Terrier terrors

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Is it true that terriers take longer to calm down than other breeds? When we got Tobey we were told that it would take until he was at least 3 to stop behaving like a daft puppy all the time

He walks well on a lead, comes in from the garden when he is called, sits when he's told but I daren't let him off lead because he gets one thought in his head and that is it! He's off like a shot!!!! Bit of a nightmare at the jumping up too.

Archie is about a year younger and a lot more placid but he is terrier too. I guess Tobey is just a spoilt brat who needs a bit more discipline

[luvofallhorses]

I think it just depends on the dog.

[KittyGurl]

Well, it does depend on the dog, not the breed. Every dog is different. There might be a one year old Terrier that is as calm as a 13 year old Terrier. There might be a dog who is 15 and is as hyper as a puppy. It really depends on the dog. You should be able to see your dogs acts (like you said 'your dog will run away when you let him off the leash') You learned that from him. Soon you will learn how long it takes for your dog to settle down

[IrishSetterGurl]

Well it depends if they are good learner and listeners cause if he is good at commands then try it at a park and if he listen to you than give him a chance

[Giselle]

Probably. I know many large breed dogs take 2-3 years to mature both mentally and physically (i.e. calm down). A few that come to mind are the Borzoi, Greyhound, Labrador, etc.

As for the off-lead issue, I'm very wary as to which dogs I allow off lead. Giselle is not off-lead unless she's in a fenced in area. With generations of breeding for speed and hunting ability, it wouldn't be too bright to let her off lead. Same goes for terriers. They're bred to chase and kill prey. That prey drive is very high and, well, they're not dogs with a super high drive to please you. Tobey's just being a little terrier!

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Tobey's just being a little terrier!

Thanks for all the responses! I am going to step up the work I do with Tobey as he was an "only dog" for a year and was just a wee bit spoilt when we should have been training the little bugger

[Pawsitive Thinking]

The replies I got inspired me to spend more time working with the boys and this weekend I've have been playing "bubbles" and fetch with them and also making them sit before we do anything.

I can see an improvement in them already! I only have to call them and they came charging in from the garden bringing half of it with them!

Tobey sat today without being told before I put his collar on and Archie is beginning to respond to things a lot quicker.

All I have to do now is train hubby and daughter to use the same techniques and to keep it up - training the dogs is the easy part

[elizabethann]

Fenway's a terrier mutt and he's pretty calm. However, he can freak out once in awhile. Just last week my sister took him overnight. When I went to pick him up the next day, he ran aound her house 3 times like a speeding bullet.

And when he's outside, I have to watch him very closely and make sure he doesn't get too far. It's kind of cute, because now he'll walk ahead of me and every once in awhile, he'll look behind him, to see if I'm still there.

[epetwork]

I have a boston terrier... Forget about it if someone walks by on the street and wants to pet him, forget about it if we take him off the leash. He goes crazy.... Plus, if you play with his toy, he will NOT leave you alone for hours. Terriers are just naturally crazy, although I have seen some that were rather calm. He still a good little boy

[Pawsitive Thinking]

I am just so happy that my boys are showing definite signs of improvement

They both now sit at the back door until I open it to let them out - no more jumping up and down! They pretty much sit every time they are told to now no matter where they are - am hoping to use this to stop them jumping up on visitors too!

Wherever I am in the house if I call them Archie appears with Tobey hot on his tail and I can sit in Brody's room with her and not have them outside the door barking their heads off - they just lay down and wait for me to come out...and best of all

hubby and daughter are seeing that my methods are working and are now using them too. Just goes to show that it's not the dogs who are the terrors its the owners who needed to be a bit more clued up