I'm going to visit the two-year old Border Terrier (Stan!) on Sunday. We won't be picking him up on that day (need to get the garden sorted out!) and so we're planning to get the essential bits after our initial meeting.

We've bought some books to help us know the kind of things to get for the new arrival but I really value the suggestions and advice of the members on this site!

If any of you could put together a basic list or recommend a particular item I should put on my list, I'd be grateful! I'm talking travelling crates, leads, everything! The breeder has told me she'll help me out but prior knowledge is always a blessing!

Julie x

The one thing I wouldn't be without for Holly is her crate. She loves it and it's brilliant for keeping her safe and away from the children and their toys.

She's in season at the moment and she goes in her crate whenever I answer the front door - I can't trust the children not to open the lounge door to see who's outside. :)

Fiona
x x x

Thanks Fiona!

Can the regular crates be used in the car? (a 4x4)

And are there different kinds?

xx

I have two crates, one for in the car and one for in the house. The one in the car is a loose cage that's tied into the car on the luggage loops. Issy is still in a pushchair and until she's old enough to walk everywhere I won't be paying for a fitted crate.

There are loads of different tpes of crates but the Argos one would be great for a Border Terrier.

Fiona
x x x

Ahhh... lovely!

There's an Argos near Tottenham Court road... I'll have a look at lunchtime!

X

The crate is on page 123 of the spring summer catalogue - item number 13. (870/2135 £38.75)

Fiona
x x x

Fab. You're a star! x

Since Borders are so small, you could also get a bag for crowded/shopping areas :) We use the Samsonite Backpack that also adapts into shoulder bag/bed area... Great, solid, and lots of vents. The sides roll up for air and down for privacy. Works for biking and museums :D :D :D Since it carries up to 22 pounds of weight and fits Chienne's longer body snuggly, a BT would find it nicely roomy.

On chewing stuff, disregard the cutesy toys and get regular dog sized stuff. 16lb Samma plays with plushies that are Lab sized (lord knows, how do they survive Labs??? ;)) Terriers can chew hard! My 7 pound Yorkie chewed on the med-large sized Nylabones. Too small of an item can get caught and break easy in the mouth causing problems.

Please please, consider using a regular (leather) lead and not one of the extend-types. You'll have more control and quicker response. Besides, no rope burns from leather :D :D
Have a wonderful time and congratulations on your soon-to-be arrival :)
toodles

Thanks for the advice re. toys! I know that terriers are supposed to remove squeakers in an instant!

I'm perplexed... I'd like to use a leather lead but I probably won't be able to let Stan off it because of all the squirrels around (and selective BT hearing!) We were thinking of a flexi-one, giving him space to run on... is this a bad plan?

Julie :)

Hi again,
Perhaps you might first find out how well he works on a regular lead. Perhaps he might be better trained than you think. Pepper came to me at 8 years old already 'signal' trained. I discovered she'd do long distance hand signs across a field soley by accident. Who'd have thunk a Yorkie would have this background? :D

If you take him to obediance classes, perhaps his 'wanderlust' can be dependably distracted, if he has the likely problem. At least training him would let you know how predictable he is. :D Terriers are not great for instant obediance, but they do surprise one occasionally :)

I've just learned to loathe extend-leashes. I really shy away now from dogs on them, because the dogs are not in control, but their owners think they are. :( I know if you have an unreliable dog, they're better than nothing...esp. if you're in a field and nowhere near anyone else. But I've seen them snap, tangle dogs up into humans, trap dogs against one another, and generally be a pain in the neck for quick control. There are plenty of owners who have their dogs 'extending' in town, disregarding other pedestrians, cars, and corners. :(

I think it's the handle design. It's impossible to quickly "choke" up on the lead because it will cut your hand. I just recovered from a "burn" on my leg that another dog gave me as it was charging/attacking my dog. But this is just my humble opinion :D :rolleyes: It's up to you what is best for you and your dog :D :D :D
all the best,

Good idea. Maybe he can have a smart leather one for his townie walks and we'll try him out on the beach where there's no vermin!

Julie x

But there will be plenty of gulls to chase and crabs to explore ;) :D :D :D

Ho hum! Going to have to be on my toes, eh?!!

:D

Terriers/terrors aren't for the faint of heart ;) ;) :D :D :D

Oho! Yes - do I know that! All escape routes are being seen to in the garden next week! And the foxes we get coming round the garden? Gonna have to learn to run!

:)

I agree completely about the rope burn with extending cord leads - but can you not get extending full length webbing leads in smaller sizes? I use these (the giant size) for Maremmas and they are great because you can grab the webbing if needs be and are not reliant on the handle. I assumed that they would be available in all sizes but I haven't looked as I always just go for the "will hold a stampeding elephant" one! :)

Janet

Hi Janet,
I've looked at the various brands of 'extend'leads, but all of the small ones (under 35lbs) so far are 2-3ft of webbing that doesn't detract + round nylon cord that is the extenda part.

I've rarely even seen the full webbing ones that you mention being used by the larger dog owners across Germany. I think they're more expensive and just not something that the average person thinks about until a problem arises.

Shame. I found the full webbing one at a show some years back and wouldn't use anything else now
with large dogs anyway. They are far easier and safer on the hands, much stronger (the cords ones
will snap quite easily if the dog pulls suddenly), and less likely to tangle. After getting through a standard
flexi every six months or so I now have had the same full web ones for years!

Would make sense to make a mini version for smaller dogs - any manufacturers out there listening? :)

I've got a flexi compact that is tape and not cord I use it for my Dandie Dinmont Terrier when there is any uncertainty about her recall. There is quite a nack to using them without hindering others but I don't think it is too difficult to learn and I have found the Flexi has a very good lock on it, when its on you know its on, in the past I have had other makes that don't have a seperate switch to lock it and did sometimes release unexpectantly, that has never happened with my Flexi which I have had for years now.

Hi Isabel,

(That's my favourite name - I always wanted to be called Isabel when I was little!)

Where did you get your flexi from then?

I might experiment with two types and see which one works best for us!

X

Juliet, I got my latest Flexi from a pet shop in Keswick, I now have two but I have had the first one so long I can't remember. I am sure that your local petshop would order you one, Flexi produce a little catalogue with all the details of weights, lengths etc so you can choose the appropriate one.

Lots of sites on Google for Flexis mailorder what about this one Flexi Dog Leads

Thanks Isabel!

:)