[Elvira]

Just to introduce Molly - she's a smooth fox terrier and this photo was taken at around 3 months.  She is a little older now (nose is a bit longer and she has skinnied down) but as she is so full of energy this is the only photo I have of her that is not a blur! 
She is very interested in the chickens (Mmmm - chicken tonight - her favourite   ) and also the house rabbits but is being kept at a respectful distance from them (ie they are safely caged up when she meets them) and so far peace has reigned! 

[arugula]

She's a very pretty girl.

[Elvira]

Why thank you Arugula!

However she has a formidable set of teeth hidden away - as the OH keeps discovering!! I am not sure who I am spending more time training - her or the OH!  (... or who is the worst student!) 

[joyfull]

oh Miss Molly you are lovely

[ANHBUC]

Gorgeous.

You will have to remind Miss Molly that she is a "Fox" terrier so she should be guarding your chickens and rabbits.   

[arugula]

Why thank you Arugula!

However she has a formidable set of teeth hidden away - as the OH keeps discovering!!

  I can quite believe it! We had a terrier (my avatar) and both feel that another would be very welcome in the family.

[compostqueen]

What a beauty    She will need some firm handling from you to keep her in line or she could become a handful later on as they are very headstrong dogs indeed.  Early training will pay off though and I'd take her to puppy classes.  She'd love that as she will be very intelligent and will appreciate being kept very busy. A tired dog is a well behaved dog I found with my JR.  If he was not kept interested at all times he would get into trouble.  My husband used to say he'd rather have a house full of kids than a Jack Russell 

You've been warned 

[Elvira]

Yes Compostqueen - we have been having the battle of wills as to who is taking who for a walk!  However she is starting to learn not to pull on the lead and has just started to sit and lie down on command (heavily bribed).  I am going to see a puppy class tomorrow someone has recommended - we are on the waiting list - this is worse than finding a new school!!
I think the walks and new things to see/smell are exhausting her so she is good at settling down and certainly sleeps well.  However I am not sure who is most tired at the end of the day - we are both snoring on the sofa when the OH gets home 

[compostqueen]

They are very much a 24/7 kind of dog I'm afraid with a very strong chase instinct (as the name would suggest)    Keeping them busy is key. A secure garden will be a must!  Their wonderlust knows no bounds.  Puppy classes will be great not just from a training point of view but also to socialise her.  If she's used to being around other dogs it will make life so much easier for you and your family

Training dogs with strong instincts is not easy but you have to have infinite patience and kindness - and to some extent you might never get the dog obedient, after all they are not collies or GSD's, and being subservient is not in their remit.  One thing is certain though that life with her will never be dull.  I was only ever relaxed if I had one eye on my dog and he was asleep 

[Elvira]

She is good with other dogs as she was quite well socialised already by the breeder and we have a lot of dogs up our road of all sorts of sizes and breeds (who she has now met!).  She also loves people (especially the postie with his bag of treats!)
My sister's dog (a rescue large Yorkie - rather a handsome boy) wasn't socialised at all as a puppy and this has caused all sorts of problems - including me being threatened and told by a man to control my dog when his was the one off the lead at the time harassing poor Monty! OH hid behind a tree because he thought the man was less likely to resort to violence if I was on my own 
I must admit that I don't expect her to be super obedient as you say but trying to train her to some degree is part of the challenge!

[compostqueen]

If he likes other dogs and people and gets out and about with you, and used to people coming to the house, then the signs are good.  Getting him used to cats and small furries might be a good idea too for future good relations with your neighbours

[Elvira]

Thanks for the advice Compost Q!  The only danger to visitors to the house is that they will be licked to death!   

[compostqueen]

Aw bless.  I don't have a dog of my own now but I look after my niece's dog if she goes away and I look after my neighbour's every week and if they go away, so I get my dog fix without the hassle of having one of my own 

[Agatha]

She is lovely!  Good luck with the training.

[devonbarmygardener]

Very cute

I'd love a dog but 12 hour shifts are a bit too tough on dogs - cats however don't miss you that much.