The Answer:
Yes, completely…with a adequately socialized terrier you can!
Terriers, by breeding, are hunters. Most terrier breeds have been made use of to root out vermin and pests, and help in looking fox, weasel, otter, badger, and many others…Our 5 terriers are terrific tiny hunters and however have great instinct. They like chasing squirrels, birds, bugs…something that moves in our backyard.
Recognizing this, you would assume that having a modest unique animal as a pet would be out of the problem around your terriers…Very well, allow me convey to you from experience that it is feasible.
I know, I know…You’re imagining that a hedgehog has quills and can defend alone and prevent a terrier from attacking. In part, this is proper. On the other hand, at no time in anyway have any of our 5 terriers preferred to attack our African pygmy hedgehog.
If you adequately socialize your terrier to acknowledge other animals that are not viewed as threats, they can have a friendly partnership with other pets in your household. I was a small leery, in particular about introducing our minor Knosey, as she can be the most “fierce” of our minis, but it all went well and continues to go properly. There will come a issue in which you just have to belief your parenting expertise…
Knosey, Precious & Kurious sit following to the our hedgehog, Kokonut Kreampuff’s cage and pine absent for Kokonut to grace them with her presence. Any small movement of the hedgie sparks their desire and they operate to the cage to view anything at all that Kokonut does. Our miniature schnauzers will even occur to inform me that the hedgie has awoken out of her snooze and to arrive and see. It is the cutest point.
I know…Now you are saying, well, the hedgehog is in a cage…I allow the hedgehog out of the cage with no complications possibly. In simple fact, our terriers combat about who can get the closest to the hedgehog.
They encircle Kokonut as she walks all over the dwelling, not at all scared or bothered by her big good friends, and they “secure” her from going below furniture or into areas she is not intended to go. They have been regarded to “herd” her into correct and harmless areas of the home or home.
The feminine terriers, particularly, consider that it is a child in the pack and check out to are inclined to it. Kurious has been observed making an attempt to carefully lick the hedgehog’s ears and has even attempted to gingerly pick up Kokonut with her front tooth to go her to a far better region. Awesome! What motherly instincts! They know she is tiny and susceptible and want to secure, groom and enjoy with the hedgehog.
I know…Now you might be stating, well, this appears to be a extremely controlled surroundings. To that I snicker…Even when the hedgehog is allowed to roam a bit in the backyard, our pet dogs carry on to nurture their romance with their tiny mate.
Kaptain, our male miniature schnauzer, operates all around the yard with a huge upper body as a lookout to make certain absolutely nothing is heading to invade the lawn and injure the hedgehog. The girls consider turns going for walks up coming to the hedgie…It really is all so lovable!
The Rationale This Operates: Socialization!
We produced sure when our terriers ended up puppies, to introduce them to a range of people, animals and animals. When you do, you need to handle that man or woman, animal or pet how you want your terrier to address them. In the circumstance of a youngster or a pet, your terrier needs to know that the baby or pet is critical and not to be harmed.
Sit with your terrier and this new mate, and convey to your terrier that the mate is great. If it is a pet, pet both equally of the animals (or leg/arm of little one) to ease any not comfortable feelings. Say, “Superior “your pet’s/kid’s title“, Fantastic “your terrier’s identify” in a relaxed, relaxing voice to clearly show them that they are equally critical in your textbooks. This will exhibit to the animals how you want them to handle every single other.
If any actions arises that is unsatisfactory or intense, you need to nip it in the bud instantly by reprimanding your terrier or other pet accordingly. Recall: You are in demand!
On the same token, you can practice your terrier to dislike a further animal by getting aggressive oneself to that animal…For illustration, if you never appreciate the squirrels in your yard, you can educate your terrier to exhibit aggression towards them and scare them absent. All over again, they will just take cues off of your actions, so make sure you are sending the suitable signals.
Pet dogs, in particular terriers, are super-clever and it is straightforward for them to study superior behaviors as very well as naughty actions!
by Kimberly Edwards
