Border Terrier: breed description, education and maintenance

It is probably impossible to find another dog with such a huge supply of vital energy, like a Border Terrier. Representatives of this breed never get tired and are constantly on the move, therefore they are often participants in various sports competitions. To raise such a pet healthy and beautiful, you need to not only know the rules of its maintenance, but also be able to make a diet for him.

The Border Terrier breed first appeared in the middle of the 18th century in one of the Anglo-Scottish provinces. These dogs owe their origin to hunters. In those days, hunting for a burrowing beast was especially popular, but it was difficult to catch it at the border of two regions located in mountainous regions.

Therefore, hunters for many years worked to bring out a breed of powerful and extremely hardy dogs, not afraid of sharp fangs of animals and able to penetrate deeply into holes. In Scotland, the first Border Terriers were called Cockerdale Terriers, and in England - Riverdale Terriers.

In 1920, the very first official standard of this breed was approved, its representatives were given the name Border Terrier, which means hunting (border) terrier. Throughout its existence, representatives of this breed were used not only for hunting, but also for other areas. For example, the Swiss trained these dogs to save people.

As for the European countries, in them, boarders, as a rule, were kept to protect farms from the invasion of rodents.At the beginning of the twentieth century, sport fox hunting began to be very popular, then boarders were finally used for their intended purpose.

Despite the nondescript appearance of animals, the price in European countries is high for them and has been kept at this level for decades. This is explained by the number of border terriers is small, dogs were even classified as rare breeds.

When you see a dog of this breed for the first time, you may be surprised that it is truly a hunter. After all, representatives of the Border Terriers have a pretty appearance, small size and are distinguished by their decorative appearance. In fact, these animals are very mobile, active and hardy. After a long movement, such dogs are able to dig land, dive into manholes and capture prey, entering into a struggle with it.

The growth of these funny dogs is up to 34 cm at the withers (it is standard for bitches and males). As for the weight, females usually weigh from 5.2 to 6.4 kg, and males from 5.9 to 7 kg. Purebred Border Terrier corresponds to the following description.

• Head the shape is similar to the head of an otter, it is flat and small. The forehead is sloping and smoothly passes into the bridge of the nose.
• Muzzle. It is shorter than the forehead line, has a straight, wide nose bridge and neat rims. The cheeks and slightly raised eye sockets are placed on the muzzle.
• Nose. His lobe can be painted both in dark brown and black. All dogs of this breed have a proportional nose.
• Teeth. Especially powerful in the animal are incisors and fangs. The dog’s teeth are set close together, forming a bite of the type of “ticks” or “scissors”.
• The ears. They fit snugly on the sides of the head and hang down on the cartilage. They are small and triangular in shape.
• Eyes. The dog’s look is alert, interested, attentive, with lively brilliance. So do it wide-set eyes almond-shaped. The color of the iris can be black or dark brown. Moving eyebrows give the animal expressive facial expressions.
• Torso. Dogs of this breed are characterized by a strong and properly folded body. The neck is covered with dry muscles, slightly elongated and proportional, has a slight bend. On the body of the animal is clearly visible tubercle scruff and withers. The back smoothly passes into the croup and muscular lower back, the sternum with ribs has an average depth, it is not wide. The abdomen line is moderately tightened and makes up a perfectly flat line.
• Limbs. This part of the body is parallel to the body. The paws of the border are flat and elongated, while the hind legs are stronger. The front and hind legs are collected in a lump and pads, which are covered with a dense skin. Thanks to this structure of the limbs, the animal moves freely.
• Tail medium sized, sturdy and thick. It is located high (at the level of the back or slightly higher), tapering towards the end. Purebred representatives of the breed are not allowed to twist their tail into a “bagel”.
• Wool. Colors of dogs can be different, ranging from blue and tan, light red to brown with gray tint. The hairs are hard and dense, while the undercoat is not very thick. Puppies at birth resemble fluffy lumps. Adults have a beard and mustache on their faces.

If the pet has any differences with the above description, then this indicates a culling of the breed. The standard is quite strict, so even slight deviations are not allowed in it. To be sure of the cleanliness of the pet, experts recommend purchasing puppies from the pedigree.

Super mobile and active boarders are demanding for training and long walks in the fresh air.The character of dogs is formed under the influence of realized natural instincts. Since representatives of this breed are distinguished by an inquisitive disposition, on every walk they try to find a new object of hunting for themselves.

Each Border Terrier has a deep hunting instinct, therefore, being at home, he can be kind, affectionate and positive, and when hunting immediately turns into a completely ruthless, aggressive and ferocious animal. Even if you grow a pet near small animals, its behavior pattern is difficult to predict.

