Lakeland Terriers

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blueblonde123

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Hello, I'm looking for some advice about our lakeland. I found him last July chained to a tree in the middle of nowhere and my parents decided to keep him. He's obviously had a really hard time from whoever owned him as he was very jumpy and easily frightened.
He's settled really well and we adore him, the trouble is training. We've had dogs before but never a terrier so this has been a steep learning curve for us!
Any tips and advice about the breed in general, not just about training would be much appreciated.
He is about 18 months old and in good health, however, he has started eating coal but there seems to be no reason why (no change in diet, his behaviour, poos etc). Any thoughts on this?
Thanks in advance!
 
A lot of dogs eat stones and similar objects through boredom/obsession so make sure he has lots of stimulation.

What are you feeding him?

With any dog, a leave command is a good thing to teach for safety.
This could take days or weeks, with the dog hungry and a pocket full of high value food or a toy or ball he likes.
So when he heads toward the item, call him or give a command, if he returns to you, reward, if he ignores you, try to distract or encourage him, if this fails, reel in the line then reward when he is sitting calmly with you.

I expect to be told this is impossible with your sort of terrier :p and I am talking out my bum but it is a good command nonetheless for dogs to ignore or leave items which may cause them harm.

A good training class is also good so that a trainer can spot what YOU are doing wrong, as well as the dog :)
 
Thanks for the reply. He is fed normal dog meat - pedigree chum and gets a wee tin of sardines 1 or 2 times a week because his skin was quite scurfy when I found him.
We have managed to get him to understand a stern NO! command but it is recall, sit, stay, heel etc that we are struggling with. Sometimes it's like a manic demon has possessed him and he goes off on a total maddy.
I was worried that the coal-eating might mean he is lacking in something (like when horses eat certain plants) or he had a sore tummy.
 
Pedigree is not the best TBH and he may indeed be lacking something. If you are looking for a good dry food, try Skinners Field and Trial, Arden Grange, Autarky, Fish4Dogs.
Good wet foods would include Nature Diet, Prize Choice, Applaws.

Get him to a good training class or someone used to working-bred terriers and like I say, make sure he has a job and something to occupy himself with.
Try and see what 'does it' for him, a certain food or a toy, and use that to incentivise whatever it is you want him to do.
 
Thank you for your advice and I should have mentioned that it isn't possible to take him to puppy classes because the nearest one is 65 miles away (we live in the scottish highlands).
He has a favourite ball so will try to use this to tempt him into being a well trained doggy.
 
I have kept Lakeland Terriers for the last 27 years they are Terriers so you will never get the same levels of obedience as you will from "normal dogs". But you should be able to get reasonable levels of obedience with some training, to get, say Gun Dog level training you would ruin the dogs temperment if you see what I am trying to say.

I would discourage eating coal and stones as it will ruin the dogs teeth, as for manic behaviour at times its the nature of the beast. With regard to feeding use a good quality complete dog food with a bit of tinned dog meat as it just livens up the bland mix, and I would avoid a dog food with maize or too much cereal as it will heat the dogs skin and cause skin problems.

I have always enjoyed keeping and working Lakeland Terriers and I think they are so much better than Russells Borders and Nutter BAST*** Patterdales which are in reality a sub breed of the Lakeland Fell Terrier.
 
Thanks Hairy Old Cob (have never called anyone that before) we don't want him to be a beautifully trained robot because that's just not him. The thing we are most concerned about is recall - he just will not come back until he decides it's time to do so. Is this common to the breed?
Also he seems to feel the cold a lot and will hog the fire when it's on, is this normal?
One last question, are they 'clipped' for a health or welfare reason? We like him with his curly hair but if it's deteremental (sp?) to him we'll get it off.
Thanks.
 
Blueblond With regard to recall I had one Lakeland Bitch that until near the end of her days I couldnt let off the Lead or she was gone straight away into Hunting - Pi** off mode and would be gone until she deemed to return Hours or Days later. I used to have a Large Deer Hound Cross Lurcher that I could send to retrieve Her with usualy by her "head" and both dogs seemed to enjoy this event.
I would suggest dog in secure area and keep rewarding it on a successfull recall. With regard hogging the fire some dogs just do it my Mum used to have a Border with a coat that an Eskimo would have "died for" used to have to be physically removed huffing and puffing from the fireside.
Lakelands shouldnt be clipped but stripped and the coat should be hard and weatherproof to the touch.
You state that you found your Terrier and that it had obviously had a rough home so it might just be making the most of a bit of heat and some comfort some people keep their Terriers in deplorable conditions.
My Remaining Lakeland sleeps outside but has a wooden shed with bench complete with old Futon and Heat Lamp in the winter.

As the Terrier Song States
Always Remember your Terriers Protect Them From Wet and From Cold For The Love Of A Tyke for His Master Can Never Be measured In Gold.
 
blueblonde123 said:
Thanks Hairy Old Cob (have never called anyone that before) we don't want him to be a beautifully trained robot because that's just not him. The thing we are most concerned about is recall - he just will not come back until he decides it's time to do so. Is this common to the breed?
Also he seems to feel the cold a lot and will hog the fire when it's on, is this normal?
One last question, are they 'clipped' for a health or welfare reason? We like him with his curly hair but if it's deteremental (sp?) to him we'll get it off.
Thanks.
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Nope, IMO you'll never ever get a terrier to be "obedient" :) that's just not in their natures; they were bred for digging and dealing with small vermin and that's their job basically.

Whilst we haven't dealt with Lakelands as long as some on here, the last two dogs we've had have been Lakeland crosses. We love them, they're feisty yet biddable little terriers with lots of character but also have their soft side too - and yes will hog the fire. Our little boy has heaps of pzazz and energy when there's a chase on or a job to be done but also has an almost fragile side to him too; when he's feeling a bit poorly he's a bit of a wooss and just wants someone to cuddle him, bless him.

Sorry can't help on the recall situation; but don't think this is just a "terrier" problem - most dogs have a deaf ear to coming back when it suits IME!

Good luck with yours anyway.
 
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