Last Updated: March 31, 2023
The Border Terrier is ranked as one of the most popular and cherished breeds for being the most obedient and agile team player than other unpredictable Terriers.
Do not let their smaller size fool you to consider them as delicate lapdogs.
These sturdy athletic dogs are tough workers and have an intense preying drive to chase after any moving objects by jumping and digging below the garden fence.
But because of their affectionate nature and fast learning abilities, “the hard as nails” Border Terriers have secured their status as the most adaptable breed by both country and city dwellers.
In this article, we have covered everything you should know about Border Terrier before buying this breed.
Let’s look at them in detail.
- How much does a Border Terrier cost?
- How to select Border Terrier breeders?
- When does a Border Terrier get full size?
- How to care for your Border Terrier puppy?
- How to groom a Border Terrier?
- How much exercise does a Border Terrier need?
- Does Border Terrier shed a lot?
- Are Border Terriers hypoallergenic?
- Understanding Border Terrier Temperament
- How intelligent are Border Terriers?
- How easy is it to train a Border Terrier?
- What type of hunting is best for Border Terriers?
- Border Terrier Lifespan
- Common Health Issues Associated With Border Terrier
- Final Thoughts
How much does a Border Terrier cost?
When it comes to getting a purebred Border Terrier, don’t think twice about contacting a reputed breeder and visiting their website to get a fair idea about their dealings and the status of listed breeds.
Border Terrier puppies’ cost can range as low as $500 to a whopping $2000.
However, such variation in price depends on the breeder’s reputation in the business, location, gender of the puppy, its bloodline, and availability of essential certifications.
And, if as a responsible parent, you prioritize all these over cheaper deals, then you might have to pay some extra bucks for a quality pup.
How to select Border Terrier breeders?
When it’s about getting a quality Border Terrier dog breed, don’t rush it with the wrong choice for an affordable deal.
Take your time to
- Do comprehensive online research about the breed, search websites of the nearest reputed breeders in your area to see their latest listings, business dealings, and compare respective prices before finalizing your buy.
- You must visit the breeder personally to assess the raising environment and health of the puppy parents and their feeding pattern.
- Talk confidently with the breeder to clear your doubts about the pup’s health and vaccination details and get essential paperwork done before welcoming your first puppy home.
You can visit some of the reputed kennel club websites like AKC and Border Terrier Club of America to get in touch with the breeders.
When does a Border Terrier get full size?
A healthy Border Terrier gets full size in 12 – 14 months under recommended nutrition, care, and proper grooming at home.
Generally, you will see rapid steady growth of your Border Terrier pup in the first 6 – 8 months, after which the growth rate slows down to ensure a strong development of bones and muscles.
A full-grown Border Terrier (both male and female) attains a size of 12 to 15 inches.
However, the weight of males and females Border Terriers differ slightly. Male Border Terriers weigh around 13 to 15 pounds whereas females weigh around 11 to 14 pounds.
This small-sized classic Terrier needs a mindful raising under the supervision of an overpowering owner who can tackle its independent temperament.
To ensure your Border terrier grows healthily, feed recommended nutrition in the right amount to your puppy and keep altering the dosage as it matures after consultation with a vet.
Besides nutrition, this tough Terrier needs some amount of regular activities to support and promote its muscle growth and skeletal health.
Daily exercise also aids in keeping your dog in good shape and ensuring it gains and maintains a healthy weight in the expected time frame.
How to care for your Border Terrier puppy?
Caring for Border Terrier when they are puppies
Just like other pups, the highly energetic Border Terrier pup has an uncontrollable chewing urge, which you can manage by providing them with chewable toys and kibbles.
The only way to keep this independent puppy happy and comfort their growing years in your home is by keeping them occupied with toys and some engaging activities in a secured open space like your garden, park, or field.
Besides this, a recommended amount of daily nutrition is what your Terrier puppy will need for steady healthy growth.
You must consult a vet to understand your pup’s daily nutritional needs and feed only high-quality meals split in the correct proportion.
Also, don’t forget to brush your puppy’s thick double-layered coat as it not only removes dirt but also maintains coat health by evenly distributing the natural oils.
Caring for Border Terrier when they grow up
The routine care of a Border terrier tends to differ a bit as your puppy matures, starting from their daily nutrition to everyday grooming needs and activities.
