Raising dogs, in particular taking care of the border terrier, is a specialty of people across the world. Historians believe dogs were first domesticated between twelve thousand and 25,000 years ago—and that dogs evolved from wolves. Since then, we have selectively bred more than 400 different breeds, varying in size from four-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the title of tallest canine. However, the most widespread canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The border terrier is also a popular choice with dog owners. Some owners are misinformed, however, of many of the most critical border terrier care tips.
Health care cost of the border terrier
The annual budget for providing for the border terrier—including everything from meals and treats, to doctor bills, toys and license—can range between $420 and $780. This doesn’t even include capital costs for sterilization operations, a collar and a leash, a dog carrier and dog crate. Note: Be positive you have all of the required items before you get your border terrier home.
Basic border terrier Care
How To Feed your border terrier
- border terrier puppies between eight and twelve weeks need 4 bowls of food daily.
- border terrier pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed three meals every day.
- Feed pups 6 months old to one year two meals in a day.
- When the border terrier reaches his or her first birthday, 1 bowl each day is typically sufficient.
- Many times adult border terriers, however, do better with two lighter servings. It’s your job to learn your border terrier’s eating tendencies.
Excellent-quality dry food provides a well-balanced diet to full-grown border terriers and may be mixed with broth, canned food, or water. Your border terrier may enjoy cooked eggs, fruits and vegetables, and cottage cheese, but these dishes shouldn’t be more than 10 pct of his daily nutrition. border terrier puppies need to be fed excellent-quality, brand-name puppy food. You should try to limit “people food”, however, since it can cause mineral and vitamin imbalances, tooth and bone issues, and might cause some extremely picky eating habits as well as obesity. Give clean, fresh water at all times, and make sure to clean water and food dishes frequently.
border terrier Care Tips: Your border terrier needs exercise daily
border terriers must get some physical activity so they can stay healthy, recharge their brains, and stay healthy. Daily physical activity also tends to help border terriers fight boredom, which often has the potential to lead to to difficult behavior. Exercise will curb most of your border terrier’s instinctual urges to herd, dig, chase, retrieve and chew. Activity needs will depend on your border terrier’s age and his level of health—but a couple of walks down the street every day and 10 minutes in back of the house probably isn’t enough. If your border terrier is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, her requirements will be higher.
Grooming tips for border terriers
Regular brushing will help reduce shedding and keep your border terrier clean. Inspect for ticks and fleas every day during warm weather. Most border terriers don’t need to be bathed more than a few times per year. Before giving him or her a bath, comb or cut out any mats from the border terrier’s hair. Carefully rinse all soap from the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap residue.
Handling Your border terrier
Pups, as opposed to adults, are clearly easier to manage. To carry the border terrier pup, put one hand under your dog’s chest, with either your forearm or your other hand supporting her back legs and rump. Never attempt to lift or grab your puppy by his or her front legs, tail or nape. If you must pick up a bigger, adult border terrier, lift from the underside, bracing her chest with one of your arms and rear end with your other.
border terrier housing
border terriers need a comfy quiet spot to be able to rest away from all the breezes and off the ground. You may wish to purchase a doggie bed, or make one from a wood box. Put a clean comforter, sheet, blanket, or pillow inside the bed as cushion. Wash the border terrier’s bedding frequently. If the border terrier will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be sure he has access to plenty of cool water and covering in the summer, and a covered, dry, warm shelter in the cold.
border terrier Licensing
Be sure you heed your city’s licensing regulations. You should affix the license to the border terrier’s collar. The license, along with an identification tag or tattoo, will most likely help secure your border terrier’s return should he go missing.
Facts on border terrier Temperament
Training your border terrier
Well-mannered, companion border terriers are a joy to own. However, left untrained, your dog can easily be trouble. Teaching your border terrier the fundamentals—”Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, and “Leave it”—will strengthen the relationship with both your dog as well as your company. If you have a pup, begin training her on the right behavior immediately! Little bits of food should be utilized as a lure and recognition. Puppies should begin obedience courses when they have been adequately immunized. Call the local humane society or SPCA for obedience school recommendations. Invariably you should keep your border terrier leashed while in public, even as a pup. Just be certain your dog will come to you every time you say. A disobedient or aggressive border terrier shouldn’t play with others.
Knowing Your border terrier’s Health
border terriers should see the vet for a thorough diagnosis, innoculations and a heartworm blood screening annualy, and ASAP if she is ill or hurt.
