worked terrier as a pet?

[samamy 0]

Hello,

 

I'm a bit of a stranger here cos i don't want to hunt with my terrier, but I NEED YOUR ADVICE!...just got this 18month-2year old Patterdale cross(we think?) from a rescue centre - he was picked up as a stray with no ID. Want to keep him as a pet but trouble with other dogs - think he's been worked (foxes?) cos he's pretty agressive with dogs and other animals, although totally friendly with people and very obedient in the house. When he's out though I have trouble getting him back if he's off the lead and don't dare have him without muzzle if there's a chance other dogs might appear cos he's scrapped with a few dogs and gets them in his mouth and just doesn't let go! Any tips on how to calm him down or keep him occupied in some way other than hunting? How do you get your dogs back to you when you're working with them?He's getting two good walks a day but I guess not as much time out as all your dogs would - how much time do your dogs get out and about? Any info really appreciated - didn't realise the ins and outs of earthdogs when we got him, and now I don't want to sell him short, but hunting's just not for me and i want to keep him! Thanks Sam

[paulus 26]

good luck and all the best

[ginga john 268]

Fair play for asking such a question on here of all places !!

Your dog will have a lot of energy and a lot of prey drive, he will want to do what he has been bred for

You must now distract his attention from the things he wants to do to things you want him to do

Lots of pulling games, lots of socialising with other non aggressive dogs, maybe the old naughty dog classes

Above all you must be his boss or else he will run you ragged

Good luck and well done for taking him on

 

GJ

[tinytiger 863]

some kind of tredmill maybe or take him for longer walks-i.m.o you should take him bushing rabbits-you never know you might start to enjoy it after a while when you see him enjoying himself

[samamy 0]

Thanks - have to say i was a bit unsure of what people on here would say, but the way i see it, you guys know these dogs best of all!

[samamy 0]

How do you make sure he only gets rabbits though, and doesn't use the same prey drive to go at other dogs? also worried if i let him off after things he won't come back!

[fcuktheban 140]

Wow, it would have been a good idea to look up the breed before taking a dog home. I had a dog aggressive jack russell as a pet and after a year I had to get rid of it. The kids were attached to it by then so there were plenty of tears. I would say take it back and get a different dog.

[Attack Fell Terrier 864]

Personally I wouldn't let him off the lead if he's attacking other dogs, as well as that he could come across an occupied earth or anywhere else he shouldn't be entering and drop in and you'd be in trouble then. Keep him on the lead, run him along side your bike (if you've got one) and just give him plenty of exercise.

 

Best of luck with him.

[digger. 615]

if your bringing him out dont forget your shovel............

[omegathelast 163]

Fair enough for asking the question. Firstly, the fact that a dog is aggressive with other dogs is NOTHING to do with its working breeding etc. Some foolish people that call themselves terrier men think some how agression = working credentials. Rubbish. Some of the best and hardest working dogs I have ever seen were placid and sociable and quite content in the company of other dogs. Its is more to do with how the dog has been treated to date and some agression can be normal if the dogs has, for example, been locked in a kennel and not socialised or exercised properly. Personally it looks a great little dog and with lots of exercise and patience could turn out fine. Some work as mentioned above would be good for it and allowing it to do some rabbiting or even better ratting would certainly help. Spend time with any dog and its amazing what can be acheived. Too many people think its ok to keep their terriers locked in a run 6 days a week and then wonder why they do somersaults on their leads come Sunday. As I said some foolishly mistake this for working temprament, nonsense, more like the results of laziness and poor stockmanship.

 

oh and one last thing he is more Lakeland than Patterdale. Good luck

Edited September 14, 2011 by omegathelast

[sikastag_1 689]

As said above working has nothing to do with aggression, burn it's energy and don't tolerate any bad behaviour, fair play for asking and taking it on.

[ben1191 9]

Could be attacking other dogs through stress.He needs proper socialising constantly,even if he is agressive after a while he grows out of it.Weather he came from working stock or not the patterdale will always have the instinct in him to kill,it may not even know what its supposed to kill.My dog used to hate horses and would jump up and try to hold on to their face but i never let him,even after all the socialising i did with him near livestock the only true thing that worked was a firm hand,just once,and hes never done it again.

 

The thing with bushing is if your dog has caught sight of something he will chase it and there isnt much chance of you getting him to come back whilst he's chasing.find a field or similar where theres no roads around and try to train him.Find something he likes (mine pays attention to nothing when out e.g ball food,just my voice now)

 

Others on here will have better advice than me.

[Tyla 3,179]

Build a bond with the dog and give him a job. Working dogs need to work, if you wont hunt with him try and replace it with something else, maybe agility or flyball etc You are going to need to be totally in charge of him and work on the socialising constantly. If you are willing to put the time in you might be able to change him into a pet but i think you will have your work cut out.

 

Good luck

[alan626 305]

put him on a boat and send over to me i have a job for him

[.terrier man. 193]

terriers are only happy when there being worked