Border Terriers are intelligent, energetic, loyal, and adaptable. Like many other terriers, they can also be strong-willed, vocal, and prone to dig and chase. These dogs are very interested in being part of the family because they are affectionate and easily trained.
In the hilly countryside between Scotland and England’s borders, the old-time farmers and shepherds developed quick and agile terriers to help chase and dispatch sheep-stealing predators. Due to abundant hills in this area, farmers were terrorized by the powerful hill foxes. This dog breed is a result of a never-ending war between foxes and farmers.
To hunt and kill the foxes, shepherds and farmers needed a game terrier with legs long enough to run with huntsman on horseback but small enough to follow a fox to the ground. These dogs are brave, energetic, and tireless, with a waterproof coat to protect them from mist and rain.
This alert, good-natured dog breed was initially used to assist in foxhunts, but nowadays, Border Terriers prove to be great family members who adore their owners.
Border terriers are obedient, affectionate, and easy to train. These dogs are intelligent and quickly get the cues when you’re going out for a walk or if it's mealtime.
The individual personality can vary from shy and timid to confident and outgoing. They are always curious and want to be involved in family activities. Their playful nature makes them perfect for families with small kids however, this dog breed is not so affectionate with other small animals.
Border Terriers need early socialization. Expose them to different people, sounds, sights, and experiences when they are young. It helps to ensure that your pup will grow up to be an all-rounded dog.
They like to explore on their own and aren’t afraid of learning new things. Border Terriers can adapt to different environments and situations easily. However, their independent nature can make them stubborn.
If other dogs scare or attack your terrier, they are likely to become aggressive. They have a desire to make noise and bark at everything that draws their attention.
Border terriers are rambunctious and vigorous dogs that need a family with experience owning dogs. The owners need to be fairly active and make sure their dog gets daily care and exercise. If you do not pay proper attention to them, they'll get bored and make their own entertainment that you might not like.
Border Terriers are great family pets and usually get along well with children. However, their hunter's nature might make them chase other animals. But if you introduce other pets to them at a young age, they are usually fine around them.
These are intelligent dogs, and you can train them in no time with the right motivation and a little persistence. They love a home with a garden, especially if they get their own digging spot. If you can offer regular walks, they can also live comfortably in small spaces such as apartments.
Border Terriers are not high-maintenance dogs. They don’t need frequent bathing; brushing and toweling off your dog is enough when they’re wet or dirty. If you give them too many baths, it will soften the harsh coat that acts as natural dirt repellent.
Their short, wiry coat does not shed excessively. A good brush out of the coat once a week is enough to lift out dead hair and keep the skin and coat healthy. Most owners hand-strip their dogs a few times a year to prevent their coats from becoming scruffy.
From the age of three weeks, you should clip their nails regularly. Just cut about 1mm a time and take great care not to cut into a nerve or blood vessel. Once it harms your puppy, they will be reluctant to let you touch their paw again.
Brush your Border Terrier's teeth two or three times a week. It will remove tartar buildup and accompanying bacteria.
Start grooming them from a young age to get them used to it. Make grooming a positive experience, so it will be easy for you to handle when they’re an adult.
The border terrier is one of the hardiest and healthiest breeds of small dogs. But like other breeds, they can have certain health conditions. Not all Border Terriers have any of these common diseases, but it is important to be aware of the health problems that affect their breed.
Before buying a puppy, find someone who can show you its health clearances which will prove that the pup is free from any health issue. Some problems usually do not appear until a dog reaches its full maturity.
It is necessary to give your pets the protection and treatment they need. Vet bills can be expensive and might not be affordable for many pet owners. However, having pet insurance can help mitigate the treatment cost. The average cost of Border Terrier pet insurance is lower than many other breeds. It is important to consider your budget and specific needs of your pet while selecting an insurance plan.
Hip Dysplasia is an inherited condition that means the thighbone doesn’t fit snuggly in the hip joint.
The symptoms are generally pain and lameness which will vary in severity and can be present in one or both rear legs.
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for the disorder to lead to hip replacement.
Make sure you ask any breeder if the puppy’s parents have been tested and cleared for Hip Dysplasia. If they have not, or the issue is present in one or both, find another breeder.
Patellar Luxation is a relatively common problem that occurs when the patella is not properly lined up. This causes the Femur (thigh bone), Patella (kneecap), and Tibia (calf) to slip out of place. When this happens, the dog will generally skip or hop.
There are four grades, ranging from I, an occasional luxation causing temporary lameness in the joint, to grade IV, in which the turning of the tibia is severe, and patella cannot be realigned manually.
The constant rubbing caused by this issue can lead to arthritis, a degenerative joint disease and severe levels of Patella luxation may require surgery to avoid further issues and pain.