New Border Terrier

[GeorgeC 4]

Evening all. Just looking for a bit of advice regarding my new Border Terrier Bitch. She will first and foremost be a pet, but looking to use her quite regularly for ratting and bushing/beating. Just wondering if had anyone had any advice towards training, food and introduction to the field. Whilst she's a pet I do want to work her and don't want to end up with a soft, fat, unsociable and disobedient dog. Cheers

 

George

[jake824 517]

Treat it like u would anything else. If it does wrong scold it . Socialisation is very important , take it with you to experience different situations i.e. My other half takes my young terriers and lurcher s to the school , markets , anywhere busy. But remember to keep the pup calm . A pup learns from its owner. Soft fat unsociable and disobedient would all be traits u control. Don t overfeed it, if u think it looks fat ,up the walks and drop the grub. Small things escalate unless nipped in the bud quick. If it pulls on a lead , correct it , if it s re calls bad then repeat and repeat till it's not. I see endless people bring bad behaved terriers and lurcher s out and and the majority of it is because the owners don t put the time in and then say , this dog s a twat for not coming back or it barks flat out in the kennel. Your in control , it's a dog not a family member or an equal . I don t mean mistreat it in any way shape or form but all mine know I'm the boss , I only have to raise my voice and they do what's asked. Not because I ve hit em or kicked em but because the times been put in as pups and they ll settle in the pecking order. The work will come naturally to the dog when it's taken to a working environment. Hope this helps George

[GeorgeC 4]

Thanks mate. Appreciate it

[jake824 517]

No probs. Everyone will have their own views but that s what works with me. She ll naturally rat , especially if you can take her with other dogs. Bushing you can start as soon as she s jabbed. Take her in the woods and encourage her to mooch about . I tell mine, find it ,if I want them to work cover. Sit somewhere quiet and watch how she ll naturally be inquisitive and gain confidence to find things. But remember the recall also she must return when called. It could save her life one day. Food wise there s loads of options really. I feed raw minced tripe or raw chicken with a biscuit. If there s a clay shoot near to you take the pup in a place where she can hear the guns but not to close at first. Then just play with her and sit till she totally ignores the noises and gradually take her nearer as she gets older till you eventually can shoot near her. Beware if your beating woods with her that she does nt go to ground . Not trying to teach you to suck eggs just some advice that I hope might help.

[GeorgeC 4]

No mate it's just the stuff I was looking for!

[Plucky1 1,119]

great posts Jake,you have written almost everything I was thinking and George Good Luck with your pup, WM

[foxdropper 17,092]

I think there are collars available that prevent dogs going to ground .

[Hydropotesinermis 724]

Good advice from Jake.

[Farmer_luke 12]

Good advise from jake there. I have a border dog, 2 this September, got him ratting about 11 months old, he watched others and I gave him plenty of opportunity to see them before that and let him chase when he wanted to. I take him beating, great dog for it, steadier than the spaniels and a great game finder. Make sure guns aware that you have a border working in the beating line, if they tear off across the gun line they could be mistaken for a fox in heat of moment. On shoots where ground game allowed I put an orange jacket on him. Enjoy, great breed, great companion dogs also, I'm getting another this year, got the border bug!

[GeorgeC 4]

Cheers Luke! Loving her already, 10 weeks now. Feisty little thing! Good temperament and obedient but the minute other dogs are around she totally ignores me haha! I'm sure this is something I can sort when she's a bit older, just keen for her to socialise at the moment.

[griffgav 16]

My Border x Patterdale is exactly the same. 16 weeks and is great off the lead but as soon as another dog comes in to play he goes deaf. He is getting better as when we walk on he tends to leave the other dog and come with us, it's just in the mean time he is terrorising the other dog. Im sure it will stop as he gets older.

 

Gav

[Farmer_luke 12]

I used to take him into a field, just me and the pup, let him go, whichever way he walked, I'd walk the other way, took advantage of lack of independence and he would eventually turn and come to me and then repeat original process. He learned to stick with me!

[leethedog 3,071]

Best way that fl