Terriers In Deed!

Terrier Rescue has developed out of a deep sense of wanting to help canine friends in need. I am a therapist by profession and my husband a GP with a fantastic empathy for dogs! Our 1st dog was a rescue wire-haired fox terrier; our 2nd was an ex-show/kennel Lakie who so tragically got killed on the road. Our next Lakie Brandy exkennel made it very clear he adored dogs and sowed the seed of having another ... our Irish Terrier Fern who for health reasons got held back by a breeder and missed her chance. Brandy and Fern have always respected one another; Fern being twice Brandy's size is his mother figure; he her 'son'. When Fern became paralysed our lives were turned inside out and we committed to help her, and she gradually improved, she is walking and now even jumps up on furniture. We then put this time saved into a 3rd rescue dog and today usually have 4 or 5 extra in our home with others fostered nearby. These are not all terriers, many of them from Ireland who would have needlessly lost their lives. We are not fussy with our breeds and cross breeds but very fussy with our homes! Our local rescue work is Rescue Remedies which is developing into a team effort from London through to Hampshire. We want to help Terriers and run Lakeland, Fell (inc. Patterdale) and Irish rescue nationally. We try and save them going into kennels or help them through to a home from kennels or pounds.

The rescue consciousness, age, health or breed become secondary. Who needs a good home and matches my life style, or will change my lifestyle for the better! I do lose patience with enquirers who are looking for a small bitch under a year with no problems, oh... and not prepared to travel! Try Marks and Spencer's because if it doesn't fit when you get it home or has a thread hanging down you can always take it back!!!

Terriers are full of character and act as amazing anti depressants. One person will complain they do this; they do that..the next person is chuckling..they do this, they do that..Yes the postperson knows their terrier homes with the post box outside the front door! Terriers thrive on activity and are full of courage. They are pack animals and like to work to pack order..and by the way, if you haven't already made it clear YOU are top dog, they'll be confused and lead you a merry dance. They can only really relax when you are managing things. Voice control; tactics to achieve harmony; fair- even treatment with the awareness of pack order within a routine is best...then the occasional treat and outing to break the monotony!! Oh and distraction and substitution are very useful in 'changing the subject'..e.g. to get something from their mouth or gaze! Debate of on or off lead is a personal one. We use harnesses for our leads so the collar is there to carry the disc with address and contact numbers on and never slipped! Microchipping takes a second of the vets time and costs about £15 so why aren't all terriers microchipped! We also use 8 metre extender leads to give our terriers freedom but security..because when their interest is caught they see and go over the hills and far away..and they have no road sense..like foxes many a terrier is killed on our busy roads.. We would rather employ a muzzle if a dog isn't fully trustworthy with dogs -to allow them to build up their confidence and socialisation skills without risk..rather than hold the dog back physically or psychologically from mixing and being a dog!

Terriers never seem to grow old just sweeter and more endearing...why do so many enquirers discount the older loves? in favour of the out and out scamps! The thought they are gaining years.. Well don't forget terriers are long livers when I get a lively 11 yrs old in and ask my friends 'how old'? you can bet the reply is "2 or 3!" quite! and with another 5 yrs ahead to enjoy I pray..So remember what life changes occur in 4-5 yrs and question why a pup..why under 2 yrs!!..you'll be the losers of a very special experience of offering a middle-aged terrier a home who has it all sorted; faithful and loyal. The older terriers tend to lose their homes through no fault of their own.

Terriers should be fed a low protein additive free diet..they are like children -react strongly to 'e' and colours. I like to give my terriers moist food so they can enjoy flavour! I usually use naterdiet; chappie or butcher's tripe mixed with either warm rice; wholemeal bread chunks; cooked veg; small piece mixer or James Wellbeloved dried food. I don't give my dogs treats apart from hide bones as I hate to see dogs focused on food so I give them a little breakfast and an evening meal. Personally I like to feed my dogs before we eat..I can't bear the thought of the dogs starving starring up at us eating! I also hate to see a terrier over-weight and have rescued some in a terrible state..twice their rec. body weight..Long walks soon gave them back their vigour and figure! No excuses!

Should terriers live alone or with others? This is a difficult one -we have needed to rescue many a dog who, as they came through to maturity, challenged dominance and needed to be split. Other terriers have lived with other dogs make it very clear they want another dog in their pack and aren't handling 'the only dog life' . Its down to the individual dog, their skills, experience and also the confidence of the pack leader as manager. There are some homes (I call terrier homes) whatever the individual terrier's traits the pack leader is going to make it work..with cats..with other terriers..caged birds. We have gained that confidence slowly and can sometimes look around and see 5 terriers, a collie, a rottie cross and a spaniel happily intermixing throughout the day. Some dogs however I don't have the confidence to mix inside but will do on their walks. So whether you stay with an only dog or decide to home two will depend on your confidence and also the dogs concerned (chemistry). Generally I wouldn't advise 2 pups from the same litter..I would advise a mix in ages, breed and sex. If you want to home 2 dogs -many a rescue will have dogs in foster where 2 dogs happen to really hit it off and its sad when one finds a home to leave the other. Rescue Remedies have recently rehomed 4 dog pairs -dogs who have lived together in harmony, were losing their home together and now remaining together. What joy! 2 dogs are not double trouble you do the same walks the same feeding times; shopping etc.twice the laughs!

Finally we do not support breeding: We try to neuter all dogs coming through our rescues at our personal cost helped by our local vet Mr Andre and colleagues- and organisations like The dog's trust. At any time I can enter 4 websites and see dogs on death row in various pounds staring out ..knowing often rescues can't come forwards and in the next few days they will have the label PTS (put to sleep) next to their picture. This affects staffies especially as they are overbred and few people come forwards to offer a staffie a rescue place or home. These deathrow dogs aren't dangerous..just discards in our consumerist society..got rid of! These dogs come into our home where possible and prove brilliant all round dogs..just given another chance by us and BY YOU! The greatest asset to a rescue is the people who offer their homes..yes we need financial help; we need publicity, we need fosterers, we need dog transporters..but above all -our dogs need safe understanding homes with secure terrier-proof gardens; care, companionship and social walks..for life.

Why bred or buy whilst others die?

xxlynne