Ive arranged to view a puppy tomorrow.....

[Fubsy]

and now Im really nervous! Id love to have a dog, and Ive been thinking it all through for ages, but Im still worried Ill do solething wrong or something.

I might not even get one - the breeder wanted to keep 2 from the litter, but is finding them too much at the moment. She could change her mind!

Theyre jack russel/border terrier crosses. Ive had a jackie before, and my friend in rl has one, but I had been thinking of etting something a bit bigger.

But maybe its better to get something I know a bit about.

Not particularly looking for advice, just wanted to tell someone really!

What age are your kids?

6 year old DD

I grew up with jack russells. I know they're not meant to be good with little kids but I'd have thought a 6 year old dd would be fine.

I have 3 dogs btw!

Ive met one Jackie that was snappy with everyone, all the others have been great with kids.

Not getting my hopes up too much, just want to see them first!

what sort of dogs do you have Hercules?

Please please find out about their temperaments!! My mum has 3 bt/jr crosses,and they are terrierists. They are big hunters, cat killers and they dissappear down holes for so long that my mum has had to call the local hunt to rescue them.

Some terriers are bigger hunters than others and it's worth asking if the breeders dogs are. Terriers are also used for ratting.

If the pups have been socialised with children they should be fine.

We have 2 border collies who we imposed 2 babies on. So far we have been fine, but I expect we may find it difficult to get another rescue collie with 2 kids under 5!

Im having a puppy!

I mean Im getting one

I saw them today, and they are lovely. Their mother is very friendly and seems bright. The puppies are very well socialised, and beginning to accept some training, so that bodes well. The breeder has a young baby, and apart from the puppies trying to pull his blanket oaway and the mum dropping her tennis ball on him, they were very good aroubnd him.

Hellobello, the mum apparently has caught a couple of rabbits. If the pup will catch rats Id be grateful, he can go into the garage!

So now I have to shop for some essentials - food, bed etc.

oooh! Exciting

what about a name though!?

Oh he already has a name, as they were going to keep him.

Its Simba, which I think suits him. But DD moaned, saying she'd gone off the Lion King!

Left to her own devices he would end up being called Doctor who or shopping trolley or Steve.

this site has laods of useful info about jack russells, and an online questionnaire to assess your suitability for owning one. Its American but most of the info is relevant.

I have a JRT. He is a fabulous dog. But he is wary with children (he's ok with our two, 8 and 12).

Very clever, active, funny. fabulous dogs. But more likely to present probs with agression and dominance than some breeds.

Whoops, just realised you've already got the dog!! Good luck. You'll have loads of fun. I love my JRT with a passion.

That is really exciting! Well done you! They are very game little dogs, and I'm sure you'll have a great time. Our 2 dogs love terriers.

Thanks threadworm, Ill have a look anyway. The jackie we had when I lived at home was great with children, and I cant see any reason why this one shouldnt be.

Ill be looking out for any signs of poor behaviour anyway,I cant stand nasty dogs and Ill do my best to stop any untoward behaviour if I can!

(I do home visits as part of my work - Ive only ever been bitten once in 15 years - by a chihuaha (SP?)

I have had and bred JRT most of my life. The one thing I always recommend to any new owners is no mouth games with terriers, that is no tug of war with those rope things or their leads. I know they love it but they have a mouth that is designed to not let go and you want to encourage a gentle mouth so insist your pup releases things to you, I use "leave it" by popping your fingure in the corner of their mouth right from word go. Don't tug on what you want. I can remove anything from any of my old pups and it really helps with the hunting/chasing instinct.They are great fun,need squashing frequently and I've brought up my daughter and foster children around them and all my charges. they have been well dressed up, pushed in dolls prams and fed goodness only knows when I'm not looking, oh and the other rule is only feed in a bowl not from your hand then they dont swipe childrens icecreams!
Have fun

Yes - they have jaws like sharks dont they, never let go!

My old dog was actually very good about letting go, although we also used to carry her around like a handbag from anything she had in her mouth!

Probably not something to encourage with a 6 yr old though.

I remember doing that with my mum's dog too!

What has surprised me about my JRT, who I've had for two years now, is just how trainable he is. He's very clever, and he really wants to defer to me in the way that my old so-called biddable gundog never did.

We do play tug games, which he adores, but I'm always careful to add in lots of 'drop' commands so that he knows that I'm really the one in charge. He'll drop instantly.

When I was on hol in Norwich last summer a passing artist asked to photograph him so that she coul paint him!!

Here is the resulting pic (middle picture)

Oh, the link only takes you to the site front page. Bother. You have to click to look at the online gallery, then click the pic of a sleeping bull terrier, then look for Arthur.

(Like you are really going to want to do that )

Threadworm, I looked and he's really cute. Lovely pictures, arent they!

I would just like to confirm what Threadworm has said. Our JRT (18 month old female) also defers to us and will drop anything including food if I say 'drop it'. She is great with children and is such a sweetie - also very lazy!

Wow - he's here! It feels very strange having a dog in the house.

I thought our cat would freak - however she just looked at him, and he peed imself. I didnt realise she was so scary!

DD loves him already, and he's started following her around the house.