Border terrier

The border terrier originates from the Cheviot Hills, a mountain range on the border between England and Scotland. This breed was originally used to hunt foxes, which were a plague for farmers in that area. Its small size allowed it to enter a fox's burrows, forcing them to flee from their dens. But, at the same time, it was big enough to follow the hunters' horses and fight foxes. This breed was only recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1930.

Today, the border terrier is considered a companion dog rather than a hunting dog. However, due to their strong roots to their origin, they are still used in some places for hunting.

Small but athletic, the border terrier is a true working dog, and this is reflected in its rustic appearance. It has an otter shaped head, one of its most popular assets. The vivacious expression in its eyes and its "V" shaped ears, give it a cute a definitive appearance.

Their legs are long in relation to its height. These legs are on of the reasons this breed can easily ‘‘follow a horse’’.

The border terrier has a double mantle that provides it with excellent protection against inclement weather. The internal coat is very dense and provides good protection. Its outer coat is dense and rough, presented a somewhat disheveled air. Its high insertion tail is very thick at the base, and tapers gradually towards the tip.

The FCI standard of the breed does not indicate a certain height. However, males are generally between 35 and 40 centimeters at the withers, while females are usually between 30 and 35 centimeters at the withers. According to the standard of this breed, the ideal weight for males is between 5.9 and 7.1 kilograms. The ideal weight of a female border terrier is between 5.1 and 6.4 kilos.

The border terrier is a very active and determined dog. Its strong personality is easily noticeable, but they do not tend to be a strong or aggressive dogs. In fact, this breed is usually very friendly with both people and other dogs. In addition, this breed is particularly good with kids and, therefore, is an excellent pet for families with children. However, these children need to be old enough to know how to deal with a dog. It is not appropriate breed for families with very young children who do not yet understand how to treat a dog and its space.

However, it is important not to forget that this dog was bred as a hunting dog and will therefore always hold these instincts. They have a strong prey drive, and despite getting along with other dogs, they are known to attack other pets like cats and rodents.

A border terrier usually learns very quickly when trained with positive training methods. Traditional methods of training, based mainly on punishment and negative reinforcement, do not produce good results in this breed.Practicing clicker training with this breed is very effective. Bare in mind that positive reinforcement is always the best way to educate a dog.

This dog needs frequent company and a lot of exercise. If a border terrier gets bored or starts to feel anxious, they tend to destroy things and dig in the garden. In addition, it is important to socialize this dog from when it is a puppy. This socialization is necessary in order to prevent behavioral problems in the future. Although they do not tend to be an aggressive breed, a terrier can be shy and withdrawn if it has not been socialized correctly.

Caring for a border terrier’s coat is simple, since a border terrier does shed much hair. Brushing its coat twice a week should be sufficient, although it is better to supplement it by "stripping". Stripping can be done by a professional and requires the manual removal of dead hairs.This breed should only be bathed when necessary.

A border terrier requires a lot of company and should not be left alone for prolonged periods of time. Company and a good daily dose of exercise are necessary elements for this breed.

In general, a border terrier is healthier than many other dog breeds. However, it is necessary to go to the vet for routine checkups. The reason for this is because this dog doesn’t tend to show symptoms of pain, even when physical problems are present.

Common diseases in a border terrier are;

• Cataracts
• Autoimmune problems
• Patellar dislocation
• Thyroid problems
• Allergies
• Neurological problems
• Heart problems
• Hip dysplasia

Remember, like with all of your pets, you must keep its deworming and vaccination schedule up to date.