Editor Letter: Sept 2008

From the Editor….

Living with the Tibetan Terriers

What do you do with your TTs?  Aside from the actual competitions, or training for competitions, there are so many things that Tibetan Terriers enjoy.  I was watching the show called “It’s Me Or The Dog” on animal planet one night and the dog trainer, Victoria made a point that really explained things from the dogs perspective.  She said that dogs “need” to be walked every day in order to be fulfilled and satisfied. That’s not her direct quote but that was the general point she was making.

Curious and creative minds are never challenged beyond their familiar surroundings if they are not taken off the homestead to new exciting places every day.   It made such perfect sense to me.  She described it as if we were to live in our house 24/7 and never allowed to go out into the world and experience the new sounds, sights, people, dogs, nature, etc. 

So, we began paying special attention to making sure every TT had at least a 20 minute walk in a different area every day.  Caroline and I planned accordingly and she purchased a dog stroller for her two dogs who ride while we walk the TTs in groups of two or three.  We’ve always taken our dogs with us on vacations, out on errands, and yes, walked them without any real schedule, but after we really put the effort into making it a daily thing for all, we began to see things about the dogs that we never really saw before as THEY began to see things they had never seen before!!  For instance, we never knew that if given the choice, Freesia likes to run along in the ditch and occasionally flip and roll on her back, Cartier likes to watch the tops of trees for bird noises and Mr. Whipple had a very curious reaction to his first encounter with horses!!  It’s really priceless to see their faces when we get ready for their walk.  In a matter of days we could begin to see the anticipation grow, but not just for a stroll around the neighborhood.  It was the anticipation of something new, something completely unheard of to them.  It is amazing to me how much we assume about our dogs.  I think we make very incorrect assumptions in assuming that they don’t need to be out and about in the world!  I realize it’s not easy for everyone to do this, but I encourage you to get those TTs off the property, out of the house, and out into the big exciting world that is going on around them.  You too will begin to learn new things about your dogs as they begin to learn new things about the world around them.

Shannon