Anyone got Border Terrier too?

[Katilea]

Hi

 

I have Border collie 4 yrs old. Lost my old girl (collie X) sadly last March age 15. I'm thinking of adding another dog this year and quite liked the idea of a having a Border Collie and a Border Terrier but know nothing about them.

 

I've met some really sweet quiet well behaved ones and also met one thats extremely reactive and sound sensitive (I use a mobility scooter and it goes mental every time I go past).

 

I was looking at a BT X on Dogs Trust but it mentioned she was sound sensitive also so wondered if this was going to be a problem with me using a mobility scooter? I know collies can be too but I've had JJ from 8 weeks old so he's never known anything else, would it work better if I got a BT pup so it also got used to sound of mobility scooter from a very young age?

 

I'd like a very dark female with lot of black on if I went for this breed what colour is this classed as I don't understand what they mean by 'grizzle' when describing colours?

 

Thanks

 

Kati

[waffles]

I have only met one Border Terrier, as they are not that common here in the US as I suspect they may be in the UK. But, any good rescue or shelter should have no problem helping test a dog you are interested in with the scooter. You can and should do a meet/greet with the dog and test out walking the dog along the scooter to get an idea of what he/she may be like. They should also have you bring your current dog so they can meet before adoption.

 

Best of luck in your search.

[amc]

We have a border terrier X that we adopted a year ago from a local rescue. He integrated into our Border Collie pack very well. He's a wonderful little dog with one major fault - an imperfect recall. All this means is that he's never allowed off leash where it might be unsafe for him, but for us in our situation, this is easily managed. He is not nervous or sound-sensitive and he's really a delight to have around.

 

Some years ago we got a purebred border terrier bitch as a 12-week old. She turned out to have a very strong personality and a mutual dislike developed between her and my husband's top Border Collie bitch. That situation was never going to get better, so for her safety and happiness we rehomed her and she's been ruling the roost with her family ever since. She too is fearless (a little too much, maybe!) with a wonderfully stable temperament.

 

You do need to be ready for a terrier's determination, which often presents as willfulness or stubbornness. Good luck in your search!

 

Amy

[GentleLake]

I like border terriers; they're probably the only terrier I've ever considered owning. And I have considered it, more than once.

 

What ultimately keeps me from following through is that they are terriers, and will behave like terriers no matter how well trained they are.

 

If you like the terrier temperament, I guess that's OK. But for me its being so unlike everything I love about the ways border collies interact with humans, the terrier attitude just isn't my cuppa tea.

[Katilea]

I like border terriers; they're probably the only terrier I've ever considered owning. And I have considered it, more than once.

 

What ultimately keeps me from following through is that they are terriers, and will behave like terriers no matter how well trained they are.

 

If you like the terrier temperament, I guess that's OK. But for me its being so unlike everything I love about the ways border collies interact with humans, the terrier attitude just isn't my cuppa tea.

Yeah thats whats putting me off alot of terriers round here are owned by old people cos their small they think they'll be easy and they can't control them, they all seem to be yappy little things that are allowed to charge to the end of their extending leads at other people and their dogs which won't be safe as I use mobility scooter.

 

I thought dog like chihuahua's and paps would be too tiny and worried about them getting under scooter wheels, but most of the more hardy small breeds are terriers or are crossbreeds with terrier in them.

 

A friend has a chihuahua x lab cross (don't ask how they managed it, I haven't a clue..lol!) but she's always had a lovely temperament, very quiet, biddable dog obviously the lab temperament but looks wise about 'chunky jack russell' size but black with white down her chest. She would be perfect size for me if I could find another like her! (The dog is 17 now and was neutered young so no chance of getting pups from her).

 

I love the collie temperament but didn't want another as big, shame no-one is breeding mini border collies, odd that mini aussies have taken off but not mini border collies??

 

It doesn't have to be able to keep up with the scooter on the roads if its small enough to sit on the footplate when we have to cross roundabouts go along busier roads etc (JJ runs alongside on the pavement) if it was a breed that didn't need as much exercise it can just wait until we get to the quiet paths, through woods and over fields to let it off for a good run about so need s a good recall as they would inevitably go where I can't get the scooter when sniffing about to go after them.

