Border Terriers 101

Name: Border Terrier

Personality: A border terrier has a best-of-both-worlds temperament. This "alert, bold little hunter" is also "affectionate, mild-mannered," says Dog Breed Info Center. Though it is a true terrier, it's thought to possess a milder disposition than some of its fellow terriers. Your Purebred Puppy claims the border terrier "is sociable with strangers and other dogs, and not given to fiery posturing like many other terriers."

Grooming: This is a relatively low-maintenance dog, as Dog Breed Info Center notes that the desired aesthetic of a border terrier's coiffure is "a completely natural look." Brush the dog's hardy coat weekly, take it to a groomer twice yearly so its coat can be more thoroughly "hand stripped," and bathe it as seldom as possible, because moisture lessens the effectiveness of the coat's dirt-repellent properties. But remember, this isn't a no-maintenance coat. The Border Terrier Club of America stresses that many people underestimate how much grooming a border terrier requires.

Common Health Issues: The border terrier is prone to Spike's disease, a hereditary disease known as canine epileptoid cramping syndrome, which is a relatively new find in veterinary medicine. While seizures and epileptic-type fits are a symptom of Spike's disease, it is different from epilepsy. Most commonly, it is described as a metabolic, neurological or muscle disorder. Symptoms include dizziness, staggering, trembling, falling over, exaggerated stretching and unusually slow walking. Drugs and diet have been found to help so far, but a cure has yet to be found.


Training Tips: As a working dog, the border terrier aims to please its owner, making the breed easy to train, according to Dog Breed Info Center, which recommends that particular attention be paid to socialization, as well as to making them feel accustomed to loud noises "to avoid excessive timidity." Some recommend that border terriers be trained to do tasks, not tricks, in order to keep them happy. The Border Terrier Club of America advises that a loving temperament on the part of the trainer, using plenty of positive reinforcement, does best for this breed: "Harsh correction can ruin his basically happy and obliging personality... Always use your hands lovingly. Express approval and disapproval with your voice."

Best For: Border terriers are a good choice for those who'd like a watchdog (although not necessarily a guard dog; though they can bark up a storm, they're not aggressive, says Dog Breed Info Center). Potential owners should be willing to sacrifice a nice yard for a nice pet, as border terriers are diggers. (Apartment dwellers can also keep border terriers as long as they're given plenty of outdoor exercise.) Those without other, small, non-canine pets should look elsewhere.

What Border Terrier Owners Say: Lisa Gerlinger, one of our Facebook fans and the owner of Hair of the Dog Grooming and Spa in Swanton, Ohio, says her parents have owned two border terriers and her daughter has owned a border-terrier mix. She recommends them as "bright, lovable, loyal, just all-around great little dogs!"

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