If you are on this page, you probably want to know if Border Terriers are easy to train or want to know how to train a border terrier dog. Read to the end for all the details you need know about training border terriers.
“Border Terriers are too smart for their good and not easy to train. They don’t obey orders!” Ever heard a border terrier owner say this? In as much as this statement is not far from the truth, it is not exactly the truth. Border Terriers are smart and easy to train. They pick up orders quickly but can be a little strong-willed for the impatient trainer.
Well, your terrier is likely to wonder, “what’s in for me when I obey this command”, so you need to have a good reward system to get them to do your bidding. This article will address the most common complaints about Border Terriers and in detail, explain how to effectively train a terrier and get it to follow orders.
Are Border Terriers Easy to Train Or Difficult?
If you expect Border terriers to act like other dogs, you are going to see them as difficult, but they are not. Their unique behavioral pattern is due to their unique temperament. Unlike other dogs, terriers are less likely to suffer separation anxiety and oh, they also love to hunt vermin and small animals.
They love to run and chase so their off-leash days are sometimes their best days. They are very sociable and affectionate too. Because they are smart and intelligent, they learn quite fast. Although, it is best to commence training from a young age.
Also Read: What Happens If You Don’t Strip a Border Terrier?
Are Border Terriers Easy To House Train?
Border Terriers are built with a fine resistance that can be beautiful to watch. It’s left for owners to tune into this beauty and harness it. Many Border terriers resist training but with patience training is possible. This is why it is advised to start training them early.
Another thing with border terriers that some owners find frustrating is their frequent urination at a young age. The thing is just like baby humans, baby terriers also have trouble controlling their bladder. Potty training or toilet training would most likely be unsuccessful in the beginning but with time they get used to the process.
The good thing is border terriers love to stay clean and owners can wield this in their favor. Communication is very important. Direct them to potty after waking up, after eating, and at regular intervals.
Are Border Terriers Aggressive Dogs?
Border Terriers in general are not aggressive dogs. They are wonderful family pets that can be left with children. They not only get along well with children but also love to please people they are around.
However, they can be aggressive with other dogs, cats, and humans. The level of aggression displayed by a border terrier is dependent on the kind of socialization it was exposed to during its formative years. They tend to be very energetic in their teenage years and may need a proper outlet for this energy.
Common causes of border terrier aggression include mistreatment, inactivity, inadequate training, its health status, and emotional patterns displayed by its owner.
Border Terriers are indeed capable of biting because they have teeth. They can display other aggressive behaviors too so it is necessary to understand how to curb aggressive behavior.
When Border Terriers are mistreated, they tend to be aggressive. Therefore, it is important to make sure that Border terriers are not being bullied by other dogs. They should also be given the liberty to expend their energy as they may turn to aggression if they have been inactive for a while.
Owners must also pay attention to the kind of training a Border Terrier receives. Aggression should not be indulged and owners must not be needlessly emotional or overly critical of their bad behavior – correct with patience and show them how to act better instead.
Border Terriers may also be aggressive as a way to get attention if they are in pain and their emotions are being ignored.
Are Border Terriers Obedient?
Border Terriers are one of the most well-behaved dogs. They are sensitive and attentive and very quick to pick up information. However, there’s a clause. To enjoy this kind of response from your dog, you must be willing to invest the time and effort.
When Do Border Terriers Calm Down?
Border Terriers calm down at about two years of age when they start to mature. This is the point where they become more directional, act more with purpose and follow commands better.
How To Train Border Terrier Dogs?
Border Terriers are restive creatures. If you ever wonder where your border may have wandered to, you are likely to find them hunting vermin or smaller animals like cats. They have minds of their own and this is why training has to be exciting enough to get a hang of this dog breed.
Aside from their love for chasing small animals, they also love digging as they are expert diggers. They often have new activities up their sleeve. Hence, commands you may want to train your dog to follow may include house training like potty training, obeying the command to come to you, and many others. To get this done, you have to make commands sound exciting.