 

Maybe I should look at small spaniels who would be bred for a good recall and obedience for being around guns? (gundogs) as a smaller companion for him?

[mum24dog]

Barky little beasts. Just saying.

 

(I know one can't generalise but I know more barky ones than not.)

[amc]

Have you considered a Cavalier King Charles spaniel? If you can find one without hereditary defects, that is. Also, Papillons may be small but they are hardy, smart, joyous little dogs.

 

Amy

[D'Elle]

I like border terriers; they're probably the only terrier I've ever considered owning. And I have considered it, more than once.

 

What ultimately keeps me from following through is that they are terriers, and will behave like terriers no matter how well trained they are.

 

If you like the terrier temperament, I guess that's OK. But for me its being so unlike everything I love about the ways border collies interact with humans, the terrier attitude just isn't my cuppa tea.

Not all terriers are dogs who "behave like terriers no matter how well trained". I never thought I would be a terrier person, until Digger came into my life. (Named by former owner, has never dug a hole in all the years I have known him....by the way.)

He is smarter than many border collies I have known, completely attuned to my moods and feelings, seems to read my mind much of the time, and is eager to work with me and learn anything I want to teach him. He has a few interesting quirks, but nothing that is negative. He is well behaved and doesn't "behave like a terrier", if that means being defiant. I do think that terriers need special handling, but then so do border collies.

I think terriers are wonderful.

I especially like border terriers, except for the fact that I have a prejudice in favor of prick ears. I have met several and have found them to be smart and brave little dogs, very respectable. But fearless. So you gotta watch them. I have not had the fearless issue with Digger; don't know what sort of terrier mix he is, though.

 

Have you considered a Cavalier King Charles spaniel? If you can find one without hereditary defects, that is. Also, Papillons may be small but they are hardy, smart, joyous little dogs.

 

Amy

I would not recommend the Cavaliers, myself. They have been so dreadfully inbred that most of them have severe health problems.

[Katilea]

Have you considered a Cavalier King Charles spaniel? If you can find one without hereditary defects, that is. Also, Papillons may be small but they are hardy, smart, joyous little dogs.

 

Amy

I was looking at Cavaliers a few years back before I got JJ but after reading about their issues and that its was common for dog to have heart problems and still be sold at full price. I wasn't ok with that.

 

It's one thing if you take on an older rescue knowing it has a heart murmur but to buy a puppy that you pay pedigree prices for because its supposedly been health tested and bred from healthy parents isn't the same to me. As I wanted it as a 'working dog' at the time to take over from Inca and to be able to be my helper for at least 10 yrs hopefully, I wasn't willing to take the risk.

 

It's a shame though as they are lovely dogs. JJ has a cavalier 'friend' down the road called Toby, he had both his kneecaps replaced by the time he was 5 and though he's only a couple of years older than JJ you wouldn't think so, you'd think he was much older as he waddles along (doesn't help that he's overweight too) but he's a lovely placid dog.

[Katilea]

I like Jack Russells too. Saw a lovely white wire haired one once, never seen another one since, she was so sweet (older female)

 

I like them cos they're small but still more sturdy and not as fragile looking as the tiny toy dogs. I'd imagine though they'd have an high prey drive?

[gcv-border]

I've known only one agility border terrier. Very nicely trained, but the owner admitted he had a mind of his own.

 

IMHO, run - far away and fast - from CKCS. Very inbred, as has already been mentioned, but 1/3 of them have a condition where the skull doesnt grow large enough to allow for brain growth. Excruciatingly painful for the dog.

 

All paps are not small. I have seen them 4 lbs, and as big as 12-15 lbs. Most of the bigger ones were bred as agility dogs.

 

Jack Russell terriers seem to be cool dogs. I once fostered a JRT mix and came very close to keeping her. She was about 15 lbs at 6 months of age. Awesome dog.

[Lawgirl]

If I was getting a small dog, it would be a pap (on the larger side if possible). If my OH was getting a smaller dog, it would be a Jack Russell.

 

As a young child we had a dog which was a complete mongrol, Mum was a lab cross, dad was who knows? Pretty sure he had some Jack Russell in him though, and also some kelpie going by colouring. He was an amazing dog, and I would have another like him in a heartbeat.