Show me your border terriers

[monkeywithacowface]

Whittling down a choice of dog. Would love a cavalier king charles but have accepted the risk of health issues is just to big. Next on the list is Border Terrier. Please come tell me why they are great and much better than a Cav. They look like they tick all the boxes but every time I see the chubby, subdued Eccles on Coronation Street I feel rather underwhelmed.

[TroysMammy]

How about a Griffon Bruxellois? I don't have one but the breed was mentioned on another thread and I fell in love with his funny whiskery face.

[Unhappyhousehunting]

Best dogs ever, they are a big dog trapped in a small dogs body, really loving, great with kids, happy to walk all day or lie in your lap. I think we'll always have a BT.

[ToffeeChops]

Wonderful dogs - we've had two and just love them. Healthy, stoic, adaptable, great fun. After our first died I thought about another breed but knew deep down that every time I saw another BT out and about I'd feel a pang of envy if we didn't have one ourselves.

We had a girl first, now we have a boy. Both fab. If I can work out how to add a photo I'll show you a pic (sorry, hopeless with technology )

[Wolfiefan]

Not mine but belongs to a family member. I wouldn't. I don't think she is typical of the breed but she's reactive to other dogs, has had back issues and recently started weeing (and worse) in the house. (At least she no longer cries at night!)

[ArriettyClock1]

Everyone I know (3) or meet on a walk is a snappy little bastard. My neighbour has one and I don't think I have ever seen him walking on 4 legs when on the lead - he's always straining and snarling.

[Grittzio]

Mine is brilliant with kids and other dogs! Join the Facebook group ' I love my border terrier' you will see loads and get a good indication if they are the dog for you!

[thekingfisher]

We've had ours 7 years - huge fun loving dog great with children and our cats ... def big dog in little dog body!! Love her to bits

[thekingfisher]

Here's mine

[CheeseEater]

They are fantastic! But have strong chasing instincts and the typical terrier stubborn streak, so you will need to put the hours in puppy training to make sure yours isn't a 'little bastard'.

But I can't imagine ever wanting a different breed. They're a good size, lots of fun, gentle with small kids and have the best beards and eyebrows ever. What's not to like?!

[oklumberjack]

Gorgeous dogs! Feisty, loving, fun and never a dull moment!

This is my boy.

[Thewolfsjustapuppy]

Border terrier and cavaliers are almost polar opposite dogs. The cav is a calm little lap dog who doesn't need or want a lot of exercise, the terrrier may sit on your lap but he is not a lap dog, they are feisty, stubborn and have high prey drive. Having said that they are great little dogs - full of fun, love to run and explore and play all day, they have mischief in their soul.
What about papillon? They look like cavs I don't know about health issues though.

[monkeywithacowface]

Thanks they do look and sound a lovely breed. I'm sure any breed has the potential to be a little bastard if you don't put in the training!

I spotted the Griffon on the other thread too, must admit they do look great!

[ToffeeChops]

Here's my little chap (not so little actually, he's huge for a BT)

[Whatslovegottodo]

Follow Judgey Dog on Facebook he is super cute!
I have a rescue dog belived to be mostly border terrier and he is delightful. Happy loving, ameanable with everyone kids, other dogs etc. Very trainable. Doesn't have the prey drive of other terriers. Just generally a very good family pet.
They do need good walks and stimulation. They do well at sports and training and mine is so laid back at home - once he's had his walk he just lays around sleeping until someone interacts with him.
Great pet choice and generally healthy and stoical, certainly compared to Cavliers, lovely as they are.

[razzledazzel]

My parents have always had borders they are lovely dogs. Great with kids, don't need a massive amount of exercise but do have a high prey drive so watch them around small pets and next doors cat.

[RegisteredVetNurse]

I have a border terrier and she is the best dog ever. She loves everybody and other dogs but I have socialised her very well from when she was tiny. She is feisty and can have her naughty terrier moments but she is the most loving dog. She is happy for a trot round the block or can walk for miles. She is also a lap dog and spends most of her chilling time upside down on the sofa. I wouldn't be without one.

[Godstopper]

This is Scrabble, who is now 5 and a bit.

Cute, scruffy, impish my partner said. Rottweiler trapped in a barky ball of fluff is what we got! She has NO fear of things ten times her size.

Very responsive to training - we got up to advanced obedience.

Never any problems with visitors/children. Pretty much bombproof so far.

We do about an hour's walk on a weekday interspersed with e.g. playing and brain games, and usually get out somewhere at weekends. If you miss a day it's not a disaster, but they are more active than not.

She does have issues with other dogs, but I should point out that this is not a breed trait. She was attacked, and it grew from there. Pleased to say that after following a behaviourist's advice, we're mostly out of the woods in that walks no longer feel like a military operation and we can pass dogs - she also lives happily with our other dog. It's not a major worry - this sort of thing can happen to any dog.

Have a look at Border Terrier Welfare?

[BertrandRussell]

Someone once described out border as "made of love".Soppy but true.

[CornflakeHomunculus]

The Griffon Bruxelloiss is generally a fun little terrier-like breed but I wouldn't touch anything brachycephalic with a bargepole unless you manage to find one of a tiny proportion of breeders who are actively breeding for longer muzzles, less shortened skulls and properly open nostrils and reliably getting those things in the puppies they produce.

You do need to be careful with BT breeders as well. There are a couple of conditions (Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome and Spongiform Leukoencephalomyelopathy/shaking puppy syndrome) which currently can't be tested for and are becoming increasingly prevalent in the breed. There's a couple of articles about the conditions and whole situation within the breed here and here. There's a fair amount of denial in the breed about the extent of the issues so you need to be very careful to find a breeder who is aware of the conditions and is doing everything they can (which as there are no tests available yet means thorough researching of lines and trying to avoid those producing affected dogs) to avoid them.

[monkeywithacowface]

Thanks for all the info. I'll take Scrabble please Godstopper! That picture in the sand is just too cute!

[BertrandRussell]

Dd and her twin sister.....

[Godstopper]

You're quite welcome to her - a couple from recent walks!

[monkeywithacowface]

Ha Ha Bert that pic is hilarious!

Oh lord Godstopper took me a moment to find the dog in the mud puddle!

[BordersRUs]

Namechanged as ours has quite a fan club around here and would out me immediately! He is fabulous - bombproof with other dogs, biddable, quiet, infinitely trainable and wonderful with young DD. He also has zero prey drive and considers it his life's work to make friends with the neighbourhood cats. BUT (big but) his lack of general terrier-ness is definitely the exception not the rule, and borders need thorough socialisation and careful training to rein in their natural instincts while they are young. This doesn't necessarily make them a bad first time dog, but they don't turn up the finished article (I'm a border person, have had one since I was 12!). If you can accept the work required, you will be hugely rewarded. Also agree they are the direct opposite of a cav.

[oklumberjack]

Godstopper, it's nice to see another tall 'leggy' Border. My boy is a huge Border and guaranteed at least one person on a walk will tell me he's not a pure Border (he is).