Hi
My boyfriend and I are thinking of getting a dog soon.......... I tend to like terriers mostly, but have heard lately that they are - nervous, not that easy to train, hyperactive ect.........

My goal is to have a dog thatb loves ppl,that knows to chill out yet is livley as well......... any terrier like that???

Many dogs, terriers included, are exactly like that... once you have put in the hard work of training and socializing your dog.

How you raise your dog will have the most impact on his behavior. Breed characteristics are only the starting point - bottom line, it's the other end of the leash that counts most.





Be aware that breed characteristics are general - individuals can vary widely from the norm, just as with humans. Research various breeds to find a fit that matches what you can provide. I usually recommend using breed characteristics as more of a filter for breeds that might not be suitable for your lifestyle. But understand that even when the general breed characteristics match what you are looking for, the dog you fall in love with might turn out to be the opposite of what one expects in the breed. (Case in point: my beloved Psychocollie the Anti-Lassie. )

Before going further, have you taken the mandatory SKN theory course? If not, it would be good to do this now as you begin your search. The course should help you focus on matching the dogs' needs to yours, and on what Switzerland expects of dog owners.

All the best to you and your future canine companion.

Rubbish. I've met other breeds which are also hyperactive, hard to train, stubborn etc.

Hyperactive dogs are due to the lack of exercise. With proper training, a dog can go bonkers, be lively whilst off the leash but at the same time, be able to come back to you at your command.

Nervous dogs - whilst it might be part of their nature (some dogs are more sensitive), it has also to do with the training and socialisation of the dog when young.

But yes, there are some traits predominant in the terrier group: like independence. They arent difficult to train, but they do have a mind of their own and will require a firm owner.

What kind of terrier do you have in mind? The terrier family is a large one. They range from the pitbulls, to the staffies, to the Jack Russells and Yorkies.

Frau Melloncollie is right - the SKN theory course is a good start for you. Reputable Swiss breeders will not entertain you now if you havent done it anyway.

Did someone order a Siberian Husky with a side of Beagle sauteed in a Labradoodle sauce?

This is a "the good, the bad, and the ugly" about Standard Schnauzers that a breeder put together for prospective puppy buyers. I LUV this guide, because it is 100% accurate (at least based on my experiences), and there's no sparing of the truth -- this is the joy and the nightmare you can expect from a Standard Schnauzer. If more guides like this were available, the world would be a better place.

I've had an Irish Terrier female which I got when she was 8 weeks old. I guess I did many things right with her as she became an absolutely wonderful dog. Very easy to train, eager to please and not hyperactive at all. But to achieve this I put in a lot of work and time.

Now I have an oversize Jack Russel something and he is very nervous indeed, but he is a rescue who was not socialized and trained properly when he was a pup. He is great dog, but not as easy to handle as my first one. He learns very fast and therefore is easy to train for somebody who knows how to do it. I think Terriers in general are great dogs but the owner really needs to know what he's doing as I think that these dogs, as quick learners, also quickly learn stuff you might not want them to learn.

They do have a mind of their own. If you are looking for a dog that just learns to be obbedient and do what you want him to, a terrier is probably not the best choice and you could end up thinking that your dog is stubborn. Also they are pretty energetic and need things to do. They love to work and play and if they get bored this certainly could cause problems, but if you are active and intend to train your dog, a terrier can be a great companion.

If I was a dog, I would be either a Jack Russell or a Teckel.

Hyperactive dogs due to lack of exercise? Can someone please tell my 7 year old cocker spaniel who is walked for about an hour and a half everyday (more at weekends), with arthritis!!!!

But then she is a bit mental - but we love her dearly. And her mum was lovely and calm and relaxed.............

Well train but needs a firm hand

Our family has a Boston terrier. We got her as a pup and we found her to be easy to train, lively, and loving. She does not require the exercise/walking that bigger dogs require and she is very content lazing around the house as well as going out. She is always ready for a game with a tennis ball or squeaky, indoors or outdoors. She is not nervous and tends to be a barker only when someone rings the bell or knocks; she is more of an "alert dog." Our only problems with her thus far were a brief period during which she liked to "herd" our youngest when he played in the backyard, her lack of heat tolerance due to her short snout, and her proclivity towards shredding snotty Kleenex if we leave it in an accessible bin.

I chose her breed after much research, specifically based upon breed traits and how I though they would mesh with our family. There are tons of resources available for you to do the same, so take advantage of those resources and do your homework prior to choosing in order to ensure the best outcome. Don't forget to include mixed breed and rescue dogs as possibilities during your research!

Thank you for the advice......
We still didnt take SKN theory course, altho we have found a lady that could do the course in english We are in a proccess of finding a home with a suitable garden, and than the plan is to move to practical steps.
So, my experiance with dogs is exactly as you described- what you give is what you get. My first two dogs were rescues from the dog shelter in Cyprus, i got them when they were already about a year old, and i must say it was difficult to train them ( just getting them to trust a human was a lot of work)......They were stubborn and listened ocasionaly, yet I addored them anyway!!!!
This is a first time that i would get a puppy....... i started my research, and yes- there is a lot of info around!!! Still, somehow it always feels better to ask for real life experiance
Thanx a lot for confirming my years long feeling that IT IS very much up to the owner!
PS. childish, i know, but i love this guy on the pic!!! any idea whats his breed????

Could be an Irish terrier with bad ears that instead of going to the groomer went to the dentist...

we have 2 Border Terriers - they are great fun. My husband calls them "pedigree mongrels" because of their scruffy appearance - actually that is one thing to consider with some of the terriers, their coats may need trimming or hand plucking. Ours need the latter, which is no fun for them or me, 2x per year - so check out the requirements for keeping their coats in good condition, depending on which type of terrier you choose (although you do like the shaggy dog above, so looks like you could cope with scruffy!!).
i really like the size of our dogs, small enough to go anywhere, and can cope with any length of walk, short or day-long hikes. They are tough little guys, who are also gentle and very affectionate.
But with small-sized dogs, the brains are also smaller, and i have found them much harder to train than the Golden Retreiver we had when the kids were tiny (though Golden Retrievers do tend to train themselves i think!)
sounds like you are going in to it all with your eyes open, with experience and with good advice.
whichever 4-legged friend comes in to your life will be exactly the right one for you, I am sure - have lots of fun choosing and planning!

JRT yay. They are fab

We have a Boston Terrier and she has so much energy. She is walked twice a day, played with at the park twice a day and she is still ready to go. The only time we have seen her worn out was after swimming for 1 1/2 hours two days in a row. That said, we were told by other Boston owners that our has a special brand of crazy (in San Francisco where there are a lot of Boston's).

She has given us training challenges. She isn't dominant, she is independent (per our vet). She seems to think she makes better decisions than we do-ie. I want to play and if I run fast enough they can not catch me so I can keep playing. Any form of dominance has her cowering in a corner, under the bushes, etc. How I eventually got her to listen was going back to basics and keeping her on a long leash until she started listening. She does much better now.

I would suggest that you get to know the dog if you can. We got ours off of Craigslist. I am really happy we have her but in the future I would do it differently.

Good Luck! Dogs make you so happy (even though sometimes you really question your decision making!) you can't help but love them.

yes, that seams like him, my fluff:::::::::::::loooooove::::::::::: thanx (HUG)