Different breeds / different sexes

[OldEnglishSheepDog]

I posted under a different username a while ago asking what sort of puppy I should get. I got loads of brilliant advice and have come to the conclusion that we should have a Tibetan Terrier. Having met a few and spoken to some owners, it has been suggested that there are certain traits to be aware of: barking when anyone approaches for example, recall not always being reliable and being quite stubborn.

I'm wondering, is this really breed or is it just the personality of the individual dog? Stuff that I've read has suggested that you can train dogs out of most behaviours (unless they're really damaged by their early years or some such). And does the sex of a dog make a difference to their behaviour? Some people have suggested that female dogs are easier than male - any truth?

[Oops4]

Various family members have had Tibetan terriers over the years and I have found most of them to be as you describe. Very vocal at the slightest noise, not great off lead and a bit too quick to nip for my liking. Saying that I know a lot of people love them so it may just be the ones I have encountered and like with most things, a lot will depend on how you train them.

[OldEnglishSheepDog]

Oh, I've not heard about nipping before. Most people I have spoken to have said they are fine for that. Worth noting - thank you! Is there a better breed in terms of recall and reacting to noise? That's the sort of size we want and although TTs are gorgeous I want to make sure I'm not setting us up to fail by getting the wrong breed for our family.

[Oops4]

Please don't be put off by me. I've never owned one and think you can only really know if you have. I've just not had brilliant experiences with family ones and one bit my young dd (well nipped, didn't break the skin) when she was minding her own business and not even bothering the dog, so that has probably skewed my opinion! But I'm a terrier fan and a lot of people would say the same about them so I guess you're best bet is to do what you're doing, meet a few and talk to some owners. The way you train them will certainly make a difference.

[CornflakeHomunculus]

There are no guarantees but the most reliable predictor of a puppy's temperament is that of their parents. Two dogs of good, sound temperament from lines of dogs with good, sound temperaments are pretty likely to have puppies who are the same.

Genetics plays a strong role in temperament and behaviour, although socialisation and training are extremely important they can't fundamentally change what a puppy is born with.

Breeds do have strong tendencies towards certain traits, it's how we've been able to breed them to do certain (sometimes very specific) tasks for us. That said, there's a lot of variation within breeds and not every dog is going to be a typical example. Again, the parents are the best indicator of how a puppy is likely to turn out. Even when traits are present which might result in undesirable behaviours, those behaviours aren't guaranteed. Training and management can go a long way towards avoiding them.

I wouldn't get hung up on sex at all. Although there are plenty of anecdotes that dogs are easier/more loving or bitches are cleverer (and I've seen the exact reverse juts as much) I don't think there's much, if anything, between the sexes of most breeds. Unless there's a particular reason to go for one over the other (fitting in around an existing dog for example) then I'd just go by whichever puppy has the most suitable temperament for you.

This blog post on the subject of the role of genetics in behaviour is well worth a read.

[Elphame]

I don't think any of the terriers have great recall - none of the ones I have known and owned have been known for it (none were TT though). They are very intelligent but also very independent minded so although they certainly know what you want, whether they will obey is quite another thing. Once they are on the trail of something it can be very hard to get them to pay attention

[OldEnglishSheepDog]

Thanks both. I guess what it comes down to is finding a good breeder (I have - I think) and not stinting on the training. And then a bit of dumb luck!

Thanks for the blog - very useful.

[divingworldchampion]

We have a TT. We love him. Good bits are that he is very loving and gentle, never any nipping or aggression other than the usual mouthing when a puppy. He is very placid and chilled at home. When we are out he never barks at other dogs. His recall is generally good but sometimes won't come if he is playing with another dog. Bad bits are that he can be quite stubborn and does bark at people coming to the door or sudden noises. For us the good bits are far far more than the bad bits.
Don't forget that they are not actually terriers, they were called that when brought to the UK from Tibet.

[OldEnglishSheepDog]

I do think they are probably a good fit. I shall see what happens when we contact the breeder. Thanks for the info.

[Ylvamoon]

I have 3 TT's and no problem with recall or nipping. Yes they are vocal but will calm down quickly and do not show any aggression.
They are clever, quick learners and have a bit of a class clown mentality. And yes, they have a stubborn streak.
I have both, my girls are a bit more lively while my boy is the most chilled dog imaginable.
If you get a TT (or any other dog) make sure you attend training class for the first 12-18 months, to get the most out of your dog.