Border terriers can not be attributed to the avid couch potatoes who prefer to spend days on the couch. They are looking for any reason to go for a walk. Dogs of this breed love to be close to their owner, but at the same time they are not inclined to impose themselves. It’s very difficult for such dogs to endure loneliness, therefore the content on the chain is not suitable for them. If a pet is left without attention and communication with households for a long time, it will not only become very bored, but also turn into an evil animal.

Since the nature of the Border Terriers is not too simple, it is recommended that these pets be brought only to those owners who have free time for walks and games. In addition, a four-legged friend will have to give a lot of love and care, as well as pay attention to classes and trainings with him. If the owner spends the bulk of his life at work, then you can’t start such a pet, as this will make many difficulties for both the animal and the person.

The main feature of the Border Terrier breed is the enormous affection of the pets for the owner. They not only give a positive mood during games and walks, but also are able to fill the house with a benevolent atmosphere. The leadership of these dogs also belongs to the breed's advantages.

As for the minuses of the breed, then they can be attributed to:

• highly developed hunting instinct, which does not allow you to start other animals in the house (birds and rodents);
• such dogs can be walked only on fenced territories, since any "game" in the form of cats, rodents and birds will be chased by a hunter.

Borders are famous for excellent health, so they usually have a life expectancy of 13 to 16 years. Moreover, this indicator may differ, as it depends on hereditary factors and conditions of detention. Often, pet life is shortened by diseases such as obesity (caused by malnutrition) and dysplasia of the elbow, hip joints. To extend the life of the dog, the owner must systematically check the health status of the pet with doctors and provide him with a balanced diet.

Pets of this breed can be kept both in a country house and in an apartment. If the owner is going to start a dog in the apartment, then he must be prepared for the fact that he will have to provide not only long walks, but also physical activity. The acquired pet must be allocated in the house a separate place for rest and sleep. It is advisable to keep it away from drafts and heaters. At the same time, experts recommend installing special houses for dogs equipped with a sunbed, mattress and many other items necessary for the existence of the animal.

If we consider the care of the Border Terriers in general, then they are not too whimsical. Care should be taken to regularly care for the hair by trimming it. This procedure consists in manually plucking dead hairs, giving the opportunity to grow new. If you do not trim, then the dog will begin to molt strongly and a lot of hair will appear in the house. Besides, every 3 days it is necessary to comb out the animal’s hair with a special brush.

Dog care should also be considered. daily inspection of the auricles and eyes. This is best done immediately upon arrival from a walk or hunt. Animals love to be worn in thickets and grass, which increases the risk of picking up various parasites, including ticks. As the eyes become contaminated, they should be wiped with a cotton swab dipped in boiled water, and ears with cotton swabs soaked in baby oil.

Besides, It is recommended to treat the pet as often as possible with soft cartilage, which helps to clean plaque from the teeth.. Do not also forget about clipping the claws - a similar procedure is performed 1 time per month.

Border terriers are referred to as “omnivorous” breeds, since by their nature they are considered real gluttons. Therefore, the owner, compiling a ration for them and a daily menu, must correctly calculate the number of meals. It is advisable to feed your pet no more than 3 times a day, dividing the daily allowance into small portions. Thanks to this, the animal’s stomach will not stretch and it will not be able to gain excess weight.

Puppies up to the age of 3 months are recommended to feed only with natural food. Starting from 4 months of life, a pet can be introduced into the menu dry food, after soaking the granules in milk or water. Since representatives of this breed are highly energetic and efficient, it is necessary to constantly monitor the energy value of the products that they consume. Concerning giving them ready-made food is much easier, because they have all the information about all the components and vitamins in the composition. Many dog ​​breeders also prefer a mixed type of food.

Representatives of the Border Terrier breed are known for good intelligence, but they grow up in comparison with other types of dogs much later. Since these pets have natural stubbornness, it is worth considering the sensitive nature of their training and not allowing a rude attitude. The animal picks up a change in intonation and reacts sharply to any touch.

Therefore, to cheer and soothe a pet, it is enough to “euthanize” him approving words and gently stroke. In addition, it is worth noting that the boarders are very responsive to extraneous noise, therefore they need to try to teach early to the street and loud sounds.

Loud barking in an apartment or house can cause a lot of inconvenience. To prevent this, experts recommend teaching the dog to bark exclusively on command. To start raising a pet should immediately after his appearance in the house. To simplify the learning process, it is best done in a playful way. Do not overload the dog with prolonged training.

There are many positive as well as skeptical reviews of the breed of Border Terrier dogs. Most dog breeders emit in such pets devotion, affection for the owner and friendliness. But they can be obtained only with good contact with your pet. For many, such friendliness may seem too intrusive, so if the owner is not ready for such a “relationship”, it is better not to get this animal.

Some breeders do not like the fact that Border terrier requires a special approach to training, since it is considered a pack animal and does not know how to make contact with representatives of other breeds and other pets.

For more information on the Border Terrier, see the next video.