[BigPeat]

Does anyone know of any Border Terrier pups available any time soon in Aberdeenshire/northern Scotland?  Having a hard time finding any!

[Carse Goodlifers]

[member=132524]BigPeat[/member] keep your eyes peeled in the P&J.  There are more adverts for them in there than what there is in The Courier.  I'm sure that there were some advertised not so long ago. 

[BigPeat]

You're right there were some a couple of weeks ago.  My daughter was still wearing us down at that point so we did nothing!  Haven't seen any closer than Ayrshire since then.  However, good news is we have found one only 10 miles from us through word of mouth so will be proud owners of "Jimmy" on 2nd January.  Any advice or training tips gratefully received!  We have only ever had outdoor working collies before so will be steep learning curve!

[Carse Goodlifers]

We have 2 BT's (1x5yr dog & 1x1yr old bitch).
Get a crate for house training and sleeping in.  Eventually you can get rid of the crate if they will be okay to sleep in the kitchen or else where once they are old enough.  We found that the crate really helps with loo training.  A crate for the car is also a good thing - ours are fine in theirs.  Keeps them safe and contained.

Socialise, socialise, socialise!  Take them to the local park if you can to meet other dogs.  Some vets will do a 'puppy party' which is a socialisation thing for pups but at least in the park they would meet dogs of all ages.  Take into town and walk among folk, traffic etc. 

We tried a training class with our first one but the class was a joke - waste of time in our view.  We got more from a book and it has done us fine ('The Perfect Puppy' by Gwen Bailey).  We also got a breed book (available at the large pets stores usually - 'Border Terrier' edited by Betty Judge - has a fabric spine to it, at least ours does) which is good and gave an insight into the breed.  We actually got it before we got the dog.

Keep a routine for pup - sleep, toilet, play, toilet, feed, sleep, toilet etc.  Both ours share the same DOB which meant we picked them up just before Christmas which was good as we could spend plenty time with them over the holidays.

Toys too.  Both ours weren't chewers but I think we were lucky - I've seen pic's of BT damage to house hold goods

They are a fab breed and we wouldn't be without ours.  Both myself and the boss came from non dog owning families and we have managed fine (I think  ).  We will definitely be having more as time progresses.