Border Terrier

The Border Terrier gets its name due to the fact that it comes from the border of England and Scotland. They were initially bred to catch fox that were raiding the farmers livestock. The Border Terrier is a tireless dog, very hard worker and are very athletic for their size.

The Border Terrier has the ideal Terrier temperament. By nature they are good tempered, affectionate, very obedient and easily trained. They are a large dog in the body of a small dog-they do not realize their size, and will not back down in a confrontation, even with a much larger animal. As with any breed, socialization is very important.

Though they were bred to work on farmland, they adapt easily to city living. They require regular exercise and grooming. They have a double coat; a soft undercoat covered by a thick wiry outercoat. They require "stripping" or "plucking" about every 8 weeks, and should be done by a professional groomer.

Male Border Terriers tend to be 13-15 pounds; females 11-14 pounds. The Border Terrier should be hand stripped twice a year, and should be brushed weekly. Hand stripping involves pulling out the dead outer coat by hand, or with the help of a stripping tool. If you're not familiar with this type of grooming, it's best to have a professional groomer who is familiar with hand stripping to do the job.

Health problems associated with Border Terriers include heart defects, eye problems, thyroid problems, epilepsy, allergies and luxating patellas.