The Oral Health of Your border terrier
While many of us might object to our border terrier’s bad breath, it’s important to be aware of what it might represent. Halitosis is most commonly a sign that your border terrier is in need of a dental screening. Plaque triggered by bacteria brings a foul odor that demands professional treatment. After you give your border terrier a professional dental cleaning, her teeth and gums can be kept up by brushing regularly, feeding a special diet focused on dental health, and eliminating table food. Your veterinarian can provide you more info on mitigating dental problems as well as bad breath. You can use a baking soda and water paste or a dog toothpaste once or twice per week to brush your border terrier’s teeth. You can brush them with a gauze pad, nylon stocking stretched over the finger, or a soft, child’s toothbrush. Some border terriers have periodontal disease, also called gum disease. This dreadful disease can sometimes lead to your border terrier’s loss of teeth and cause infection throughout the rest of her body. Veterinarians can sometimes clean the teeth at a typical checkup.
border terrier Halitosis
Even though periodontal disease by itself is not life-threatening when it is caught early enough, halitosis may also indicate fairly serious, long-term causes for concern. A fruity, sweet smell may frequently be indicative of diabetes, while diseases of the intestines or liver may cause foul breath. If your border terrier’s breath smells of urine or ammonia, kidney disease might be the reason. If ever you notice your border terrier has halitosis accompanied by other signs of ill health, like loss of appetite, vomiting and nausea, weight loss, moodiness, including depression, excessive drinking or urinating, plan a visit to her doctor.
Dealing with Ticks and Fleas in border terriers
Regular, daily checks of your border terrier for fleas and ticks throughout the summer are vital. Remove fleas with a flea comb. There are many new techniques of tick mitigation. Visit your border terrier’s doctor about her recommendations.
border terriers With Heartworm Issues
This parasite resides in the heart and passes from a contaminated dog to your border terrier by mosquitoes. Heartworm infestations are known to be deadly. It’s important you ensure your border terrier takes a blood screening for worms annually in the spring. A once-a-month tablet taken in the warm, wet time of the year will protect your border terrier. Should you vacation in a warmer-than-usual region with your border terrier in winter, she must be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some more moderate climates, veterinarians recommend preventative worm medication be taken continually.
Toxins and Medications
If you’re contemplating giving your border terrier medicine that was not prescribed for him by his vet, don’t do it. As little as one ibuprofen tablet can cause stomach ulcers in border terriers. Make sure your border terrier is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. Be sure to notify your dog’s doctor when you have cause to believe your border terrier has eaten a poisonous substance. You can also notify the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24 hour help.
Neutering and Spaying border terriers
It is recommended that male border terriers should be neutered – the extraction of the testicles – and females spayed – the removal of the uterus and ovaries – by six months of age. Spaying before maturity greatly diminishes the risk of breast cancer, a frequently fatal and common illness for older females. The chance of a sick uterus, which is also a serious condition that impacts older females, can be removed by spaying when young. Neutering male border terriers helps prevent testicular and prostate diseases, some hernias and certain aggressive behavior.
border terrier Immunizations
- The combination vaccine (also known as a “5-in-1 shot”) ought to be given to your border terrier at two, three, and 4 months of age and then once per year. This shot protects your border terrier puppy from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. Your border terrier puppy’s innoculation regimen cannot be finished before four months old.
- If your border terrier has not been innoculated and is older than four months, she will need two innoculations immediately, 2 to three weeks apart. After that you must immunize annualy.
- Your border terrier puppy’s socialization should coincide with the vaccination program. Many veterinarians recommend that new owners bring their border terrier puppies to socialization classes, as early as 8 to nine weeks old. At this point, they should have already received their first innoculations.
Since rules are so different between different areas, contact your community veterinarian for info for rabies immunization. For instance, New York City regulations declare that pets older than three months must be immunized for rabies. After the first shot, he must get another immunization the following year, and then every 3 years after that. There are several innoculations that might appropriate for your border terrier. Ask your border terrier’s vet for his recommendation. By the way, if your border terrier gets ill because she is not vaccinated, do not give the shot until the dog has made a full recovery.
Intestinal Worms in border terriers
border terriers are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—especially in rural areas. Eggs that carry roundworms are transmitted through a dog’s stool. Most pups, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry roundworms or hookworms. An accurate, early diagnosis is the secret to effective treatment. This will make certain that the medication is effective against the worms your border terrier has. A dewormer that eradicates roundworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your vet can best identify the culprit—and prescribe the most effective treatment.
border terrier: Miscellaneous Care Tips
border terrier Supply Checklist
- Premium-quality dog food and snacks specifically designed for border terriers and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water dish
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Brush & comb for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with ID tag and license
- Leash
- Carrier (for pups)
- Training crate
- Dog bed or box with comforter or towel
- Dog toothbrush
The no-no list
Never feed your border terrier the following:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocoloate or any food with caffeine
- Grapes and raisins
- Moldy or spoiled food
- Onions, chives & garlic
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt and salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems and unripe fruit
- Dough
The scoop on poop
Unless you are at home, or in a fenced-in, secured space, keep your border terrier on a leash at all times. When your border terrier goes number two on a neighbor’s yard, his sidewalk or any other public place, please remove it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about border terriers
Was this post helpful? If so, please take a minute to Tweet and Share below on Facebook. I would also love to know your thoughts so leave me a comment 🙂
Follow