I've mentioned before that we have a wee Sealyham terrier. Good natured little guy and he keeps well. He'll be 5 this March.
Anyway, this morning my wife received an email from a friend who knows someone who wants to re-home a 4 year old border terrier due to a severe deterioration in the owner's health.
We're sort of tempted. Both dogs are neutered males.
Good idea or not?
Last edited by: Runfer D'Hills on Mon 18 Jan 16 at 13:24
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Me I wouldn't, but thats my natural disinclination for terriers in general. But in fairness, the only way is to take it on trial, for a week or two, see how the pair get on and how it fits in with your lifestyle. Both being bitches, both being old enough to be sensible but young enough to learn to adapt, it might work.
Last edited by: Zero on Mon 18 Jan 16 at 13:26
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When I was a child, the house seemed to be full of dogs although in reality there were never more than 3 at any one time. It still feels a bit odd only having one but he does seem very happy. He gets to socialise with other dogs every day on our walks and so far he seems to do that without problems. I guess I'm just nervous of him getting territorial about his "own" space as he's never had to compete for it or our attention.
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>> that without problems. I guess I'm just nervous of him getting territorial about his "own"
>> space as he's never had to compete for it or our attention.
which is why a trial run, of at least two weeks, is a good idea.
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Incidentally, the only dog I've ever had that I never felt I could properly train was a border terrier. Nippy wee thing and we never got along that well. In the end we parted company when a farmer friend took him as a ratter. Almost certainly a coincidence but that worries me a bit.
Edit - aye thanks for the advice, we'll ponder it.
Last edited by: Runfer D'Hills on Mon 18 Jan 16 at 13:40
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terriers, generally, are not easy to train. They are more or less feral all their lives, always carrying "small dog syndrome" - you may influence them, but you will rarely get them as you would like, and the more in a pack the worse it is.
'swy I wont touch them. Plus its not natural for a bloke to have a dog that does not reach past the top of his calf.
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My Cairn bitch was roughly 8 when the first granddaughter appeared. The first few visits were tense whilst she observed the new baby.
On leaving, our normally quiet & reserved Cairn, suddenly came all over us seeking attention - she figured her No 1 position in the pecking order was under threat.
Months passed and the Cairn mellowed & accepted the new position.
The granddaughter was OK and at 6/7 months sitting on a rug would freeze as the dog came into the room - eyed each other up and then ignored each other.
When she was 2 the granddaughter thought the world of the dog and the 2 of them got on fine for another 18 months until ill health meant the Cairn was put down.
No dogs now, too old to contemplate early & late walks in the depths of winter!
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My parents generally had an eclectic mix of dogs at any one time, Golden Retrievers, Scotties, Westies, Jack Russells and the Border I mentioned earlier.
My favourite was indeed the Retriever. He was around me from when I was about 10 until I left home. Followed me everywhere. Used to run beside me and my friends on our bikes ( off the lead ) the 25 miles or so from where we lived down the coast road to North Berwick to play on the beach during school holidays. He'd also wait for me at the bus stop a good half a mile from the house when I was due home from school. We were great pals.
The terriers always were a bit harder work than him but the Scottie in particular was a sensible wee chap.
I'm pleased with our current dog. He was a bit lairy as a pup but he's very good now. He's at my feet as I type clearly wondering if there's any chance of a run out any time soon!
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>>No dogs now, too old to contemplate early & late walks in the depths of winter!
My father in law, who has never been a dog owner gets on really well with our dog. He'll be 80 this year but is still very fit and well, still plays golf twice a week and goes for long walks daily.
Whenever we go on holiday they come and stay at our house to dog sit and FIL loves to walk the dog for miles along the nearby towpath every day he's here.
We've contemplated suggesting that he/they should get one of their own and I think he'd be tempted but I'm not so sure about it. Like I said he's very fit for his years now but clearly that won't always be the case. He's probably better just "borrowing" ours from time to time.
Although I wonder if he'd like a little Border...?
;-)
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My ex in laws always had a couple of Westies around the place. My CA friends have four dogs.. A rescued Chihuahua ex stud dog, a mid sized Heinz 57, a much larger Heinz 57, and their only non rescue a 2yo Queensland Heeler ( who came on our 200 mile backpacking trip). They all get along famously. A good friend of mine has a Spaniel & two Jack Russell's. Another friend had two Labs but when one was recently put to sleep replaced it with a Sealyham, for which she had to travel a long ways away.
For those who don't want a permanent dog in their lives, have you considered 'holidays4 dogs'? My mothers niece has always had a dog, but when she retired last year and the Westie went to the big kennel in the sky she registered with those people. Owners who don't want their dog/s in kennels come and vet you and your home & garden. You also vet the dog. You are paid £10 per day per dog, the owner provides food & bedding. She has lots of repeat business, often looking after two dogs from the same household whilst their owners are away on holiday. It works particularly well for those going on extended trips abroad, and the repeat 'customers' look upon it as a second home.
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How are the Lab and the Sealyham getting on?
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Saw the owner a few days ago. It's an elderly choc Lab, rather portly! They are getting on just fine. My Lakeland ( who actually lives with mother) is incredibly friendly with all dogs, apart from Border Collies. Out of town in the fields and on the fells he is always off lead, and ran up to these two as soon as he spotted them. He is an old friend of the Lab, and didn't know what to make of Hettie, the boisterous young Sealyham who was jumping all over him.
The owner, a retired friend, rents a paddock quarter of a mile from town... Rescues donkeys ( currently Bracken & Bramble) and has a selection of rare breed sheep.
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My Sealyham was very bouncy when he was young. So much so we thought of changing his name to Tigger at one point. But he's absolutely fine now. Did "Hettie" come from Oswestry by any chance? Just curious but as we've discussed previously, there aren't all that many of them around now, so I wonder if they might be related. My dog came from a breeder near there.
At the time there were two dogs and one bitch available from his litter and I sometimes think I should have taken two of them rather than just him. The bitch was his identical twin but the other dog was quite different in appearance. He's not very Sealyham like in his appearance or more accurately, not very like a modern one. Much more like a throwback to the early ones. He's white with brown spotty ears but his general appearance is like a half sized Retreiver with floppy ears and a domed head.
We've just been for a trot along the canal and I stupidly forgot to take a torch so although we both know that path like the back of our hands ( or paws ! ) it was a bit of a leap of faith to take it at the run given the proximity of the water and the almost absolute darkness of a cloudy winter evening.
However, apart from an involuntary skid on duck/swan poo ( I sincerely hope it was that sort ) we were fine. I do get some funny looks from the Lycra clad jogging brigade with their inevitable bottles of water in hand when I appear out of the mist running towards them with a hairy wee mutt chasing after me with a stick twice his size clamped in his jaws and me dressed in jeans, Timberland boots and a parka.
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I shall let you know where Hettie came from.....I think she said Surrey way but have slept since then. It was a long way from NYorkshire.
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Good idea or not? - Zero
