The Border Terrier makes a great family pet. They can be housed in an apartment as long as frequent walks are part of the routine. They do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. If possible, a properly fenced enclosure for exercise is ideal. They are diggers so some of the fence needs to be buried to keep them in. They love children but please remember to not leave any child unsupervised with any dog or puppy.
They train easily and live to please plus they make a good watch dog. *Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the male Border Terrier is 13 to 16 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulders) and 13 to 16 pounds. Females range from 11 to 14 inches to the withers and 11 to 14 pounds. *Special Health Considerations.
Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Border Terrier is no exception, but they are considered a very healthy breed. Look for Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome which is a neurological disorder similar to epilepsy. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list. She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up.
As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets. *Grooming. The Border Terrier has a short dense undercoat with a wiry outer coat.
She should be brushed weekly and professionally groomed several times a year. She should be bathed rarely as this strips her coat of its protective oils and she can have dry skin problems Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease. Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly.
The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net. *Life Span. The can live between 12 and 14 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions. *History.
They hale from the border between Scotland and England in the 19th century. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1930. *Some Registries: Border Terrier Club of America UKC United Kennel Club NKC National Kennel Club CKC Continental Kennel Club APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc. AKC American Kennel Club FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club ACR = American Canine Registry Litter Size: 3 to 9 Border Collies puppies Category: Terrier Terms To Describe: Agile, tough, good tempered, affectionate, easily trained, easy to train, mild mannered, *SPECIAL GOOD POINTS Good watch dog. Gets along well with other dogs and some pets.
Loves children. High activity level. They are generally healthy dogs.
*SPECIAL BAD POINTS Poor guard dog. Can have dry skin conditions. May bark a bit. They love to dig.
Do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. May harm cats, birds and other small pets. *Other Names Known By:Reedwater Terrier, Coquetdale Terrier *Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.
Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website developer for the popular pet site petpages.com. www.petpages.com is a pet information site with free pet ads, dog classifieds, and puppy for sale info Petpages.com also offers information on cats, fish, reptiles, birds, ferrets, rabbits, mice and even pet bugs.