Though they are obedient, but they also have an independent side which is a warning to not delay their initial training and pet grooming at home, otherwise they can grow up to be arrogant.
Handling these medium-sized Terriers might seem an easy-breezy affair but mind their strong preying drive that can drive you mad if you keep them off the leash while strolling around.
So start taming this free-spirited dog like a boss to shape it into a well-behaving pet.
As your Border terrier grows, include an adequate amount of daily physical activities to support and promote its health and brain development.
How to groom a Border Terrier?
Border Terrier grooming is fairly simple but must be consistent to keep your dog in perfect shape.
They are working dogs and prefer field activities to stay happy and healthy, but all these actions make their double-layered wiry coat dirty.
So brush your dog’s coat daily to keep it smooth, clean, and mat-free.
Don’t forget to check their eyes, ears, whiskers once a week and wipe any dirt build-ups to stop infections.
Though they are double-coated, the outer layer is waterproof that keeps the undercoat dry and dirt-free.
So you don’t need to worry about bathing and do it only if necessary as too much washing can strip the natural oils to turn their hair rough and dry.
Hand plucking the dead hairs of a Border Terrier once or twice a year is important to ensure smooth growth of the new coat besides regular oral care and maintaining their paw health.
How much exercise does a Border Terrier need?
These working Terriers love being outside and thrive on a recommended amount of daily activities as per their age.
Daily exercise or activities are the driving force of these high-spirited Terriers to stay happy and healthy.
However, the required level of activities would differ for a Border Terrier puppy and its adult version.
For a puppy, you can leave it free in your secured fenced garden to let it run and chase around small hunts for a while daily but start putting the leash on during exercise in the park as it matures.
You will never find your Border Terrier refusing outside activities.
They are always up for it and you can utilize their outgoing nature to train them mindfully in open locations.
Make sure to take your dog out on regular walks at least for an hour, besides introducing some brain-stimulating activities to keep them hooked to an interesting daily routine.
Does Border Terrier shed a lot?
Like any other breed, the Border Terrier sheds too, but that won’t disgust you with furry mess around your home.
These dual-coated Terriers shed less and are low-maintenance to trouble your parenting journey.
However, you may find some pet hair rolling around in your comfort zone seasonally especially, during the falls, which is manageable compared to other high-shedding dog breeds like Golden Retrievers, Siberian Husky, or Labrador, to name a few.
The best way to manage their shedding during the falls is to keep off the dirt and dander by regularly brushing their coat.
But if your Border Terrier shows unusual shedding, consult a vet to detect any underlying cause.
Are Border Terriers hypoallergenic?
Besides adaptability, Border Terriers being hypoallergenic is also a reason behind their rapid popularity.
If you are looking for a low-maintenance small-sized dog that doesn’t shed much, to trigger your allergy flare, Border Terrier is the dog for you.
Their double-layered wiry coat is easy to maintain and the outer layer being waterproof keeps the undercoat dry and safe from dirt and dander.
But, you must brush their dense coat daily with some effort at your end to maintain the coat’s health and cleanliness.
They also drool less, which is a bonus.
Understanding Border Terrier Temperament
A Border Terrier temperament is outgoing, playful, adapting, always eager to please their master, and gel well with family members, kids, and other pet dogs.
However, these easy-going souls can be stubborn or bossy at times which can be difficult to manage if you showcase low confidence or are becoming a dog parent for the first time.
To raise your Border Terrier into a well-behaving pet, start early training from its second week with simple obedience commands and by letting your pup out in a well-fenced garden to assess the surroundings.
Early socialization will help these free-spirited dogs to behave with strangers and in public.
The obedient Border Terriers respond well during training and quickly learn new things.
However, they also possess a strong prey drive to chase squirrels, birds, and vermins and can even escape if your garden is not strongly fenced.
These working Terriers thrive on outdoor activities, the lack of which can up their aggression which most dog owners prefer to avoid.
Border Terriers also tend to bark at everything to annoy you and the entire neighborhood which is controllable with consistent supervision but can worsen if mostly left alone at home.
How intelligent are Border Terriers?
Don’t doubt the intelligence of Border Terriers.
