Border Terriers are not breeds that require too much to maintain. Border terrier care ranges between care for the mind and cares for the body. That is activities to keep the mind healthy, as well as food and hygiene habits to help them feel clean and confident.
Other things may include helping it maintain an exercise routine, grooming and caring for its coat as well as taking it to appointments with the vet.
Border Terrier Care – How to Care for a Border Terrier
In this article, we are going to explain series of care for your border terrier dogs, the kind of treatment they need and which you should ensure you give them. In doing this, we will also answer some questions that concerns border terrier care and wellness.
In taking care of your border terrier, you have to ensure that the care cuts across physical well-being and this includes making sure you take them on exercise. Also you have to look into the area of personal hygiene, the kind of food they take and border terrier socialization.
Having said, let us get into details on what it entails to take care of your border terrier dogs while answering some questions that may bother you about Border terrier care.
Are Border Terriers High Maintenance?
Border terriers are not high maintenance because they do not require too much to be okay. With the right activities, they would be entertained and maintain the right frame of mind.
Activities that border terriers love are the ones that involve a lot of running. This can be running to get treats, hide and seek, playing ball, digging out balls, and so on. These games can be played as often as every day or as little as once a week depending on the individual dog and what it prefers.
Border terriers do not need to be bathed every day or too often. The nature of their coat helps in repelling dirt so they can stay months without needing a bath. Although some experts advise bathing them once every three months.
To keep the coat clean, you may need to brush it a few times a week depending on how it appears. And bathing should be done whenever your dog becomes dirty.
Paying attention to the food your border terrier eats guarantees its proper growth and functioning. Nutrition is one of the basic needs of your border. While your dog may have favorite meals that make it happy, you have to ensure there is a variety to its diet and that its meal is balanced, containing the right amount of nutrients.
A common exercise routine for border terriers is going on long walks. This is because it is easy for owners to fulfill and border terriers enjoy working. Fix a time for your exercise routine, which could be mornings or evenings, and stay committed to the process.
Help your dog have a good time and avoid missing schedules so it does not lose interest. Exercise routines make border terriers happy as it is an avenue to do something active and expend some energy.
Appointments with the veterinary doctor should be at least once a month for proper checkups. Visit to the vet may be more frequent when your border terrier is ill so try to prepare your mind for this before adopting a border terrier.
And lastly, coat care. Because border terriers have two coats, and the grooming process is straightforward. The hair growing on its inner coat continues to grow to a certain point and stops. When the growth stops, shedding must take place for new hair to come out.
It is possible for shedding to take place without human intervention but may not be as successful. Also, leaving the border terrier to itself will make things difficult for everyone as they are likely to rub their coat against surfaces to get the hair out. This happens in the shedding season which usually falls in spring and in summer.
There are three approaches to coat grooming but the most effective is hand removal of the fur. This method prevents irritation and can be done at intervals to conserve time and not cause so much pain.
Some owners resort to clipping which only aids coat brushing and does not help in getting rid of old hair. Clipping is the cutting of the hair from the end to shorten its length. There is also the belief that clipping helps in regulating its temperature when the weather becomes too hot. This is not true as border terriers are capable of internal regulation on their own.
So clipping does not help in supporting hair growth but can be done to give the border terrier coat a fine appeal. You may want to watch a few videos before doing this in order not to tamper with the natural appeal of your dog’s coat.
Also, some owners go the neutering route as a way of controlling hair growth. There is no evidence to support this helps and should only be done when you have decided this is the best thing for your dog. Seeking advice or consultation from an expert before doing this may help.
What is The Best Food To Feed My Border Terrier?
Just like border terriers love to exercise, they also love food. They also need to be fed at least three to four times daily. To know the best food to feed your border terrier, you have to understand their digestive system and how their body works.
Experts advise border terrier owners to stick to raw foods when feeding their dogs because this is what is best suited for their body makeup. Carbohydrates like grains can give your border terrier a hard time, producing hormones that could cause discomfort as well as possible inflammation and even serious health conditions.
The gut of your border terrier is home to certain species of beneficial bacteria referred to as gut flora. As a result, your dog’s meals should contain the right nutrients to ensure a balanced gut flora because an imbalance could result in illnesses like arthritis, digestive disorders, skin issues, diabetes, obesity, anxiety, and allergies.
When your border terrier’s nutrition is right and meets its body’s requirements, it would maintain a healthy weight, maintain its strong bones, and have its skin and fur nourished.
Foods that are rich in fiber are well-suited to border terriers as it helps them feel full and satisfies their large appetite. Beware of feeding your dog too much as they are prone to obesity even though they request food all the time.
You should also be looking out for foods that contain nutrients like calcium, omega 3, vitamin D, and potassium as they help in the maintenance of strong and healthy bones.
What Foods Should Be Avoided For Border Terriers?
Certain kinds of foods when eaten by border terriers can cause serious conditions and even put them in a coma. Avoid giving your border terrier either grapes, raisins, currants, or chocolates.
Foods that are high in carbohydrates and fats but low in fiber should also be avoided as they could lead to obesity considering the wild appetite of border terriers. And because border terriers are prone to problems like patellar luxation, foods low in fatty acids should also be avoided as they are needed for bones and joint maintenance.
In general, foods that must be avoided are foods that do not meet the nutritional requirements and foods that cause your dog allergies.
Are Border Terriers Good For First-Time Dog Owners?
Border Terriers are not the best or the worst dogs for first-time owners. They are not the easiest to deal with nor are they the hardest but with a bit of patience and a thirst for exploration, first-time owners can handle this dog breed quite well.
The biggest perk would be the fact that they are not high maintenance. They do not need to be bathed often and the coat would stay neat so long as it is brushed weekly. Also, border terrier foods are not too expensive or difficult to find.
When it comes to socialization, border terriers can be very cooperative with the routine as it is an avenue for them to let out their true selves. They love to explore and discover new things, so owners can use this trait of border terriers to their advantage.
The drawback may be their restless nature and desire to constantly hunt things and other animals. This is one of the weaknesses of border terriers and even some of the most trained dogs still have a hard time resisting this urge. It is what they were bred for.
Those looking to adopt this breed should not underestimate this trait of theirs. With the right orientation and socialization, this trait can be controlled or managed.
Border terriers are not generally demanding but when it comes to respect and fair treatment, they would keep you on your toes. You have to be ready to be the best dog parent you can be to have a good relationship with your border terrier.
They tend to become aggressive if they are not treated right or if their routines are not favorable. However, this is nothing to be scared of as aggression is not a trait that is commonly associated with border terriers. Just ensure they do not stay inactive for too long and create avenues where they can get all the mental stimulation they need.
Another thing to look out for is the kind of dogs it gets exposed to. When it is around bigger dogs who happen to be bullies, it can become aggressive. With the right training, you can teach your border terrier how to handle disrespect without resorting to violence although this would require a lot of effort. And as a first-time owner, sending your border terrier to dog school for proper training would make the transition to dog parenting a little smoother for you.
Conclusion On Border Terrier Care
Border terriers are dogs that love to please and are very unlikely to be stressful to maintain. They do not require too much money or energy to be well-kept and take care of. With the right orientation, nutrition, and exposure, your border terrier can be the sweetest dog you would ever know. Although, this would require a bit of learning for both you and your dog.
