Lakeland Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Wire Fox Terrier - Anyone with personal experience of any of these dogs?

[Earlybird]

As a potential first time dog owner, I have done my research. But, I know nothing substitutes for personal experience. So with that in mind, would appreciate thoughts about any of the dogs listed above - good, bad and indifferent observations.

Interested in knowing about whether or not they are good family pets/companion dogs, how they interact/socialise with other dogs (know some of that is down to how the owner socialises them), intelligence, what sort of exercise they require, grooming (not to show standard), shedding, illness, bad habits/tendencies, barking, how they react to visitors in the home, etc.

Also, any experiences/knowledge/recommendations about males or females?

Thank you. I want very much for our first dog experience to be a good one for us and the dog! Oh, and if it matters, have one dd, aged 8.9.

Oooh Earlybird, I went to the Discover Dogs show at Earls Court on Sunday cos I wanted to speak to owners/breeders of all the dogs you mention, plus Airedales. We've discounted the Wire Fox Terrier, mainly on looks as it does not have such a big face as the Welshie or Lakeland . The Welshie and Lakeland both make good family pets, good with children and other animals if brought up with them from being a puppy. The Welshie people said they wouldn't let them off the lead in a wood or where there might be lots of rabbits because it would be difficult to get them back, but they would happily let them off the lead in a park. They are quite energetic dogs, so will need daily walks, but not outrageously long, but they will cope with long walks with ease.
They are not difficult to train apparently, but as with all dogs the more effort you put in at the beginning the better. With the grooming you can hand strip their coat if you want, but if you just want a pet then you can get the coat clipped (or do it yourself). Airedale woman put me off a bit as she said you had to strip them everyday, but I'm going to check into this a bit more as this is the first I've heard that it needs to be done quite so frequently.
I asked specifically about the barking - they will bark if someone comes to the door, but they are not incessant barkers.
I think we've 95% decided to get a Welshie, as I like their colouring and snooty look, they don't dribble , plus they are intelligent and have lots of personality, but part of me still would like an Airedale.

Hell, there were some fugly dogs at the show though!

EB, I have only had personal experience with Wire Haired Fox Terriers but I think that my experience with them is pretty universal for most terrier breeds!

Basically they are very determined dogs. Very intelligent and stubborn in the extreme. It may sound silly now but I cannot stress enough how single minded they are - they have been breed that way for so long it is impossible not to be!

Although they do, in general, make great family pets it is important that you really start off with a good training regime, good socialisation from the start with dogs and people and really work at your bond with the dog. I know most people think the bond will come just through being together but, with a terrier, it really comes through working together, a subtle but important difference. It is simply no use to buy a terrier with the idea that you will then look at trainers and book a few classes at some point, you need to have done that all beforehand so you can get pup there asap. Get some ideas for games you can teach him (terriers often love things like hide and seek) where you both work together in some way. Building a working relationship between the two of you is key, if you do that you will have a fantastic dog you can enjoy fully, if not you may well end up with a dog who doesn't really care if you want him back or not because he has far more interesting things to do

Terriers are meant to be brilliant pets.I'm afraid I have no experience with terriers as the dogs I had when living with parents (and the one I have now) are mongrels! lol. But apparently one of the ones I had at my mums was part staffy so I spose thats terrier! lol

The main things I've heard about them is terriers have a large prey drive. Ie: they like to chase cats, rabbits, squirrels anything small really. Although I'm pretty sure if you got a puppy you could train this out of them.

Their determined, stubborn buggars so you need to be VERY consistent in everything you train with them and start as you mean to go on. Ie: if you dont want them sleeping on the sofa don't let them do it even once! lol

Good luck and enjoy your doggie when you get it.

I have a lakeland terrier she is good but can be a bit nippy if annoyed to much my kids r 3 and 22 months old if u get them as a puppy they make briliant pets

HI There,

I have currently an airedale, have previously had a smooth fox terrier and a kerry blue terrier. Airedale can be stripped or clipped. IMO after trying the stripping lark, if you aren't goint ot show them clipping is great. I have a great groomer and she does a teriffic genuine airedale haircut about once every 10-12 weeks (£30).
My smooth fox terrier was a character - no clipping/stripping but did shed. Fought every other dog he met but brilliant with kids and very protective. Kerry Blue - one word, a psycho, lovely looking dog but totally unrelliable around kids and dangerous when facing other dogs. I clipped him myself as his coat was very soft.
Airedale, I can't recommend highly enough. They have brilliant personalities, bombproof with kids and good with other dogs. They are larger than the welsh terrier but ours acts like a lap dog when in the house!!

Finn thank you for posting that - dh was put off by the stripping so it's good to know it's not really required.

I have a 9 month old Lakeland Terrier, and he's GREAT with my two boys (aged 2 and 5). He is endlessly patient with them (and they can be as boisterous as the dog is!!), and takes himself off elsewhere if they get too much for him! I LOVE my Lakey, really!

He adores other dogs (don't know if I can say the same about the other dog's attitude towards him, though!). I'd have another if my dh would let me!! A friend of ours has just had a litter, so the temptation is there, but not, unfortunately, the money!! They can be a bit pricey, because there just aren't that many of them around - they're on the endangered breeds list, apparently.

He was a bit of a pain to house train, and he still has the odd accident, but I think that has a lot to do with the conditions he was in when we got him as a little pup.

By the sounds of it, Lakeys have a very similar personality to Airedales - just smaller!

Like I said, can't recommend them enough - lovely dogs! As long as you like a bouncy, fun, attention seeking, loony, affectionate, loyal dog, you're on to a winner!!

