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The
Border Terrier is first, foremost and essentially a
working terrier. Although he will willingly become part
of your family and can become a loyal and loving friend,
he does have some habits, or traits, which are part of
his breed characteristics, which may not always endear
him to you or your extended family and friends.
He
was originally bred to work to fox and other vermin, and
should be capable of following a horse all day and then
still be fresh enough to go to ground to bolt the fox.
Because of this, he can have lots of energy. Although he
will be happy relaxing on your knee and having a cuddle,
he also needs plenty of walks to keep him healthy and
happy.
He
may be inclined to chase small critters and it is not
always easy to train him to distinguish between the rat
you would like despatched and your child's pet hamster!
He
can live peaceably with other animals if introduced at
an early age and many people have Border Terriers and
cats which live together quite happily, but if he sees a
cat which is not part of the family, then see above re
vermin! Unless socialised at an early age, some may
become aggressive towards other dogs, so an early
socialisation class may be the best option.
They
are an intelligent breed, who can be quick to learn, but
sometimes slow to obey if confronted with something else
they would rather do, such as chasing small critters,
rolling in unmentionables or chewing your best pair of
shoes/three piece suite/wallet full of money etc!
The
breed was officially recognised by The Kennel Club in
1920, although its history can be traced back into the
nineteenth century. The breed has, in the last few
years, become one of the most popular Terrier breeds
registered with the Kennel Club and usually has one of
the highest Terrier entries at Championship Dog Shows.
The
breed clubs are concerned at the increasing popularity
of the breed, as coming with that will sometimes be the
surge in breeding by those only interested in the breed
for monetary gain, so buyer beware!
Please do not buy a Border Terrier, unless you have the
time and space to devote to it and can give it a
permanent loving home, with sufficient food, warmth and
exercise.
Every member of the family should want the dog; if any
of your family has reservations about having a dog in
the household, this will impact on the dogs happiness
in the future.
What should I do when considering purchasing a Border
Terrier puppy?
Local adverts in newspapers (and on some commercial
websites which advertise many different breeds of dogs)
are not always the best ways to find a reputable
breeder. Consider contacting one of the breed club
secretaries in your area when looking for a breeder (see
home page of this website)
Research; there are many good
books on the breed; additionally information can be
found on Club websites, links on the home page of this
website.
Always see the puppies with their dam (the father of the
puppies may live many miles away, so you should not
always expect to see him).
Check which food is being used, as the puppy should be
on 3 or 4 meals of puppy food a day. You should not
change this in the first few weeks he is with you, as
changes in diet, when combined with all the other
changes he has to go through, could result in an upset
tummy. Sometimes the breeder will give you a small
supply of food to take with you and you should always
ensure you have a good supply on hand before you collect
your puppy.
Ask
if the puppy has been wormed-puppies should be wormed
every 3 weeks before they leave the breeder's premises
and you should be given information regarding the dates
of worming and what brand of wormer was used.
The
breeder should ensure the puppy is also free from other
parasites, such as fleas or ear mites.
Ask
if the breeder is a member of any Breed Club, as most of
the Clubs will have a Breeders Code of Ethics, which you
should read before buying a puppy and by which the
breeder should abide.
You
should expect that a reputable breeder will ask you a
lot of pertinent questions about your ability to look
after their precious puppy. Be wary of any breeder who
only asks if you have the money to pay for the puppy,
but does not make enquiries about your lifestyle, house
and garden and how you intend to care for the puppy.
That may be an indication of the level of aftercare you
will receive.
Check your fencing to ensure it will be proof against
one small, determined person who may try to escape over
or under it; some of them can and will jump over fences,
or tunnel out if allowed to do so and be a danger to
themselves and other people/road users. Some owners
recommend stapling weld mesh to the fencing and burying
it under the ground around the perimeter of the fence,
to stop escape artists!
Some
breeders will take the puppy back if you have a change
of circumstances and can no longer look after the puppy
correctly, but when you embark on the idea of purchasing
any dog, you should be aware that it is a long term
commitment for the lifetime of the dog, which in the
case of Border Terriers can be upwards of 15 years.
If
the puppy is around 8 weeks of age, he may already have
had his first injection and some breeders will have
their vet undertake a simple health check before the
puppy leaves the breeder. It is important that you also
register with your own vet as soon as possible.
Puppies should not leave their breeder's premises until
around 8 weeks old and on no account should they go
before they reach 7 weeks of age.
If
the puppy is registered with the Kennel Club, you should
obtain a registration certificate from the breeder when
you buy the puppy, or the breeder should advise you when
they applied for the registration papers, or when they
intend to do so; they can let you know the registration
numbers of the sire and dam. If you are in any doubt,
you could contact the Kennel Club (telephone 0870
6066750) BEFORE you buy the puppy.
Breed Characteristics
The
Kennel Club produces a blueprint of each breed. However,
reading this brief Breed Standard does not always help
the newcomer to understand the breed.
To
start with, it is advisable to talk to breeders and
owners and to study the breed whenever and wherever
possible. You could go along to a local show where the
breed is scheduled to be judged and watch the dogs,
talking to the owners and getting an idea as to whether
the breed might fit in with your lifestyle. For details
of local shows, contact your local breed club secretary.
The
breed differs from most other terriers in that it does
not have a manicured appearance and his sometimes rather
dour expression belies his true loveable character and
independent nature. The breed's most outstanding feature
is its otter-like head with short strong muzzle and
moderately broad skull with dark eye, making him a very
attractive terrier.
The Border should have a double
coat, with a harsh outer coat and a soft undercoat for
warmth, both of these being essential in a working
terrier. The coat needs to be hand stripped about twice
a year and there is a video showing how this is done and
articles in some of the books on the breed with
photographs of 'before and after'. The coat should not be clipped
(except perhaps for much older dogs or those with a poor
coat, where pulling out the hairs may cause distress).
For the novice owner, it is a good idea to seek expert
advice on coat care at first and here, your breeder may
be able to help. If you decide to use a grooming
parlour, you could ask if they know how to hand-strip a
Border Terrier. Remember that anyone with no experience
can set up as a 'professional' grooming parlour and it
may be best to check what qualifications and experience
they have (for example, a City and Guilds certificate).
Border Terriers are normally healthy, active and
affectionate dogs, who respond quickly to love and
attention. As with all dogs, it is best to start
training early, be consistent and praise in all the
right places.
This
breed does not need harsh correction, which can be
counter-productive.
Borders normally get along well with children, but no
child should be allowed to harass a dog; children should
be taught to respect the dog and not to treat it as a
substitute toy. Small babies should never be left alone
unsupervised with any dog. When the puppy is very young,
he should have a place of safety where he can rest in
peace at bedtime and not be disturbed.
The
Breed is at present served by 7 UK Border Terrier Clubs.
Each of these Clubs hold on average 3 shows a year,
contact details can be found on the home page of this
website.
The
object of a Breed Club is to encourage its members to
own and appreciate Border Terriers of correct breed type
and the essential working qualities. The Clubs listed
below also arrange educational days (for example,
regarding judging or grooming the Border Terrier) and
sometimes 'fun days' are arranged where members can get
together to enjoy the company of other Border Terrier
enthusiasts and their dogs.
Each
Breed Club Secretary can give you details of any events
planned by their club in the coming year.
Most
of the Clubs produce a Year Book or Newsletter and new
members are welcomed (usually needing a proposer and
seconder, both of whom should be fully paid up members
of the Club). If you have difficulty in finding a
proposer and seconder, contact the relevant secretary of
the Club you wish to join. |
