Border Terrier
Dogs
Border Terrier
Border Terrier |
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Alternative names |
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Country of origin |
United Kingdom |
Common nicknames |
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Classification and breed standards |
FCI: |
Group 3 Section 1 #10 |
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AKC: |
Terrier |
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ANKC: |
Group 2 (Terriers) |
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CKC: |
Group 4 - Terriers |
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KC (UK): |
Terrier |
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NZKC: |
Terrier |
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UKC: |
Terriers |
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Not recognized by any major kennel club |
This breed of dog is
extinct |
Notes |
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A Border Terrier is a small, rough-coated
breed of
dog in the
terrier
family.
Appearance
The Border Terrier has a
double
coat consiting of a soft
undercoat
and harsh, wiry
outer coat.
Colours include grizzle and tan ( a sort of salt and pepper look), blue and
tan (sometimes looks almost black), red grizzle, and, less commonly, wheaten.
The coat needs to be stripped by hand (not clipped) regularly, as the top coat
becomes long and shaggy and eventually dies. Borders being shown generally have
a short coat that has been stripped and is starting to grow back in.
Temperament
Border Terriers are friendly and playful, and can make good family pets as
they are sometimes good with children. They are best kept by people who have had
dogs before and know how to maintain human social dominance over them. They are
highly energetic dogs, and so unless a lot of time can be devoted to them, they
are generally best kept with other dogs of similar temperament. Ideal companions
would be other Border Terriers,
Collies, and
most Spaniels.
Border Terriers are relatively easily trained, although they can develop a
cat-like independence and, when kept as part of a group of dogs, can have
confusion recognising that each dog has a different name (they occasionally
respond to them all). Some members of the breed make a highly effective
alternative to a doorbell, due to their sharp hearing and the distinctive
frenzied barking that results when they hear someone approaching the door. They
are best kept in pairs or small groups, or with dogs of other breeds. Their
dominant personalities can be used to the advantage of the owner if larger dogs
are also kept as, like all terriers, they will generally occupy a high position
in the 'pack', subordinate to the owner. This is especially true if a Border
Terrier is an adult and the larger dog a puppy when introduced. However, if a
large dog comes into the family, although it is already an adult one, the Border
Terrier starts to "test" his new companion and, if there's no objection from the
side of the larger dog, maintains his leadership.
Border Terriers are generally unsuitable for homes where there are
rabbits,
cats
(except
Maine Coons), smaller breeds of dogs, or other similar pets, as they will
attack and kill all animals smaller than themselves; they were bred for this
purpose. Exceptions to this are where the Terrier was introduced to the other
animal as a puppy. Despite this instinct, they are generally amicable with other
dogs, and often develop strong friendships with dogs they meet frequently.
Nevertheless, in case they don't like another dog, they don't hesitate to start
a fight and, as it is the case with most terriers, it's not easy to stop them.
One has to train the Border Terrier carefully from the beginning so that he
learns a correct social behaviour with other dogs (especially with dogs that are
of bigger size!).
Any toy given to a Border Terrier needs to be virtually indestructible.
Solid, tough rubber toys such as rubber rings are suitable; however, certain
individuals might have a fascination for other objects found in their
environment, some of which the owner might not have wanted to be dog toys.
Health
Border Terriers are generally hardy and long-lived dogs with few health
problems; however, they also have a very high resistance to pain and so a Border
Terrier, when it is unwell, will very often appear perfectly healthy.
Consequently, any sign of illness should be taken very seriously. Due to their
low percentage of body fat, Border Terriers are very sensitive to anesthetics
and therefore care should be taken in selecting a veterinarian that is aware of
this and is cautious in administering anesthesia.
In addition, due to their instinct to kill and consume smaller animals,
Border Terriers often destroy (rather than play with) their toys—especially toys
that are insufficiently robust—and often eat such toys in the process. A Border
Terrier can remove the squeak from a
squeaky toy within 30 seconds, and reduce such toys to fragments within a
matter of minutes. This tendency can cause the appearance of illness as a result
of the subsequent indigestion; typical symptoms include lethargy, unwillingness
to play, a generally 'unhappy' appearance, lack of reaction to affection, and
inability or unwillingness to sleep. These symptoms are generally very
noticeable; however, they are also present just prior to Border Terrier bitches
being on heat. Food-grade liquid
paraffin is
often an effective solution to digestive problems caused by the consumption of
dog toys.
Border Terriers occasionally have genetic health problems. Some of these
include:
-
Hip dysplasia
-
Perthes disease
-
Luxating patella
- Various
heart defects
- Juvenile
cataracts
-
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Seizures
- CECS (Canine
Eptiloid Cramping Syndrome
[1]
Reliable breeders check all breeding stock for as many of these as possible
before breeding.
History
The breed was developed for fox hunting in the area around the border of
England and
Scotland.
External links
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