Border Terriers might be small in size, but they’re big in appetite. They’ll continue to eat and eat and eat if given the chance. This means they can easily become overweight. It’s best to split your dog’s daily food into two or three meals. If they have multiple mealtimes, it will keep them feeling full throughout the day.

Border Terrier puppies should be fed small amounts three or four times a day. Ask the breeder what dog food they have been using and continue to feed your puppy the same food while the adjust to life with you. Make sure you weigh the food to prevent over or underfeeding your dog.

The Border Terrier has a short, rough, double coat. It sheds minimally but the loose hair will need to be hand stripped every six to eight weeks to help it fall out. This can be done using your fingers to pull the loose fur out, or you can use a shedding brush or glove. Weekly brushing is also recommended. 

Their coat is weather resistant meaning that your dog won’t get soaking wet in mist or rain. The water will run off their coat rather than seeping in. This is good news for you because it means your dog won’t need washing often and can be towel dried without the need for a bath. You will only need to bath your Border Terrier when they start to get a bit smelly or are very dirty. Bathing them too often will soften their rough coat, which will reduce its weather and dirt resistance.

A Border Terrier will need an hour of exercise a day. Their high energy levels need to be burned off with a good run around off the lead in a secure area. 

Thanks to their playful nature, you can also incorporate some tug-of-war or fetch into their exercise routine. But keep an eye on this breed when letting them roam free in open spaces. Border Terriers are natural escape artists and may go on a solo adventure if left unsupervised.

Exercise is an important part of your dog’s health as it provides both physical and mental stimulation. Dogs who don’t get enough exercise can become depressed.

Through training, Border Terriers can learn to be obedient dogs, but they’re stubborn so you’ll need to be patient. They’re also incredibly independent and are prone to wandering off, so it’s worth spending some extra time on recall training.

Use their love of food to your advantage. During training, use small treats as rewards. One useful training tip is to start toilet training straight away when your dog is young, so they get used to going outside. 

Ultimately, Border Terriers are quick learners that respond best to positive reinforcement. Encourage them and switch up your training techniques to keep them stimulated. 

Border Terriers have a life expectancy of 12-15 years. They have few health problems so are likely to reach their full lifespan with the correct diet and exercise. Your dog will need walking for 60 minutes a day, but it is best to split this into two 30-minute walks.

Yes, they do, but hand stripping is needed to help remove the loose hair. Hand stripping involves pulling the dead hair out of the coat using your fingers, or you can use a stripping tool. Border Terriers moult to allow a new coat to grow. Weekly grooming is needed to keep their coat clean and healthy.

If your Border Terrier smells, it could have a bacteria, yeast or skin infection. The smell will be stronger when your dog is wet. An infection can be treated with medication so take your dog to your vet. If there is a strong smell when your dog is dry, they have probably rolled in something. Unfortunately, Border Terriers like to roll in nasty smells.

A Border Terrier will reach its full size by 12 months. They will be 25 - 40cm in height and weigh between 5 - 7kg. Their weight will continue to change depending on their diet and exercise. You should weigh your dog’s food to make sure you aren’t overfeeding them. They are greedy dogs that will continue to eat if given the chance.