal paths and hes as good as gold. we put a lot of work into him to train him and the only times i put him on lead is if other dogs around are on leads. he can be stubborn at times (another terrier trait) but only round the house
Nick
My poor dog that comes when she's called. She's emasculated. 😉
Oh hang on, she wanders around, loves nothing more than a game of chase with the mutts she knows and generally gets to have a proper yomp about where it's ok. She's no fan of water though. So I think that's the next phase - forcing her to swim. 🙂
Prezet, sounds like your dog is just being submissive, she may well grow out of it.
I'm not quite sure I'd want her too. Being submissive means she doesn't get herself into any trouble.
Around other animals i.e. sheep, horses, cows I put her on the lead. Walking at night she's always on a lead. She likes a good chase of squirrels and rabbits, but gives up quickly.
Her favourite is cats - she shakes when she sees them. And I can tell given an instant she'd be off. One of the neighbours cats stupidly came into the garden and I don't think have ever returned 😀
Oh hang on, she wanders around, loves nothing more than a game of chase with the mutts she knows and generally gets to have a proper yomp about where it's ok. She's no fan of water though. So I think that's the next phase - forcing her to swim.
You seem to be looking for a disagreement that doesnt exist Darcy and you are painting yourself into a corner.
Nobody has said that terriers cant and shouldnt be trained however I would argue with anyone that tells me that my dog could be stopped from barking when the postman posts letters through the door. She will calm a bit when I tell her off and she does mostly come back when I call her.
My point was unless this is the dogs natural temperament then you would have to spend a disproportianate amount of time training them out of these traits. I/we have probably not done a great job of training her as given her behaviour appears to be typical and it causes us and others no real issue it wouldnt appear to be time well spent.
If I did follow this route I am sure she would be a less happy dog and we would not have gained much.
We knew this general behaviour was typical of the breed so are happy. You on the other hand seem to have a slight obsession with trainability. I would prefer my terrier to be more "terrier" like.
Each to their own
I don't surfer. The only things I really care about with any mutt, even my "handbag dog" 🙄 is recall and socialisation (and not shitting in the house j guess). The rest of it I couldn't really care less about - as I've said numerous times - if you'd care to read. If this is obsessive, then, well I dunno tbh. I want a "trick" dog as much as you - which isn't that much at all. Are you saying that having a terrier that comes when it's called is somehow less of a dog?
Terriers have the chase the prey gene at the top of their list of priorities and go selectively deaf when on the chase or scent trail .
This is simply not true and is the preserve of those who couldn't be arsed getting the recall right in the first place.All you have to do is keep hammering home the recall over and over again when the dog is a puppy
You rubbished this comment which I agree with. As I have repeated my dog comes when I call in most situations. If a rat ran across the path in front of her and she immediately came when I called her * as oppose to chasing the rat (assuming she wanted to) then I think (in the first instance that it would be immposible) if she came to me because I have trained her over and over to do so then she would be less of a terrier IMO in the same way that I am sure AA's dog has an irrepresible instict to chase things. If you dont like that and are only happy with a dog that obeys your commands in every situation then a terrier is not for you.
* if she is already in your hadbag then this does not apply.
The type of terrier also comes into play, for example most Bedlington/ Scottish terriers are so far removed from the original working stock they have lost the true hunter instinct. Whereas the Lakeland, Border, Plummer type are more closely related to the working strain. They WILL hunt which meansd rabbit chasing and digging.
If this dog is to be used with your mtb do you think you should get a more "leggy" dog!
Perhaps the ideal MTB dog is a Trailhound, manmade scene following foxhound- now they came cover some distance
Smartray
The OP didnt mention MTB'ing in his choice of dog I dont think and my Lakeland doesnt come with me when I MTB.
She does occasionally come with me when I go running but even small terriers are easily capable of running at a steady pace for several miles.
Prezet, sounds like your dog is just being submissive, she may well grow out of it.I'm not quite sure I'd want her too. Being submissive means she doesn't get herself into any trouble.
What I mean is she may well grow out of feeling the need to approach other dogs and be submissive, she will most likely not suddenly grow into a fighter.
If you dont like that and are only happy with a dog that obeys your commands in every situation then a terrier is not for you.
Interesting qualification you've decided to make. I understand now.
Havent read all the above but our westie won't say boo to a goose, never runs off and gets walked off the lead regularly. He gets bullied by our rabit and is dead friendly with all dogs and cats.
There his good traits mind..... Don't get me started on his ailments, bloody thing costs us a fortune in lotions and potions and he smells like a ferret.
I got two border terriers.
The one will go deaf and go to any dog it sees.
The other is not the slightest bit interested in meeting other dogs.
The one dog will fight any dog - no matter how big - that as much as growls it him.
The other will run a mile if a dog growls at it.
Each dog are different.