A dog is a dog, right? Well, that’s what I thought, too. However, I’m finding that the Barbado da Terceira is a different type of dog. From playing to training to relaxing, I’m learning the quirkiness of this breed. After a lot of trial and error (a.k.a. money spent on failed attempts) and by speaking with other BDT owners and trainers, I have compiled a list of what I consider to be my
Barbado da Terceira Standard Operating Equipment
PLAYTIME
Puller Rings
I tried all manner of balls and throw toys that dogs usually love to chase and bring back. Nothing was really interesting to them. At the suggestion of a trainer in Portugal, I bought a set of these, and from the first throw, I had some obsessed Barbados. I use the MIDI size. The standard size seemed a bit big for their mouths, and I found that it was big enough to flip behind their heads while they were holding it in their mouth, causing them to panic because it felt like it was stuck. They like flipping it up while running with it.
Squeaky Toy
I started using these during training to get their attention if it drifted. As they got older and I didn’t need them as much for training, I found them to be good indoor play toys. They love holding these flat balls in their mouth and squeaking them. They are soft enough that they don’t hurt walls and furniture or knock things over if my throw is bad. Because they are flat, they balance nicely on their noses for trick play as well.
TRAINING TOOLS
Clickers
I’ve read about different options for rewarding dogs. One consistent theme is rewarding when the behavior happens. That is great advice. My problem, for the most part, is being fast enough with the reward. I don’t want to “rush” my dog with a treat and scare them if they are out of arms reach when the behavior is offered. Clicker training provides the benefit of an audible reward allowing me to calmly offer a treat if necessary. I have tried out sounds I can make with my mouth, using cue words and clickers. After some trial and error, it became apparent my dogs responded better to the clicker. It is more consistent. I looked for a sound that pleased me and a design that was easy to click with a thumb, palm pad, or finger.
Long Line
Whether you are walking/hiking in an area where you need your pup on a leash, introducing your pup to swimming, training recall, or any kind of distance work, having a long line is essential. I like this long line over cotton because it is EASY to clean and QUICK to dry. I have tried cloth, cable, and rope. This is, by far, the long line that I prefer.
GROOMING
I find grooming my BDTs an intimate and bonding experience that I enjoy weekly. Perhaps more importantly, it provides me the opportunity to inspect them in detail, nose to tail.
The tools I use that make the job of detangling their fur down to the skin are simple and can be purchased anywhere dog supplies are sold. They are a rake, comb, slicker brush, mat breaker, blunt-tip scissors, nail clippers with guard, and a detangler.
Here is a wonderful video showing how to brush out your BDT. Click here to watch.
Hold Still!
If you took the time to watch the grooming video, you will notice her BDT just stands there patiently to be groomed. Mine are not that patient. I need a grooming arm to keep them in place or at least facing in one direction. Living in an RV means I don’t have a lot of storage space, so I have opted for just the grooming arm that I can attach to picnic tables at our campsite. There are full grooming tables available, and if I had the space would have gone that route.
Buzz Cut
There are times when your Barbado da Terceira may need some additional trimming, and professional grooming is not feasible. With the average cost being around $200, give or take $50, I tend to bathe and trim my pack myself. I use the following items (which will run you about $100) for the touch-up clipping that they need. The nice thing is that your dog doesn’t care how they look, so if it takes you several grooming sessions to get it right, they are just fine with it. Besides, I find most groomers clip them like they are doodles. *sigh
Click on the pictures for more information about each.
Outdoor Gear
Earth Rated Poop Bags and Holder
I can’t say enough about these bags and the design of the dispenser. The bags are strong and leak-proof, and I like the lavender scent. I have tried all kinds of poop bag dispensers, and this one is by far my favorite. The strap is strong and is easy to attach and unattach allowing you to move it from place to place in seconds. It has a hook on it where you can attach a used bag until you get to a trash can. The dispenser is very well made and can take a beating even from being dropped and dragged across the cement.
However, two features set these bags and dispensers above the rest for me. The bags are marked with a sticker letting you know when you are getting to the end of the roll (picture 3). And I LOVE LOVE LOVE the slit dispensing of bags. No jamming up when trying to pull out a bag, and no small hole to try and reach into to grab a bag.
