Views and advice on Dachshunds and Border Terrier's.

[scarlettlips]

Hi,
We are looking at getting a dog and I was wondering if you could please give me advice etc on either Wired Haired Dashshunds or Boarder Terrier. What are they like, children etc etc.

It's been suggested to me that I should get a male Boarder Terrier over a bitch...? Also if possible to find a Boarder that is breed from a town or city based background or the country.

I know very little about Dashshunds..not sure if I can get over the size! (I grew up with Spaniels) Personally my choice would be the Boarder, good size and lovely to look at.

DH has suggested a rough-coated Jack Russell?

We are moving from London to Beckshire, to a house on the edge of a large common in Sept. Most likely we'll look at getting a dog sometime in the New Year, once we are settled. Also DD will be nearly 1 then.

Any advice would be brilliant. TIA

[diarama]

We've got a rough coated Jack Russell, she's 8, the kids are 4 and 3.

She's a total dream to have, affectionate, energetic, obedient (mostly). She's DD's best friend, they cuddle on the sofa and play for hours.

She's not yappy, never nips or growls.

She did chew a bit as a puppy, but didn't last long, and she is very bouncy and loves to lick people, which not everyone appreciates.

We spent a lot of time socialising her when she was a puppy, so she's happy just about anywhere, fine when the kids have parties in the garden etc.

Friend of mine has 2 Border Terriers, both bitches, both lovely, but they're quite noisy!

Good luck whatever you choose, we wouldn't be without a dog now, and are discussing getting another!

[higgle]

I had a long haired standard dachshund some years ago, he was a really lovely dog. The standards are not small - he looked like a red setter with little legs. The main characteristic is an insistence on getting their own way - despite the fact that my original dog ( a collie cross) decided she hated him from the moment her arrived he gently persuaded her to give him her bed, let him sit in her favourite places and generaly won her round. He was much the same with us. The downside was that eventually he developed disc problems and after spinal surgery did not make any recovery and had to be PTS aged 9. I would love to have another, especially a short haired one, as Henry go very muddy due to being low slung, and needed a lot of grooming. The back problems put me off though - but I think they are less prevelant in the minis.

[AtYourCervix]

i love dachshunds passionately. have a miniture short haired one who we all adore. Not overly bright though and took a very long time to housetrain.

[higgle]

I'd second the comment that they are not very bright - but all the more lovable for it! Ours was slow to housetrain too, although he was nearly 2 when we got him he had lived outside in a chicken pen.

[AtYourCervix]

but look how cute he is!!!!!!! >

[DooinMeCleanin]

The Devil Dog is crossed with a wire haired JRT.

As you have a very young child I'd highly recommend an older Staffy or a Greyhound. Nice, quiet, child friendly dogs. Terriers can be, erm, energetic (slight understatement).

[Scuttlebutter]

Hi Scarlett,

Your previous post mentioned pugs and border terriers, and it sounds like DH likes JRTs. Terriers are lovely, but they tend to be energetic, lively, and with a strong instinct to chase and dig. See the current thread about one who keeps disappearing down rabbit holes! You mentioned that you're going to be living near a common so that might be a consideration. Are you planning on doing any activities with your terrier? They often really enjoy doing things such as flyball or obedience classes, things I definitely wouldn't be doing with a pug!

Borders do need grooming - is this an issue for you?

What about waiting until you move in and having a chat with a local rescue? They will probably match you perfectly with a nice dog who is suited to your family's lifestyle. Size is not always a good guide - we've got enormous greyhounds who are very gentle and sleep all day, while I know plenty of Jack Russells who make their presence felt in no uncertain terms and need masses of stimulation/exercise.

The other thing to consider with a very small dog is that once your daughter is toddling, it will be much easier for her to accidentally trip over/bump into a very small woof rather than a more medium/large dog. I'm sure people who've had experience with toddlers and small dogs will be able to advise further.

It sounds like your future dog will have an idyllic lifestyle - my uncle and aunt used to live near Downley Common and it was fab for their dog. Good luck!

[exexpat]

I have a male border terrier who is very friendly, sociable to other people and dogs - in fact that's the one problem I still have with training, he does still sometimes jump up to say hello to people when we're out, and it's very difficult to stop him doing it as far too many people make a fuss of him or even give him treats when he jumps up.

Training otherwise is OK, he does occasionally dart off into the woods and disappear for ten minutes, I presume after he has seen a squirrel or something, but he has learnt to come back to a whistle.

He needs an hour or two of good, off-lead walking a day, but apart from that is happy to spend a lot of time asleep or lounging around, preferably on top of or very close to a person.

I know quite a few borders, and they are mostly very easy-going, family-friendly dogs, but you do get an occasional yappy or unsociable one. My one concern is that they might be a bit too lively and energetic for such a small child - she would almost certainly get knocked over every now and again. And how would you manage the walks with a young toddler?

[scarlettlips]

Thank you everyone...we aren't going to go with a Dashshunds. Boarder Terrier or JR. We'll move in first and get settled before getting a dog. Would love a rescue but not with a baby unless it's under a year.

Yes I did post an earlyier thread about Pugs...I spent the afternoon with a friends Pug and whist he was a charming little chap..the sniffing..arhhh the sniffing so annoying. So Pugs are out.

Will do training and obedience classes.

[GrimmaTheNome]

Oh, why not dachshunds?

We're on our second shorthaired standard dachs and they are lovely. Intelligent (maybe they take after their owners ), very clean, don't shed much, don't need grooming, kids adore them when you're out and about 'ooh, a sausage dog!'. No problems houstraining the first, the second was 10 months when we got him and fully trained. About the only downside is they have surely the highest bark:size ratio of any dog

Not sure what you mean about the size - a standard shorthair is about the height of a JR but longer.

We talked to breeders a lot before getting the first, they all say they've made efforts to breed out the back problems and their own dogs never had any - our last one had no issues all his life.

We find ours very adaptable - wonderful lapdogs, doesn't need a long walk every day but if you want to climb a mountain, they're game. You just have to put up with the jocular comments 'You've walked his legs off' or 'was he a Dobermann when you started?'

[higgle]

This thread has got me thinking about our old Henry ( the standard long haired) Once DS1 was sitting up he used to use Henry as a bit of support to keep upright, like a sort of armchair and lean back on him with his bottle in his mouth - henry loved this, very sweet.