After a detailed study of their behavior and response during training canine experts have found that Border Terrier learn new commands in just 15 to 20 repetitions which is above average as compared to other dog breeds like Italian Greyhound, Pug, Chihuahua, they take approximately 25 to 40 repetitions to learn and follow new commands.
Before you dare to judge the intelligence of a Border Terrier, remember they were bred as working dogs to chase away foxes and vermin.
So like any hunting dog, Border Terriers can also quickly learn new commands to please their master and act like a trusted hunting companion.
Cut to the present, these working dogs are now mostly homed as pets but with the same level of intelligence.
It makes their initial training easy for you to include more variations in their training routine to keep the everyday session interesting.
Though they are naturally smart, including some brainstorming games and activities in their daily routine is also a great idea to support and promote your dog’s intelligence quotient.
Border Terriers are hailed as the smartest breed in dogdom for their higher level of adaptability and capability in learning new things as compared to other Terriers.
If you are wise enough to manage this intelligent Terrier, go give it a try.
How easy is it to train a Border Terrier?
After adding a Border Terrier to the family, your main responsibility is to shape its behavior with a consistent training routine from its puppy stage.
Though they have a higher level of intelligence, don’t take it for granted with late training as that will make things too difficult for you to manage with this feisty independent breed.
The best stage to start training your Border Terrier puppy with basic obedience commands is from the second week when it starts taking baby steps to get familiar with the surroundings and your family.
With Border Terriers one thing is guaranteed – you will never have a dull moment while training this intelligent dog.
As mentioned earlier they are quick to learn new commands and are always eager to please with their obedience and adaptability to changes.
Just make sure to accompany your free-spirited Border Terrier during the daily training instead of leaving things in the hands of a trainer, to make things more comfortable for your dog. It will contribute positively to your dog’s daily learning sessions.
Also, remember not to isolate this breed for days as they are outgoing in nature, and doing so will sour the equation between you and your furry pal.
What type of hunting is best for Border Terriers?
These tough athletic Terriers have a profound past.
They were bred to hunt foxes and vermin by sniffing out their holes and accompanying the hunters during tough field activities.
However, with time, these working dogs are now ranked as the most popular pets for their size, adaptability, and intelligence which have somehow limited their hunting spirit.
Though they can adapt anywhere, we would suggest these active outgoing dogs, preferably for homes with spacious fenced gardens or yards to keep up their hunting spirit.
Border Terrier loves hunting and chasing squirrels, rabbits, and other smaller animals in your home or garden. These activities are much-needed to escape boredom and stay lively for these working dogs.
If you stay in the countryside, you can take your Border Terrier out in the wild to let it track and chase freely.
The dual-layered wiry coat will perfectly secure your dog from cold harsh weather and wet conditions, while it engages in extreme outdoor activities.
Border Terrier Lifespan
Your ideal family watchdog Border Terrier leads a healthy lifespan of 13 – 15 years.
These mini British Terriers are the perfect example of ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ and are known for their excellent chasing skills like shepherd dogs.
When involved in regular activities, training, and feeding high-quality dog food, Border Terriers will happily survive a disease-free life without any signs of anxiety and depression.
To ensure a healthy life for your furry mate, don’t forget to visit a vet for occasional check-ups and seek suggestions to add some healthy changes to their regular diet.
Common Health Issues Associated With Border Terrier
Border Terriers are mostly prone to chronic dental disease which can later damage their primary organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys.
So make sure to care for your puppy’s teeth with a vet-recommended toothpaste and brush its teeth every day without a miss.
If the tartar build-up is serious, don’t think twice to get a professional cleaning to keep dental issues at bay.
Besides this, a Border Terrier is also vulnerable to various viral and bacterial infections like parvo and rabies.
Other health conditions that affect this non-shedding dog breed are obesity, parasites, kneecap problems, skeletal disease, diabetes, hip, and elbow dysplasia.
Final Thoughts
The independent Border Terriers are not everyone’s dog but can be yours if you are confident enough to make this working Terrier a loyal and obedient partner for a lifetime.
These small-sized Terriers are highly adaptable to both country and city life, which have elevated them as the most popular family pet globally.
Following the trend, if you too want this majestic Terrier to grace your life, we hope that our comprehensive information on Border Terrier would definitely guide you on your mission.
Has our effort eased your first-buy or adoption? We would love to hear about your parenting experience with Border Terrier.
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