The Border Terrier makes a great family pet. They can be housed in an apartment as long as frequent walks are part of the routine. They do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. If possible, a properly fenced enclosure for exercise is ideal. They are diggers so some of the fence needs to be buried to keep them in. They love children but please remember to not leave any child unsupervised with any dog or puppy. They train easily and live to please plus they make a good watch dog.
*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the male Border Terrier is 13 to 16 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulders) and 13 to 16 pounds. Females range from 11 to 14 inches to the withers and 11 to 14 pounds.
*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Border Terrier is no exception, but they are considered a very healthy breed. Look for Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome which is a neurological disorder similar to epilepsy. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.
*Grooming. The Border Terrier has a short dense undercoat with a wiry outer coat. She should be brushed weekly and professionally groomed several times a year. She should be bathed rarely as this strips her coat of its protective oils and she can have dry skin problems
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.
*Life Span. The can live between 12 and 14 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.
*History. They hale from the border between Scotland and England in the 19th century. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1930.
*Some Registries: Border Terrier Club of America UKC United Kennel Club NKC National Kennel Club CKC Continental Kennel Club APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc. AKC American Kennel Club FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club ACR = American Canine Registry
Litter Size: 3 to 9 Border Collies puppies
Category: Terrier
Terms To Describe: Agile, tough, good tempered, affectionate, easily trained, easy to train, mild mannered,
*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS Good watch dog. Gets along well with other dogs and some pets. Loves children. High activity level. They are generally healthy dogs.
*SPECIAL BAD POINTS Poor guard dog. Can have dry skin conditions. May bark a bit. They love to dig. Do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. May harm cats, birds and other small pets.
*Other Names Known By:Reedwater Terrier, Coquetdale Terrier
*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.
The Border Terrier is originally from the Cheviot Hills are that is on the border of England and Scotland. These dogs were bred to be farm dogs, and their main purpose was to drive fox from their den and to kill them. The Border terrier was also used to hunt otters, badgers and martens. Currently the Border Terrier is fairly rare in the United States - but they remain a very faithful companion and continues to be used as pest hunters on farms.
Temperament
Border Terriers are extremely friendly and good-natured; the show lots of affection and flourish on human contact and attention. This breed is more easy-going than is characteristic of the other terrier breeds. They will do weel in a home with older thoughtful children. They will usually get along with other dogs but are not ideal for homes with cats or other little household animals. The Border Terrier does not like to be left alone for long periods of time and will become destructive and bark a lot if bored or feeling alone. Therefore a family where everyone works during the day will not work for this breed. They are cautious of strangers but are generally not hostile. This breed is not recommended for inexperienced or inactive dog owners.
Care
Border Terriers should be brushed weekly and stripped by a professional twice during the course of the year. These dogs should only be bathed when totally necessary, and then a mild shampoo should be used to protect the coat. This breed has a high pain tolerance, and will not show any signs of illness or distress very often. It is therefore vital to closely watch their health.
Training
Ready and eager to please its owner, the Border Terrier needs to be socialised enough to stop shyness, and also be trained in obedience. They will not do well with cruel or unkind training methods that will shatter their courage and make training more hard. Training should be done with enough praise, inspiration, reward, respect, patience and consistency. The Border Terrier is very talented in areas such as tracking, agility, competitive obedience and hunting.
Health problems
The Border Terrier is a energetic breed that can endure pain and illness at great lengths, and not letting anyone know that there is a problem until very late in the game. Regular checkups are advised for these dogs. A metabolic disease known as canine epilepoid cramping syndrome is a suspected inherited disease that Border Terriers may suffer from. It is however often confused with epilepsy.
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Mitch Endick has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Puppies Dogs and Education. Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website developer for the popular pet site petpages.com.