You can achieve this in two steps: create tasks, and give both of you adequate time to ease into the process for each task.
Creating Tasks for Border Terrier
The most common command Border Terrier owners start with is the return command. There are several things you may want to teach your dog but teaching one task at a time is a lot more productive. A lot of Border Terrier owners make mistakes in teaching their dogs the return command. The return command is calling out to your dog and having it come to you.
Usually, this is taught in an open field, probably with other dogs so your border terrier is likely to be excited. A majority of terrier owners let the dog off leash and call out to the dog, sometimes repeatedly. As soon as the dog returns to the owner, they are placed on a leash and taken away from the environment.
Owners who use this method will experience a stubborn dog. Once this repeats itself, your terrier is likely to ignore your command when you call out to it because it has learned to associate obeying the return command with punishment – leaving a fun scene. This is often done without realizing its impact on the Border Terrier. This is why owners must be sensitive to the feelings of their Terrier to get its easy going side.
When teaching a Border Terrier the return command, don’t put it on a leash when it returns to you or take it away from the environment it was enjoying. Instead, reward the behaviour with more off-leash time or a treat. A good reward system is what motivates the Border Terrier to obey commands. You have to prove to it that you are worth listening to by associating rewards with obeying commands.
Ease Into The Process
Both you and your dog need time to ease into the process. You have to accept it would take your Border Terrier some time to pick up commands and keep following them. So ensure to give it an ample amount of time. Do not force it to obey you otherwise it may grow resentful of you, ignore your orders completely, or even become aggressive.
Your dog needs time to make the process simple and exciting. Terrier owners on the other hand can save themselves some stress by using a proper marker for their dogs when they are letting them off leash. It’s advisable to do this in an enclosed field where it cannot leave.
Also, pay attention to the special temperament of your dog, find and understand its motivations, and key into this to make the training process easier for you two.
How To Practise The Return Command
The first thing you must do is find a safe location. This can be a closed field or area so that your dog does not leave the arena. You can as well start practising this in a room in your house or a small area in your neighbourhood, whichever you consider safe.
Once in a safe environment, let your dog off leash and call out to it. It’s best to use specific commands like, “come”. Reward it with a treat or a toy when it comes to you and allow it to go again. Repeat the process for some time and try to vary the environments you practise in as well as the rewards.
How To Practise Touch and Stay Commands
The touch command has to do with teaching your dog to run to you and touch a specific part of your body like your nose or your hands. The touch command should be rewarded with a pretty valuable gift like your dog’s favourite food. This is because the touch command is likely to be needed in an emergency and you want your dog to associate this high-priority command with a high-value gift.
For the stay command, you can use the word, “stay” or the phrase, “sit-stay” or “down-stay”. This command will come in handy when you need your dog to stay calm. Like the other commands, practice in a safe environment multiple times and always reward your dog with a treat.
How To Help Your Border Terrier Learn Boundaries
Boundaries are important to help keep your Border terrier safe. For instance, you may want to teach your dog to not exit doors before you. When it attempts to do this, you can try saying commands like, ” No” or “Stop” and then physically block its way from leaving the exit and repeat the command. Once you observe it obeying your command and moving from the exit, you can use reassuring commands like, “yes” or “good” and offer a treat as a reward.
With these commands, you can teach your border terrier to walk with you and not ahead of you.
Providing Alternatives
Sometimes, the way to control behaviour is to provide alternatives. If you find your Border terrier growing aggressive, give it something to channel its energy to, like a walk or a race to get something. Likewise, if you find it digging somewhere in the neighbourhood as borders love to dig, direct it to a more enclosed area so it can do all the digging it wants. There are instances where using alternatives is easier than using commands.
Conclusion
Border Terriers are safe, obedient, friendly, and well-behaved dogs. They can be wild to tame but all that is needed is a well-equipped and patient trainer to help them ease into rules that would keep them safe. With the right mindset to border terrier training, terrier owners are likely to find the process smooth and easy.
