Pros and Cons - Parson Russell Terrier

[scarlettlips]

Looking at getting a 3yr PR from a breeder..any helpful tips that I should be asking when we meet her?

Cheers

Duhhh

I should of said please could you give your pros and cons of having a PR?

I have one albeit she is only 9 months old and we are truly and utterly besotted by her.

People told me that terriers were a nightmare and maybe mine might turn but to date she is absolutely delightful. She is very good in the house and house trained well, she hasn't chewed anything she shouldn't - knows which are her toys and chews/plays with them, she is bright as a button and quick to learn. She is small enough to be a complete cuddle and doesn't counter surf. She doesn't shed hair.

Only cons are - she can be a bit barky but is getting better. She only really barks at the door or when people walk past the garden. Garden barking is much much better than when she was little and this is just a bit of fear I think.

Rabbit holes - she loves a rabbit hole and unfortunately we have lost her down a few. However I have the opportunity to walk in her in many different places and one is miles and miles of open countryside. Rabbits tend to burrow in areas where there is bracken and I know which places to avoid.

Thank you spam very helpful.

This PR is from a breeder, they already have several bitches and I've been told she's quite shy unlike the others, so gets pushed about a bit. She's had 2 litters already. I've been told they will take her back if we have any issues with her. Been brought up with children. They said they really didn't feel they could give her the time she needs and therefore are selling.

Is this going to be your first dog? Or have you already got a dog? Terriers are pretty full on. I learnt from bitter experience, I have a Patterdale who is lovely now - he only took 9 years to calm down. Just be aware that they are hardy dogs that have a strong hunting instinct. Any cats in the area should be wary!

we have a lovely bedlington terrier. we all adore her and she is a real character... but terriers can be a handful. she's quite noisy, excitable, stubborn and is obsessed with the idea of chasing anything small and fast - cats /squirrels / birds.... she is clever but not motivated by food unless starving hungry so training isn't easy. have you had a terrier before?

We had one for 14 years before he died last year, and we had to get another one. They are bright, active dogs. And extremely characterful. Sometimes this can mean they are grumpy, or hyper, or too chipper. But you can tell from the pup. Our new little one, Eddie, is a sweet little thing. Very active, but a really happy chap. I also have a 3 year old ds and both dogs were/are incredibly good with him. Hope this helps!

I have a JRT which are quite close to PRT's. They do tend to choose an owner and latch onto that person quite a lot like with my Charlie he chose me and is currently sitting on the sofa next to me under the blanket. He has amazing recall is very smart and loving. He does have his crazy half hours where he runs around the house at about 100 MPH growling at you wanting you to play but hes incredibly affectionate too.

Terriers are always going to be a little harder to work with but imo they're worth the effort. A Typical JRT/PRT trait though is to want to be as close to their chosen owner at all times this does include sleeping behind my legs in the bed under the duvet each night and stalking me to the toilet but if we go out hes fine until you turn around at look at the window hes staring at you through making you feel guilty though!

I've had dogs before but they were 'family' dogs. I grew up with springer spaniel's and golden retriever's, house/gun dogs. I grew up on a farm so we several 'farm' dogs. I've never had a terrier before.

I want to get a dog that's already house trained etc, I just feel since we do have a baby it won't be fair to get a puppy at the moment. I won't be able to give it the time it needs for training etc. Hence getting a dog which has already had a few litters and is a bit older. On the flip since if we do get a puppy, i know all it's history.

DH is away a lot with work and honestly I do get quite scared when I'm by myself (we were badly broken into years ago and found a burglar in my hallway when DH was away) I also grow up with dogs and feel the house is quite empty without one...

Forget to say...thank you for your advice, great stuff!

oldqueenie quite noisy, excitable, stubborn....sounds just like me!!!

well, in that case you and prt could be a match made in heaven! we too had retrievers as a child and when we decided to get a dog it was a real shock that my terrier is just a completely different proposition... i stupidly though that all dogs would be pretty similar.... how wrong i was. and yes, ours is v closely attached to me and only slighty less attched to ds2. she is wholly indifferent to everyone else in household and likes to be within 5 feet of me at all times. she is soooo lovely though, am suprised at quite how much i love her.

Same here oldqueenie Charlie was a rescue and I wasn't sure about JRTs at all but my DH loves them and since it was us or death for him we brought him home and I do love him to bits couldn't be without him. His latching onto me has really helped my depression too especially as he "listens" well cocks his head to one side then the other each time you speak!

They're funny little dogs but so very very wonderful and special.

Pro - still short enough not to be able to counter surf, easy to train, keeps you fit walking for 2+ hours a day, gets on with kids, small enough to pick up and walk around with
Cons - barky, snappy when disturbed from sleeping, eats everything, farts a LOT, chews all sorts.

Have a very good look at the dog and maybe take him for a trial run.

oh yes. that's a proper warts and all picture! as well as training dog you will need to train dcs to properly respect ddog. ours will snap if woken up / otherwise annoyed by dcs. all their own fault of course. but they are definitely not (usually) the sort of dogs to put up with provoking behaviour and will let you know it!