In this post, you are going to learn how to socialize Border Terriers and understand what it take to groom these dog and its social life. “Behavioural issues, not infectious diseases, are the number one cause of death for dogs under three years of age,” says the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviour.
Border terrier socialization is quite delicate and may become complicated as it does not start with you but with the breeder. How the dog is handled and treated before it is handed over to you plays a role in how it views the world.
The goal of border terrier socialization is to help it get used to the daily happenings in the world so it does not get startled by little things or put itself in harm’s way. Surveys have shown that dogs that are poorly socialized tend to have behavior problems later on in life.
The good news is, it’s never too late to socialize your dog even if it’s always better to start early. So, let’s get it on how to socialize Border terriers.
Also Read: Border Terriers Likes And Dislikes
Steps On How to Socialize Border Terriers
While there is the motivation to help your border terrier experience as many situations as possible, its feelings should not be disrespected in the process. To get started, making a list of events or people or places you will take your border terrier will help create order in the socialization process.
It’s best to start socializing a border terrier as early as they are adopted. This part of the article will address socialization from the puppy stage.
One thing to have in mind is that your dog has already registered its short orientation with its breeder so paying attention to how it reacts may give you a clue about the experience and how to go about socialization.
Also, it is important to select a responsible breeder when adopting a dog as this will make your job easier. Your dog’s earliest experiences shape its perception of everything. And the first three months are the best time to get it right.
Border terriers easily pick up smells and are sensitive to sounds and sights as well. So, you need to help it get used to things it may encounter over time so that it does not become fearful of things that are devoid of harm like the presence of a child or children.
As stated earlier, making a list will give you direction. You can make use of the list below if you are unable to come up with yours then make additions as time goes by.
Exposure to household noises
Without proper socialization, border terriers can become frightened of simple household noises like the sound of a television. Controlled and consistent exposure will help your dog become acclimatized to these sounds.
There are plenty of household equipment that produces sound like fans, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, television, and so on. Create time to show your dog that these sounds are harmless and nothing to be scared of.
When you are working on the television sound for instance, you can walk to the living room with your dog and carry it in your arms while reaching out for the remote.
Ensure it sees you reaching for the remote then direct it to the television with your dog watching. Raise the volume of the television while reassuring your border terrier that all is well. Praise it for becoming calm.
The next day or a few days after, you can put the television on and then walk to the living room with your dog while the TV’s volume is a little high. Repeat the process a few times and your dog will get used to the noise. You can use the same technique for other things like washing machines and vacuum cleaners.
Exposure to people
Crowds and people, in general, can startle border terriers when they have not registered in their brains that these experiences are safe. For this step, you may need the help and involvement of friends and other family members. Have them wear different outfits at different times while walking through the front door with your dog seated close by.
You can as well use this avenue to teach your dog how to welcome people when they come knocking. Also, let your friends hold things like bags and umbrellas when they come around so that your border terrier gets used to seeing people hold things.
Read: Border Terriers Personalities That Will Help You Socialize Them
Exposure to children
Although children are harmless and sweet, border terriers can still be uncomfortable around children if they are poorly socialized. There is a tendency to become aggressive too.
If there are no children at home, you can take your dog to parks for children and hang around a little while the children play. After doing this repeatedly, your border terrier would no longer have issues with being around children.
Where they are children at home, you can have them play with the dog or brush its hair with proper supervision. You can also come up with games that the border and the children can indulge in.
Exposure to traffic sound
The noise from traffic can be startling even for humans who are already used to it, so expecting borders to not be terrified of traffic sounds is expecting a little too much.
To help your border terrier get used to traffic, go on multiple walks around the street. Pick streets that tend to be busy with lots of noise but this should be done gradually. Start with the less noisy street before moving to the more noisy ones. Initially, your dog will be frightened. Comfort it and reward it with a treat when you return home.
Exposure to rail sounds
For this, schedule a couple of visits to the railway station. Take your dog early enough so it sees people boarding and try explaining where the sound is coming from. If you plan on taking a rail trip, then you can go along with your dog.
Exposure to crowds
Exposure to crowds can be overwhelming especially when an introduction has not been done prior. There are plenty of places where you can get crowds. You can also try country fairs as they would not just be filled with people but food stalls, livestock, and noise-producing machines like tractors. Its exposure to livestock would help it stay calm when it sees other birds and smaller animals.
Be prepared for its reaction though and be ready to pacify it. It may also want to go after any bird that’s not within a cage. You may want to go with a leash to prevent this from happening.
Also Read: Border Terrier Behaviour Problem, Temperament & Aggression
Exposure to other dogs
The easiest way to do this is to send your dog to a dog school. There it would be trained by experts and would mingle with other dogs. This has proven to be very helpful in socializing dogs. You may also want to take your dog to dog parks where there are other dogs so it gets used to their presence and hopefully makes a few friends.
When Is It Too Late To Socialize a Border Terrier?
There is no timeline or expiration date when it comes to socializing an older or adult border terrier. However, they can be quite resistant to new ways of doing things because of the experiences they have gathered. But this should not deter you from carrying out the process especially if you find your dog exhibiting any of the following behaviors.
i. Becoming aggressive in the presence of humans or other dogs.
ii. Wagging or raising its tail when anyone comes too close.
iii. Severe anxiety in the face of experiences that most border terriers enjoy like walking.
iv. Becoming easily irritable
Your adult baby needs help if it is displaying one or more of these behaviors and you have to approach the socialization process with lots of patience and love. Before any teaching exposure, be sure that your border terrier is used to obeying your commands otherwise things could easily get out of hand.
For noise exposure, you can start with short walks and then long walks. Hold it close and use reassuring words. Reward it when you get back home for staying calm. For human exposure, introduce it to adult humans before children and babies. Help it see that it has lots of human lovers who are harmless and friendly.
When exposing it to other dogs, start with adult dogs before puppies. Find another adult dog that is calm and friendly then organize a meet-up. Your border terrier may end up getting a new friend. When it becomes calm around other adult dogs then you can introduce it to younger dogs.
Always remember that you have to remain calm, patient, and loving all through the process. And, your hard work will pay off.
How Do You Play With a Border Terrier?
Border terriers love to play and so they can be quite cooperative. If you wish to play with your border terrier, you must find games that it enjoys. Most border terriers love to hide and seek, hunt, and run. You can go with conventional games or you can flex your creative muscles a bit and devise a game that you both will enjoy.
If your dog is the outgoing social type, you can invite a few friends over or go to them. Allocate enough time to games and only play games that your border terrier enjoys.
Also Read: Are Border Terriers Easy to Train?
How Do I Keep My Border Terrier Entertained?
Fun and entertainment mean doing something that expends energy for border terriers. Keeping your border terrier entertained means creating a schedule that would allow it to play, run and do things that would require energy to be expended.
Conclusion On How to Socialize Border Terriers
Socializing a border terrier can be a bit challenging. It is a lot more challenging when your border terrier is an old dog. Most old dogs are not very receptive to new experiences but socialization is still possible. Whether you are trying to socialize a puppy or an adult border terrier, create a list of experiences and a timeframe for each. Create milestones too and reward your border terrier after it hits a milestone.