Oh, my dh hand strips our Lakey himself - easier on a smaller dog!! It is better if you can do it - otherwise their coat can go very frizzy (which is what my dog looked like until last week!!). Also their coat will go grey (at least that's what happened to our dog's). They don't really shed, and the hair dies ion the follicle, so we were told that it could cause skin irritation if we didn't strip him. Not his favourite thing, but he tolerates it! Although he does enjoy it in certain places, as I recall!

have you considered a bedlington terrier? bestest dogs in the world

A friend of mine has a bedlington and she is a real fan,not sure how easy they are to get though.

I, apparently have a Wire Haired Fox Terrier X, possibly crossed with JR or Westie, no one is sure.

I have only had him three days, but my experience so far is:

He is very people friendly. He loves people.
He is very placid and good with dd's.
He enjoys walks, but doesn't get hyper if you are late for a walk.

The bad points with him are
He humps everything in sight
He has an ongoing and expensive skin condition, but the vet tells me this why he thinks he has Westie in him, they are prone to skin problems.
He farts A LOT

Overall he is great family pet, very loving. I am more than happy with him. here is more info from a website

How exciting to come back and find so many positive (and realistic) comments.

mablepurple - sounds as if we are on the same wavelength regarding dogs. I would have loved to go to the Discover Dogs show, but we are not in the UK so not possible.

For those of you that have replied: can i ask, how you decided if you wanted a male or female dog?

Bedlington terriers look like alien foetuses, imo.

No offence, like, .

I think Bedlingtons are exquisitely beautiful

but I realise beauty is in the eye of the beholder mablemurple

they do often have terrible liver trouble too

my turn to offend I'm sorry but I find Airedale's rather [whispers] thick ....as in dense ... as in ..not the sharpest tool in the box ...

Lakelands are GORGEOUS in every way.

All terriers have a stubborn streak

Hi

I grew up with an Airedale and she was fab She was very protective of us and used to round us up on walks, she was completely bombproof, loved being clipped (mum and she didn't get on with hand-stripping). Only down side was she could sniff out water/mud ANYWHERE and hated anyone in uniform!

When she died we got a Lakeland thinking he'd be similar in temperament but we had a dreadful experience with him. He was quite snappy, tore the doors to shreds, and bit me twice. We tried to rehome him, through lakeland rescue, the police force etc but he was just nuts and sadly had to be put to sleep

After that we rescued a Kerry Blue and he was the nicest wee chap. Very cuddly, desperate to be good and great with children and other animals. He never put a foot wrong

Recently my parents rescued a Welsh Terrier and it's not going well. He bolts so needs to be on a lead at all times, he's snappy and the grandchildren can't play with him Sarahson is right - he doesn't need my parents at all and there is no real bond TBH we can't understand why they keep him...

I guess you never know what your dog will be like until you get him/her home. There are always exceptions to the rule!

I grew up with Airedales and absolutely love them. They can be a little grumpy, but you soon learn their boundaries!!
Would get them stripped not clipped tho.
My Dad now has Irish Terriers, they're mad but do live outdoor lives really (in a big kennel & run) so not sure what they would be like as indoor dogs. They sure are bundles of personality tho!

My dh has always had male dogs, and I had a female golden retriever - it came down to personality on the day, actually - we all fell in love with each other (cheesy, I know!!)!! We haven't had him neutered yet, and I'm holding out for as long as possible. He hasn't started humping too much yet, and I want him to grow to his full size before I chop his knackers off!!! His father was a very impressive looking chap!

I loved the look of Bedlington Terriers, by the way, and would have had one if we could have found one (that, and dh didn't like how they look!!!! How could he - I think they are GORGEOUS!!).

I've met a couple of people here locally who have airedales, and they've both said that they are rather manic, and kept a tight lead on them near my 2 year old - perhaps they were just being responsible dog owners?!! All I know is, my ds1 has mobility problems, and my Lakey bounces off him and doesn't knock him over (saying that, he's not that jumpy, really). An Airedale would have been too big for us - they are BIG dogs (again, gorgeous, though - have you gathered that I'm rather a fan of pretty much ANY dogs, yet?!!).

About a year ago, there was a very funny/odd story about how some unscrupulous people had sheared baby lambs to look like Bedlingtons, and sold them on (for quite a lot of money) to unsuspecting Japanese buyers.

As I recall, quite a few of the 'dogs' were sold before the scam came to light.

lol Earlybird ...that's hilarious ... you'd think the "bark" would have given them away ....!!

Especially for you MableMurple

how can you not be entranced?

I know its not on your list but we have a Mini Schnauzer. She is incredible with children, very gentle, caring and loving but also full of life and bouncy wanting to play!! She is technically a terrier. She seems to sense how far she can go with the size of the child she is with and is never "too much for them to handle"!

She is a perfect family pet with a huge personality and is also very good for people with allergies as she doesn't shed hair....

She also comes to work with me and is adored by all the staff who come down to see her throughout the day!

Our dog is a she. I had a she cos we've always had a bitch.
However, I've heard (don't know how true) that bitches can be more temperamental.

Personally I think if your going to get them done it won't really matter on the sex. If your not I'd consider a male for less mess when in season.

Stillcounting, if you knew what was under their fur, you wouldn't be so enamoured

lol MableMurple !!!!

I have only ever kept terriers (of various sorts) and they are brilliant dogs but independent-minded and do like killing things. But this is what they are bred for. My last dog was a rescue Welshie from a really sad background. He was not easy - because of his background - but was an absolutely fabulous dog and coped incredibly well when I had the dcs. Current dog is a rescued JRTxLakeland and soft as butter (most of the time) and much more trainable than the Welshie. The stripping thing was a bit of a pain with the Welshie.