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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Border terriers. Can anyone tell me about them ?

32 replies

AnyOldFucker · 13/08/2013 21:23

With respect to temperament, tolerance of being alone during the day at times for a few hours, behaviour around children and trainability

I have read the websites. I'd like the proper lowdown now.

Thanks very much.

OP posts:
IDismyname · 13/08/2013 21:27

I have one. He's 11.

Pros: Good guard dog (but postie leaves post by gate!), great with small children and tail/ ear pulling tolerances. Old ladies love him!

Cons: REAL attitude, difficult to train. I only ever mastered the recall, and sit despite a year of dog training lessons. (I've since got a spaniel, and she was a dream to train). He'd disappear for hours after deer.... to the point that I almost took a flask with me so I could chill out with a cup of coffee before he came back!

Nivet · 13/08/2013 21:28

Sorry, no advice to offer but watching with interest as I'm hoping to go for either a Border or a Norfolk terrier as soon as my youngest is a sensible age.

Original poster
AnyOldFucker · 13/08/2013 21:31

the trainability thing is a big consideration, needs to be well behaved with good recall or will get into all sorts of trouble at the hands of a farmer's gun (potentially)

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fanoftheinvisibleman · 13/08/2013 21:40

I could talk about mine all day if you like Grin

Mine has just turned one so is still very high energy and is a busy little bee when out and about. They have a lust for life and adventure that I love. He is chilled at home though and if we leave him or when play sessions are over for the night he likes a snooze or a cuddle.

He loves to play, preferably rough. Though I don't mean he hurts you, he doesn't snap or nip but he likes to wrestle or a rough game of football. To quote my dad 'that dog hasn't got a bad bone in his body' (he drives us nuts as rolls it out every time he sees him! Grin) He is boisterous so fairly well matched with my 7 year old ds. He is easy going and not remotely possessive with anything.

Trainability....ummm what can I say, he's a terrier through and through. Very bright and learns clicker training commands and tricks really quickly (things like sit, down, leave and paw etc in a couple of attempts - literally minutes). The trouble is he equally quickly learnt that he could also sod off and ignore us! He is generally pretty good but I think I would politely describe him as a little cheeky!

He was house trained day and night by 12 weeks and hasn't been a chewer. Excitement around other dogs leading to selective recall are my only complaints. He will ignore me in favour of another dog but is fine off lead when no one around.

I think they are fab little dog. There are some pics on my profile if you'll let me show off my beloved little furry face Grin

fanoftheinvisibleman · 13/08/2013 21:43

I have to say that reading your last post I wouldn't trust him one iota not to peg off after animals.

Original poster
AnyOldFucker · 13/08/2013 21:50

hmm

obviously wouldn't tease any dog with close proximity to what are essentially prey (or even playthings Smile ) and not expect a doggy reaction but just, hmm

OP posts:
fanoftheinvisibleman · 13/08/2013 22:01

They are essentially still working dogs, many are still worked so the chase instinct is still there. Mine is ok with our pets but he is on lead out and about if there is temptation, even in the distance as he will think nothing of crossing a field at speed.
And I'm sure you've heard people with dogged determination as being like a terrier. I now know why, they are determined little beggars.

Original poster
AnyOldFucker · 13/08/2013 22:04
Smile
OP posts:
Original poster
AnyOldFucker · 13/08/2013 22:05

yes, it's not the "same" field, or even the adjacent one I am thinking about...it's the one a few hedgerows away...

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DIddled · 13/08/2013 22:06

I have two! Cute funny and as hardy as hell. But they are terriers, and will chase other dogs,cats and small furries. Two will defend each other to the death, which can make them dog aggressive- socialisation is the key here. I will try and upload some pics to my profile.

Love my boys :)

MissBeehiving · 13/08/2013 22:13

Oh AF, BTs are lovely Smile

I have a 3 year old boy.

Excellent with children and other people - very sociable. He is pretty much bombproof.

A demon chewer as a puppy.

House trained easily and uses the cat door to get in and out.

Loves other dogs.

Took a while to train but did agility training so knows a lot of commands - recall went to pot and a year but then returned. So persevere.

We have cats, guinea pigs and chickens. He chased the chickens at first but now he comes in the chicken runs and will ignore them totally. He is a ratter, but will happily catch and kill a rat but then not have his prey drive triggered.

Happy to be alone, although we have another dog now and he enjoys that, not at all destructive as an adult.

DIddled · 13/08/2013 22:15

Pic on profile- I forgot about the chewing :)

MissBeehiving · 13/08/2013 22:16

He calmed down at about 2 and became much less impulsive. t's impossible to make him do something he doesn't want to do - he just lies on his back and shows me his tummy Grin

MissBeehiving · 13/08/2013 22:18

I very rarely need to walk him on a lead - if I do it's because he does like to give the benefit of his love to other people and not everyone appreciates it.

Original poster
AnyOldFucker · 13/08/2013 22:19

looking at some lovely doggy pics...diddl your profile is not public, dude

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DIddled · 13/08/2013 22:21

Done ! Soz AOF :)

Got one sat on my knee another at my feet.

fanoftheinvisibleman · 13/08/2013 22:22

There is hope for us yet then MissBeehiving? I must admit I'd love to be able to let him off in our busy local park but he'd be all over everyone. He is that classic overfriendly dog! And mine does the laying down thing when resisting but walks along the ground like a slug! Everyone laughs at us out and about.

MrsMcGregor · 13/08/2013 22:22

We had one. We don't have one now. He was a little bugger. Difficult to train, recall was non-existent. Chased sheep (ours, fortunately), pee'd all over the house despite being house trained (started marking his territory at about 8 months old when he had been well and truly house-trained for months) and neuteured, almost succeeded in killing our hens.

We have recently got a Lab pup. She's a dream. So easy to train, brilliant recall, very loyal and affectionate.

I know many people have great experience with Borders, maybe we were just unlucky.

MacaYoniandCheese · 13/08/2013 22:24

Invisible. SQUEEEEEEEE! Your dog is so, so cute. I love Borders Smile.

Original poster
AnyOldFucker · 13/08/2013 22:24

erk Shock

diddl, still can't see your pics

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DIddled · 13/08/2013 22:30

I have made it visible to any m netters, my profile is public- any ideas why my pic can't be seen??

MissBeehiving · 13/08/2013 22:30

I think so fan - I did despair went he hit the teenage years but I think going to training through that and doing something like agility did help. He loved it and we went for about a year - one day he decided that he didn't want to do it anymore - just sat down between two jumps and that was it Grin but I still use the commands.

You need to keep going!!!!

fanoftheinvisibleman · 13/08/2013 22:31

Well he'd live a cuddle if he meets you out and about Maca...preferably when you are smartly dressed and he is fresh out of the river Grin

DIddled · 13/08/2013 22:36

Mine was champ in agility -left all the other dogs standing. Got chucked out for going for another dog- it was hardly a savage attack and the other owner was a major league over reactor! Her dog was three times the size of mine. Ah well.

MacaYoniandCheese · 13/08/2013 22:37
Grin
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