Breed Guide: Border Terrier

Though almost drawing with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the Border Terrier has the honour of being crowned the most popular dog out of all ‘Terrier’ breeds in the UK, according to the official Kennel Club statistics. The popularity of the Border Terrier is clear simply from the number of them registered in the last year, which almost exceeded 6400; whereas 21 out of the remaining 25 didn’t even break into the thousands.

Key Facts

Size	Small
Exercise Requirements	1 hour (approx.)
Coat Length	Short
Lifespan	12 + years

Personality & Training

Despite originally being bred for hunting foxes, weasels, mice and other vermin, Border terriers actually incredibly friendly and will seldom act in an aggressive manner. On top of this they are incredibly intelligent and independent, happily taking on challenges and thinking up inventive ways of solving problems. Their inquisitive, kind hearted nature makes them ideal pets for families with young children.

Regarding their training, Border Terriers ought to be taught explicit commands from a very young age. If you have other medium sized pets around the house, such as cats, they can be taught to tolerate their company and will eventually come to enjoy it. Unfamiliar cats on the other hand, or small animals such as rats, squirrels, guinea pigs, etc. will serve as something of a temptation and they may act aggressively toward them; which considering their breeding should not come as a surprise.

Exercise & Living conditions

Border Terriers, though small, are avid fans of running and possess amazing stamina, with an inherent excitability to match. This does not mean that you need to be an athlete to wear them out, as they will quite happily wear themselves out, before sitting down to enjoy a well-deserved rest. It is not uncommon for them to take a moment, during their walks, to just be still and watch the world go by.

Bred to work, Border Terriers are a remarkably sturdy dog, which can easily adapt to change, be it long term or short. As stated they are more than capable of getting along with all family members, including house cats, but it is best to keep smaller pets in cages well out of reach; just to be safe.

Grooming

Though their coat is short, it is very densely packed, so cleaning it can be a bit of an issue. Fortunately they are not possess a penchant for getting mucky, and will not actually require a thorough bath all that often.

Boarder Terriers are a non-shedding dog so they will require stripping from time to time, roughly once every 6 months, to remove the dead hair that has accumulated. A weekly brushing can help make the bi-yearly stripping less of a big job, and will help to keep it looking dapper.