Portable Dog Water Bottles
Whether just a walk, a hike, or playtime at the park, these BDT doggies seem to drink a lot of water. Having an easy way to provide them with water is essential. There are many different styles of portable dog water bottles out there to meet your needs. I have the one pictured. What I looked for when choosing was large capacity, large mouth opening for easy filling and cleaning, a reverse flow to let the water back into the bottle (we spend time in desert areas, so every drop of water is precious), and a foldable design giving the dog a large “bowl” to drink from but still compact for carrying. Our boys like the water to pool at the bottom, so the silicone reverse bowls of some models didn’t work for us. There are pros and cons to both plastic and stainless steel, so it really depends on your preference.
Guide Gear Bed with Elevated Bed Frame
Going camping? Attending an outdoor concert? Maybe a Little League game or soccer? Taking your fur baby along means packing comfort items for them as well as for yourself. This is an awesome portable bed. It folds up like a camp chair, which makes it super easy to store, transport, and carry. It has tension straps on each corner you tighten to keep the mesh from sinking to the ground when the dog lies on the bed. Our guys LOVE these cots. The elevation and mesh help keep them cooler by allowing air to flow all around them. Let’s face it, this breed always seems to feel hot all the time. As an added bonus, WHEN (not if) our BDTs get wet, it allows for faster drying.
Lighted Collar
Whether we are camping in our own little secluded corner of the world, hanging out around the fire at a friend’s house who has a large yard, or taking an evening walk, a lighted collar gives us peace of mind that not only can we see where our dogs are, but so can everyone else. I have found that the Blue, Green, and Pink are very bright and shine through the BDT’s thick coat. As a bonus, we think they like the lighted collars and prance around like they are something special.
Sporn Head Halter
We would all like to be able to walk our dogs pleasantly on a leash. I know I have spent many hours training loose leash walking, and for the most part, mine do okay. However, my reality is I have two BDTs I walk together, and the pack mentality often overrides their training when encountering a trigger. It seems they all have similar triggers at varying distances. I’ve tried various collars and countless different harnesses, but NOTHING has changed my dog-walking life as this head halter has. They become different dogs when I put this on. I can walk in crowds, pass by other dogs—and bring on the cats and squirrels! I have control and know they won’t hurt themselves if they do try to fight the halter, which they really don’t do. Whatever your reality is, if you struggle with the walk, give this halter a try.
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT
I have to admit feeling apprehensive about listing the following items because of the high emotional opinion of the pros and cons that people have about their use. But my reality is I have two very strong and sometimes very stubborn BDTs that work as a pack when they are together. I need all the tools I can employ to manage them.
I will state that my dogs are not fearful of any of the following items. They do not shy away or crouch or cringe in fear when they see them. On the contrary, they get excited knowing that a fun time is coming. I credit this with the training I have received on how to use each of them properly.
Prong Collar
I use a prong collar for quick potty calls, a walk around the campground, or to their play spot within the campground. It is a very useful tool when I know we are going to be in a familiar environment and their excitement level is low. It helps me deal with the pulling that goes along with two BDTs competing to get to a pee place first, to be the first to check out that smell, who gets to the drinking water first, and so on. It is just another tool in my toolbox. I like this collar because of the quick-release clasp that makes putting the collar on and off easy.
E-collar
CAUTION: If you have never used an e-collar, seek professional help. I can not stress this enough.
Used properly, e-collars safely give your pooch a high level of freedom in the outdoors and you peace of mind knowing that though not connected to each other by a physical leash, you do have an electronic one.
E-collars only work if your dog ALREADY KNOWS AND CAN EXECUTE the command you are giving. This means that if you call your dog and it doesn’t know what to do, the e-collar will not help.
I use the e-collar for recall ONLY and nothing else. When off leash, 99% of the time, calling my BDTs or using a whistle pattern I trained the recall to will bring them running to me. Sometimes, what they are investigating or want to investigate overrides their sensibility to do as they’re asked. Depending on their interest level, I can beep the collar, vibrate it, or offer static stimulation. (like a static shock you get sometimes when you touch things) I can honestly state the beep is generally all I need to offer in order to break their concentration and return to me.
Please feel free to leave a comment about your favorite BDT (or any dog) equipment below!