Border Terrier

The most important things to know about Border Terriers

Are you looking for a new member of the family? Consider a Border Terrier, which is an extremely happy and charming dog that will fit into any family. Like all terrier breeds, it has been used as a hunting dog and as a farm dog that can chase away a rat or mouse. The sociable mood of a Border Terrier means that it stays close to its family and people.

Where does the Border Terrier come from?

The vast majority of terrier breeds can be traced back to England. In its time, the small hunting dogs were bred to hunt foxes in the area that bordered England and Scotland. The exact origin of this breed is unknown, but since a Border Terrier is small enough to follow a fox into its den, it can be assumed that it has its origins in old fox hunting. The little Border Terrier is also strong enough to resist a badger if one were to hide, and yet it is fast enough to keep up with the hunters' horses. Even if the breed is not used for hunting today, you can recognize the activity level in the small dog.

The small but very active Border Terrier

Even a Border Terrier puppy will be extremely active, and under no circumstances should you be fooled by its size. It has the hunting instinct, which also means greater independence, which can make it difficult to call it back once it has gotten the hang of something. It is important to take this into account when you start dog training with your Border Terrier.

Although it is a small dog, it needs a surprising amount of varied exercises. This is one of the reasons why it is good to have with you if you are into hunting. It can also be a good farm dog, where it can be allowed to hunt mice or rats in the barn from time to time. It needs to be occupied daily, and it needs close contact with its people, to whom it attaches itself strongly.

If these needs are not met, it can result in a restless dog. Generally speaking, a Border Terrier is a good family dog, as it is also very fond of children. For the sake of all parties, it would be a good idea for children and adults in the family to train with your new Border Terrier puppy. Obedience training will benefit both parties in the end and strengthen the relationship between dog and family.

How big does a Border Terrier get?

The breed belongs to a small dog breed and you can therefore expect it to only grow to a height of around 25-28 cm. It will also not weigh much more than 6-7 kg if you provide the right nutrition for it. If you provide proper exercise and diet, you can expect it to remain part of your family for almost 14 years. In particular, you must pay attention to the diet, since a Border Terrier can be more picky about food than other dogs. Therefore, you should be careful what you feed your Border so that you do not end up with an overweight dog.

How to care for the coat of your Border Terrier

The breed has a very coarse coat, which can appear rough at first glance. This is because the fur is more waterproof than the fur of other dogs, which can be attributed to the original purpose of hunting in all kinds of weather. Unlike many other terrier breeds, it does not need to be trimmed nearly as many times a year. You can be content with trimming it three or four times during a year, but it actually alerts you when the fur needs to be trimmed. It is only when the coat needs trimming that it sheds. Therefore, the coat will still benefit from regular brushing to keep it looking good. The most common colors are red, mottled gray or a variation of tan.

What is a Border Terrier's temperament?

In general, it can be said that this breed is stubborn, but highly intelligent. This is another good reason to start dog training very early with your Border Terrier puppy, with a firm and determined hand. However, it should not be too firm a hand, as it may perceive this as a threatening action and stand firmly against it. A balance must be found, and if you succeed in this, you will discover that your dog becomes extremely sociable. You will also quickly discover that it is extremely loyal to its family as it grows close to them. It will always protect its family first and to the end.

Despite its size, it is not afraid of much. This also applies to dogs that are larger than the dog itself. It is also not afraid to bark to draw attention to something. This dates back to the original breeding, where it was used for hunting. However, its barking is not as piercing today compared to years ago.