Activities For Dandie Dinmont Terriers

Most people are probably not familiar with the barn hunt and it is a newer dog sport that was originally developed for ratters. The sport has grown to include all breeds, but it seems that the terrier breeds still excel over their non-terrier competitors. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier was bred to hunt badger and otter; therefore, they will excel at barn hunts. The objectives of a barn hunt for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier are to quickly locate a live rat and signal to their handler that they find the rat. The rat is placed in a pet-safe tube to protect it from harm during these barn hunts. Your dog must be able to determine the difference between a tube containing the live rat and tubes that are used as decoys. Some decoy tubes will be filled with used rat litter to try to trick the dog while they are hunting. Barn hunts can be moderately expensive to participate in, each club sets their own fees. Expect most clubs to host barn hunts in any kind of weather and they will strictly follow the rules set by AKC if it is an AKC sanctioned event, therefore, you must know all the rules of the sport. 

Agility is a fast paced dog sport where your dog will race through an obstacle course. Your dog is competing against the clock and other dogs of similar size. Most small dogs such as the Dandie Dinmont Terrier will excel at agility and their intrepid temperament will make training them for agility pretty easy. Use lots of praise and treats when training for agility, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is usually very willing to please their owner and work for treats. Agility can be an expensive sport; however, you can cut costs by joining a dog club that offers agility training rather than purchase the obstacles. Entry fees for agility competitions can also be pricey, however, some dog clubs do offer a reduced fee if you enter more than one competition. 

All dogs have the ability to learn new things and this includes performing tricks for their owners. While most people think of elaborate tricks being performed at circuses or specialty dog events when someone says their dog can do tricks, however, even the simplest acts such as shaking hands is a trick that had to be learned. You can teach your dog tricks to impress your family friends by being consistent in your training and providing them with plenty of praise and treats. It is relatively cheap to train your dog to do a trick; all you need are treats to encourage them along the way.