Contents
Border Terrier Personality traits and Temperament
They are very good natured and affectionate dogs. They are always alert and active. They are very fast on their feet and are good at digging. They are suspicious of strangers and will alert everyone around if any unfamiliar persons are seen. As a result they make excellent guard dogs. They also take their time to socialise with visitors. They often greet their owners and friends by jumping up on them, and this is a habit that is hard to get rid of even with proper training.
These dogs love children and will keep your toddler entertained for hours. They are very naughty and can be a true partner in crime to your young one. They are so good with children that they can even be makeshift babysitters. They also get along great with other dogs and also cats. But when it comes to vermin, it is a completely different picture. They have very strong prey drive will chase and hunt any vermin in the vicinity.
Because of their high energy levels they need good exercise. They enjoy at least a half hour of exercise daily, such as a walk on leash, off-leash play in a fenced area, or a good game of fetch. Always supervise their activities in a yard as they have a tendency to dig and also are great escape artists. If proper exercise is not given to these dogs, they can get restless and even destructive. They can tear up anything in their path during these times.
Even though the breed is constantly active and needs company, there are times wherein they can sit quietly and simply observe their surroundings, almost as if they are mulling over something.
Grooming, Haircuts and Shedding
It has a dual coat consisting of a soft close fitting undercoat and a scruffy and coarse upper coat. Their coat needs to be brushed at least twice a week. It must be taken to a professional groomer and stripping must be done. This should be done at least once in six months. Proper brushing and stripping will help prevent excessive shedding on your furniture.
Border Terriers do not need to be bathed often and it is not recommended. Their coat naturally repels dirt. A wipe-down with a damp cloth when needed can keep the coat clean. Bathing can be done once in 3 months. Use a mild shampoo only. Trimming of the coat is also not recommended as they can become soft and lose their dirt repelling property.
Trim the nails as often as possible. These breeds have a tendency to jump up to greet people. Long nails can often scratch and hurt owners when this happens. Teeth should be brushed at least twice weekly.
Size and Characteristics
Price Range: this dog for sale may cost between $800 – $1000
Life expectancy: the life span is generally of about 12-15 YEARS
Weight: 12-16 pounds
Height: 11-16 inches
Colors: Red, Wheaten, Blue & Tan, Grizzle & Tan
How to Train this dog
This breed is a delight to train. They are very intelligent and have a constant drive to satisfy the owners. They can learn very fast and is very easy to housebreak them. Obedience training, leash training and other basic training can be taught to them without breaking a sweat. They are prone to chewing and with proper training they can be taught to differentiate between what is acceptable and what is not. Due to this reason they may require quite a lot of chew toys.
They respond to a combination of affection, positive reinforcement and treats very well. Harsh methods should never be tried on these dogs. They have very good memory and so care must be taken not to teach him any undesirable habits.
Health Issues and Food
Diet: They are extremely active dogs so a high quality balanced diet is needed. They are prone to weight gain so proper rationed feed must be given. Never overindulge them with treats, snacks and table scraps.
Allergies: None
Health problems: They are prone to heart diseases. Often skeletal issue like hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, and malocclusion can occur. Other problems include cryptorchidism, hypothyroidism, progressive retinal atrophy and obesity.
Mixed breeds
Affen Terrier is a mix of Border Terrier and the Affenpinscher. Affen Terrier comes in a variety of colours, primarily shades of black, white, or tan and often has markings or intermingled coat colouring. Affen Terrier is easy to train, loyal and good family dog.
Best female and male dog names
You can name your Border Terrier as T-Bone or Banjo if he is a male and Muffin or Cece if she is a female.
How to adopt this dog
You can also browse a specific site to adopt a Border Terrier
Pictures and Videos
Photo Credits: Craig Pemberton, Petteri Sulonen