Border Terriers are cute and friendly dogs with a rough coat, and belong to the terrier family. These dogs are highly popular with people because of their cute looks, which are emphasized by their quizzical yet soft eyes, and small nose – quite similar to that of a black button. Thanks to their friendly nature, these dogs are cherished as family dogs. However, this dog was essentially a hunting dog in the old days. Though these dogs have been in existence since ages, the breed was actually recognized in the year 1920 in Great Britain. These dogs were originally bred for their hunting capabilities and were known as vermin and fox hunters.

Description

These are small, medium boned yet robust dogs that weigh anywhere between 11 to 16 pounds or 5 to7 kilograms, and have a height anywhere between 11 and 16 inches, depending on the sex of the dog. These dogs have otter shaped heads with a skull that is broad and a muzzle that is short and yet strong. The shoulders and the body of the dog are narrow while the muzzle is short with a moderate stop. The eyes of the dog are dark hazel in color, wide set, medium in size and have a perpetual questioning look. The ears are V-shaped and fall by the sides of the cheeks and are dark in color. The teeth are sharp and strong, which can give you the bite of a scissor. The tail of the dog is thick but tapers towards the end. The front feet of the dog are not very heavy and are straight.

Coat Description

The Border Terrier has a double coat, where the inner one or the undercoat is short, dense and soft and is located very close to the body. The outer coat is harsh, closely held, wiry, dirt resistant in nature and straight without any curl or wave in it. Common colors of the coat are grizzle and tan, red or blue and tan. You may even find coats that are wheatish in color. The muzzle is dark while there could be a white patch on the chest of some dogs in this breed. There is some dense growth of hair on the face, which gives us the feeling that this breed has whiskers.

History

This is one of the oldest dogs in the terrier breed and was bred in the Cheviot Hills, which form a border between Scotland and England. According to experts, these dogs were excellent hunters of foxes and were bred for the sole purpose of enabling farmers to get rid of foxes in their vicinity. Apparently, foxes were killing the livestock of these farmers and it was with the help of these Border Terriers that they hunted these foxes from their dens and eradicated them. Experts believe that in the olden days, the farmers did not feed these dogs well because it was felt that their hunger would lead them to prey more, which in turn would help the farmers. Moreover, it was seen that while these dogs were small enough to enter into the den of the fox, they were big enough for people to follow on horses.

Apart from being excellent family dogs, modern day Border Terriers have the ability to track and destroy vermin with farmers, which make them good farm dogs. They were also used to hunt otters, badgers, foxes, rodents, marten and mice.

Temperament

These are absolutely agile, fiercely competitive and excellent tracking and hunting dogs with an affectionate and mild manner, which is very pleasing and friendly to the owner. Since they are extremely friendly and lively dogs, they make great playmates for children. On the other hand, Border Terriers are excellent trackers and hunters, which make them very useful for farmers who want to get rid of vermin and other pests from their fields.

They are mild mannered dogs with a good bark and sturdy body, which make them excellent guard dogs. However, it is essential that you expose them to loud sounds and other factors at a very early age in order to avoid timidity that’s common in some dogs.

While they are extremely intelligent and easy-to-please dogs, they also have a stubborn streak and independent thinking as well as initiative, which should be considered while training or housebreaking the dog. Allowing these dogs to socialize in the early stages with other people and other animals like cats and other breeds of dogs will help to instill in them social skills early in their life.

These dogs have a tendency to sit and observe their surroundings, which they do even while on walks. In fact, these dogs tend to take short breaks while on walks to observe and ponder on their surroundings. Their calm nature makes them adaptable to change, even if it is temporary, which cannot be said of many dog breeds.

Health issues and concerns

Life expectancy of the Border Terrier is anywhere between 12 and 15 years of age. It is pertinent to note that these dogs have really high endurance to pain and illness and never let their owners know that they have any problem. Therefore, it is recommended that these dogs are subject to regular health checkup with the vet in order to ensure their good health. These dogs are healthy and active dogs but when they become listless and lethargic, it is reason enough to get them checked for health problems.

Common health problems include Perthes disease, juvenile cataracts, various heart disorders, retinal atrophy, epilepsy, hip dysplasia and the Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome or the CECS, which is a metabolic disorder that’s hereditary in nature.

Border Terriers are basically hunting dogs, because of which they tend to hunt and eat toys at homes, which in turn can cause indigestion.

Grooming

The Border Terrier is an excellent pet for those who suffer from dog hair allergy as they are medium shedders of hair. It is essential to brush their coats at least twice a week in order to keep them well maintained. Moreover, you should ensure that your Border Terrier is professionally striped and groomed at least twice a year in order to remove its dead hair and properly maintain its coat. These dogs should be bathed only when absolutely necessary. During such bath sessions, only a mild shampoo should be used. This is absolutely essential to maintain a proper coat. Some believe that clipping is good for ensuring proper length of hair but with Border Terriers, clipping could affect the rate of the growth of hair. So, it is always advisable to get expert advice before indulging in clipping of hair. It is relevant to note that in some dogs of this breed, stripping may not be necessary. That’s why it is always best to get expert advice before grooming your dog.

Exercise

These dogs require regular exercise and cannot be allowed to remain inactive for long. Exercise can also be in the form of long walks in case you live in an apartment and cannot allow your dog to run around. What is important is that you keep them physically active and occupied in various activities. It is possible to keep them well occupied with toys and other activities around the house but these are only restricted for a few hours. It is essential to remember that they love going out and this will be seen from the fact that they rush to the door every time the doorbell rings.

They are extremely agile dogs and love to hunt. So, a simple way to strengthen the bond between you and your dog is to have hunting expeditions or simple fetch and throw games. They are very eager to learn and have a capacity to learn that surpasses other dogs. No wonder that the Border Terriers are very popular with most people.

Training

While training a Border Terrier, it is important to be as loving as possible while not losing consistency. It is seen that these dogs respond to love and care more positively than other kinds of rewards. Therefore, the simple way to ensure that your dog obeys your commands is to positively reinforce correct behavior with a lot of love and affection as well as praise.

It is very essential that you display your dominance early in the training session of your dog and make sure that your dog understands your leadership. These dogs have great attention spans, which make them pick up new tricks that other breeds take a lot of time to master. They are ready to please their owners and love repeating tricks until they master or perfect them. So, these dogs are great for movies and other areas where they require such abilities and endurance.

Lastly, these dogs love obstacle courses and other task based activities, where they can display their innate agility and intelligence. So, if you are looking for some effective ways to bond with Border Terriers, you can indulge your pet in such task oriented activities.