Border terriers

[serin]

Do they make suitable family pets or are they snappy.

We are thinking of getting a dog and want a smallish one that will be fairly hardy ie. keep up with the kids when out cycling and be up for winter walks and fetching balls.

I grew up with collies but we just don't have the room, the energy or the sheep for one of them.

Advice appreciated.

my nan had two and one of them used to just roam the streets fighting! but on the whole my memories of them with us was that they are high energy but good with kids as they love to play though would not advise having small pets as they are terriers after all!
also as they are short hair they are easy maintenance and vets bills will be low as do not have any medical problems i am aware of.

Thanks bethoo, so they have the potential to be hoodies then!

i think it was just where my nan lived , people just let their dogs out then they came back for tea!
they are a clever little dog and very hardy.my nans used to hang off a ring and used to be swung around the living room. of course not recommended!

My Dad has two and the fact that they are litter brothers may be the problem.
They can never be trusted with anyone other than immediate family members-they are protective of those but My Dad's have bitten anything which moves that happened to be in "their" territory.

Amnot suggesting this is typical of the breed by my experience of them has coloured my view.

Terriers do have a certain mentalty-have you thought of any of the hound group?

Oh, they sound like they belong in this household!!!

my nans were fine withe people and never showed aggression. but then siblings bought togehter are a handful. my boxers were brothers and they tried to take on anything on 4 legs!

Patterdales can be good pets, although they have very high energy levels. If you're prepared to spend 2-3 hours per day walking them, they're ideal.

We've got a rescue Patterdale who is exciteable when out (chases anything small and furry) but is really quiet in the house and sits happily in her basket.

We've just rescued a Patterdale Chihuhua cross. from the RSPCA. The kids call him a Chatterdale. He's absolutely brilliant. And will always stay quite small. Very sweet natured, brave( for his size) and comical.

We always had terriers as kids,we had a brilliant Border Terrier. Very good with children the ones I know. But being teriers , they do tend to "go their own way".
There's quite alot of "turning a deaf ear" and "piss off I';m busy".
But I like their character; otherwise get a slpoppy labrador ,which are always biddable.

Your best bet is probably a cross o a mix?