5 Questions to Ask the Breeder
Ask about meeting the puppys parents – this can help you get a better idea of what you should expect with your puppy. Such as what he or she will look like and maybe even some idea of what their personality or temperament might be like. These are all things to keep in mind when observing the parents of the puppy that you plan to adopt from the breeder.
Ask the breeder about their background – Dont be afraid to ask questions like this to the breeder you are considering working with. You want to know that you are working with a breeder that you can trust to be transparent with you while you guys are working together. Ask them about their background as a breeder. This includes asking how long they’ve been breeding dogs and how familiar they are with breeding Border Terriers specifically.
Ask about the health of the puppies – Their health background should include questions about vaccinations and any physical exams they’ve had with a vet so far. Its good to ask for the paperwork that verifies this information about the puppy too. While asking about the health of the puppy you can ask about their parent’s health too. If they’ve ever had any medical issues or signs of possible problems.
Ask about the qualities that they look for in people who they decide to let adopt puppies from them – Asking the breeder about this will give you more insight into them as an individual, and how serious they are about their puppies’ wellbeing. If they are looking for specific qualities, that lets you know that they are truly concerned whether the puppies will be going to a good forever home.
Ask how they’ve been going about socializing the puppies – Early socialization and training is important for young pups. Starting to have them interact with other dogs and people at a young age will help them adjust to the stress that they may face when encountering other dogs and people once they go home with you.
The Border Terrier–a small-sized breed with the feisty, independent temperament thats classic terrier–is not the dog for everyone. But for active families who dont mind its scrappy personality, the Border Terrier (BT for short) makes a wonderful pet–and luckily for those families, Border Terrier care isnt too time-consuming overall. Below youll find plenty of useful info about raising and caring for a Border Terrier: puppy advice, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and lots more. Whether youre a new or longtime BT owner, keep reading for all things Border Terrier-related!
Some things to consider when exercising your Border Terrier: first, puppies younger than nine months old shouldnt participate in activities that include a lot of jumping and running, as doing so can injure their still-developing bones and joints; BTs are prone to structural issues like hip dysplasia and patellar luxation, and these conditions often originate while the dog is young, when a puppy overexerts itself. Second: BTs, with their history as small-game hunters, have incredibly high prey drives, so theyll need to be leashed when in public to keep them from taking off after critters they instinctively see as prey. When exercising in the yard, itll need to be securely fenced, because dogs of this breed are exceptional escape artists–and even then, theyll still need close supervision. A BT will instantly dig under (or simply jump over!) a fence when it decides to chase an interesting-looking bird or squirrel.
Unfortunately, obesity is quite common among dogs of this breed. A fat Border Terrier will have breathing, heart, joint, and digestive issues, not to mention a shortened lifespan–and BTs are genetically predisposed to pack on pounds. So its critical that you monitor you closely monitor your BTs food consumption (and exercise it daily as well). You can do this in several ways: stick to the above-listed portions (which may seem small, but theyre ample enough for these little dogs); establish a consistent daily feeding schedule so the dog gets used to eating at the same time every day; no feeding your BT table scraps; and by all means, do not “free-feed” the dog. Free-feeding is leaving food in a dogs bowl all the time, allowing it to eat anytime it wants; veterinarians say its the primary cause of canine obesity, and its an unhealthy practice overall. Put your BTs bowl down only at mealtimes, then pick it up 15-20 minutes after the dog begins eating, even if food remains.If youre worried your Boston Terrier is overweight, give the dog this simple Ribs Test: run a hand along its side, and if you cant feel any ribs, its diet time. Reduce your BTs daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.
As with any breed, Border Terrier diet and nutrition are essential factors in keeping these dogs happy and healthy. As lively terriers, BTs need food thats high in animal proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats; also like other terrier breeds, these dogs often develop food allergies or digestive problems from eating foods–usually inexpensive brands with lots of empty “filler” ingredients–that have proteins and carbs from multiple sources. This means that its best to feed a premium brand like Royal Canin to Border Terrier dogs, specifically the kind that has only one meat source (usually named “Limited Ingredient” on the packaging). These high-quality brands are more expensive, but your BT will need to eat less of it–and more importantly, the food will provide more nutrients and be safer for the dog to eat every day.
Though opinions differ over whats the best dog food for Border Terriers, the most sensible and popular choice is premium dry food. These dogs often develop allergies and digestion problems if they eat only foods with multiple protein sources, so a “one-meat” food brand (that will often be called “Limited Ingredient”) is best of all.
Growth curve of Border Terrier females:
Border Terrier females weigh slightly less compared to males. At the age of 3 months the weight is about 5 – 6 lbs. After 6 months, the weight is between 9 – 10 lbs. On her first birthday, the Border Terrier female weighs between 11 – 13 lbs and is another 1 months later, at the age of 1.1 years, with 11 – 13 lbs already fully grown.
| month 2 | 4 lbs |
| month 3 | 6 lbs |
| month 4 | 8 lbs |
| month 5 | 9 lbs |
| month 6 | 10 lbs |
| month 7 | 11 lbs |
| month 8 | 12 lbs |
| month 9 | 12 lbs |
| month 10 | 13 lbs |
| month 11 | 13 lbs |
| month 12 | 13 lbs |
| month 13 | 13 lbs |