Hi, just wanted to say hello.  I became the proud owner of a gorgeous and very mischevious border terrier called Charlie 4 wks ago today - he's now 11 weeks old.  The last time I had a dog, I was 9 yrs old - so this has been a very interesting and tiring 4 weeks.  MY O.H always had dogs at home so has alot more experience than me.  Some friends of ours own a border and they seemed a perfect breed for us - small and very good with children.  He's been an absolute joy, has NEVER cried at night - even the first night (I know, we have been VERY lucky!!) and is definitely improving with his toilet training - I'm not having to mop up the carpets as much as I did in the beginning!  It's not been easy all the time but I keep thinking back to the first couple of weeks and see how much things have improved.  He is able to go out on Tuesday which we are really looking forward to (I've been taking him round the garden on his lead for practise!!).  If anyone has any advice on his first venture into the "outside world", I'd be grateful for the advice.  Love the message board, have found out lots of useful information.

Congratulations on your baby :)

Ali

Hi Loz, welcome to the Board and congrats on your new puppy - sounds like you're doing a great job so far :)

Re his first venture into the outside world, have you already carried him around places to let him get used to differents sights and sounds etc?  If not, start that tomorrow ;) He doesn't need to be put on the ground if that un-nerves you  -  although I take mine out to non doggy places and walk them on a lead a week after their first jabs.

The main things are to not put any pressure on him by over-exposing him to too many things at once but equally, if he's a bit cautious (unlikely I should think in a Border :P ) don't molly-coddle him  -  try and stay chirpy and upbeat and he won't be rewarded for any fearful behaviour by misunderstanding your reassurances.

Find a bench on a busy shopping precinct and just sit with him and let him watch the world go by - pups invariably attract much attention and if he's bouncy and happy with that let people make a fuss of him.  If he's a little more reserved, just take things easy and don't put him under any pressure.

From a "taking him on walks" point of view, he really doesn't need this as a way of exercise - I'm sure he gets plenty of that playing with you at home and in the garden so just walk him for 5/6 minutes and stop for a while to let him sniff about and see and hear new things.  Then walk him back to the car, house, bus stop whatever.  During the course of the day he should not really get more than 15 minutes lead-work exercise in total at his age. :)

If you introduce him to as much as possible in the first few weeks and let him become accustomed to things at his own pace he will be bright, bold and happy - very much a feature of this lovely breed.  HTH, Good luck and keep us posted!  Teri :)

Keep it short and fun , let him have the the full leash (slack) to explore for acouple days.

Thanks very much for all the advice - we have been taking him out carrying him (my OH was out this morning at 6.30 am into our local village as Charlie woke up at 5.30 am - I pretended to be asleep!!).  Will definitely follow your advice Teri about taking him into a shopping precinct - a v good idea.  Thanks for the moral boost all of you.  Will let you know how we get on.

Hi again Loz,

>Charlie woke up at 5.30 am - I pretended to be asleep!!

Lucky you getting away with it LOL - always seems to work the other way in our house :rolleyes:

Another good place is garden centres - although not all permit dogs - but then for that outdoor + garden experience you could also try a beer garden :)  No pressure, a long cold drink for you and the puppy is surrounded by lots of people with tasty tit-bits ready to hand ;)  Mine are partial to a bit of scampi in a basket   :D

Will look forward to updates.  Good luck, Teri

Hi Teri,
my OH used to pretend to be asleep when my children were babies and I used to have to get up in the middle of the night!!!  What kind of dog do you have?  You sound like a very experienced dog owner.

Hi Loz, I have BSD Tervueren :)

>You sound like a very experienced dog owner.

Thanks, but just pretty average compared to some on here!  I'm pretty hot on socialisation because I have a very sensitive breed which is prone to being "wary" of anything they haven't seen before and had proven to them is totally safe :P  (this could be anything from a plastic bag blowing to a waste bin attached to a lamp post :rolleyes: )

Have pm'd a link to my little darlings ;)   Regards, Teri 

>a very sensitive breed

What Teri really means is they're wussy! ;) ;) :p Unlike my tough collies obviously. :p Yeah right! :D LOL Mum is decorating at the mo and ripping off wallpaper, they keep looking at me like, 'well why isn't she getting the squirty water then?' They are so funny. The rest of the time they are hiding on my bed cos nanny's being noisy. :( Ahhhhhhh. 

>What Teri really means is they're wussy!

LOL - yep, just couldn't spell that right (not sure you did either :P )