Mary Allen
The Border Terrier is one of the most popular family dogs in its homeland of the far south of Scotland. The smart and agile little terrier has an excellent temperament and sheds little. He loves all the attention, wild games, and long walks. At home, he is a quiet and pleasant roommate who is also good with small children.
Calm Hunting Dog & Companion Dog
The Border Terrier comes from the “Scottish Borders” – the region that represents the border between Scotland and England. The landowners bred the compact four-legged friend as a versatile hunting dog. Border Terriers should have enough bite to keep rats and foxes out of their territory, but at the same time not be aggressive towards other dogs or even people. Even then, dogs often accompanied their owners all day long and tirelessly ran with the horse. Since then, the Border Terrier has not changed much, so you can count on an intelligent, loyal, and at the same time characteristic dog of this breed.
Temperament
Compared to other terriers, the Border Terrier is a very reserved and friendly representative. However, his legacy as a hunting dog sometimes comes to the fore in everyday life. His hunting instinct usually makes life with cats and small animals difficult, if not impossible. The Border Terrier can clearly and loudly show its dislike of strangers. He bravely and carefully guards the house and yard. For your family, a four-legged friend is a sweet, friendly, and cuddly dog. No matter how hard and uncompromising he may be outside, he is soft and affectionate indoors.
Training & Maintenance of the Border Terrier
Despite their small size, the Border Terrier needs to move a lot. There is hardly anything that these four-legged friends don’t like: whether it’s long walking, hikes, bike tours, or dog school – the Border Terrier with all his heart and enthusiasm! In addition to exercise, the fun little dog definitely needs hunting work for his head and nose. Let him look for treats, bring mannequins, or try mantrailing: a general search for people. If physical activity and mental stress are not suitable, this terrier will look for a task for itself. Excessive barking, destruction of objects, and aggressiveness towards relatives or even people can be signs that the dog is not being challenged. A veterinarian and an experienced trainer will help to more accurately determine the problem. The training of these smart dogs begins on the day they move in. While Border Terriers have a certain desire to please, they still tend to make decisions instinctively rather than just blindly following your commands. Therefore, it is important to remain consistent and calm during your workout.
Border Terrier Care
The Border Terrier has a coat that barely sheds if groomed regularly. Under no circumstances should such fur be simply sheared. Hair should be carefully plucked with your fingers. For this, there is professional help from a groomer. In terms of health, there are hardly any known issues with this robust dog breed. With a slender line and plenty of exercises, Border Terriers can live up to 15 years.