Border Terrier puppy sitting on the floor next to their food bowls

Border Terrier Insurance, Care and Health Advice

The Border Terrier is a go-getter in every sense. These small dogs are lively, determined and inquisitive little guys, and love nothing better than to explore and sniff around. But along with their terrier instincts there&rsquo;s also a softer side: they&rsquo;re generally affectionate, loyal - and above all else, fun! They&rsquo;re always down to play if you are - so are you ready to welcome a Border Terrier into your home?

Terrier

Type

12 - 15 years

Lifespan

Small

Size

5.1 - 7.1 kg

Weight

28 - 40 cm

Height

Clever, fearless, stubborn

Temperament

60 mins per day

Exercise

Low maintenance

Grooming

Border Terriers have a life expectancy of 12-15 years if they live a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise, regular health checks and a good diet. Their lifestyle can play a large role in how long Border Terriers live.

Yes, they do shed in order to allow their new coat to grow, but not as much as other dog breeds. You will need to hand strip your Border Terrier to help remove the loose hair. You will also need to groom your dog weekly to keep their coat healthy and clean.

Hand stripping a Border Terrier can be done using your fingers or a stripping tool. To use your fingers, grasp the hair between your thumb and forefinger and pull in the direction of the growth.

You will not need to apply too much pressure. Hold the skin from in front of where you are pulling to prevent discomfort for your dog. Alternatively, you can use a stripping tool.

Border Terriers are considered to be hypoallergenic; most wire-haired dogs are because they don&rsquo;t moult as much as other breeds.

<ul>
	<li>Vetstream Ltd (online) Border Terrier. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/breeds-pages/border-terrier" target="_blank" title="Link to vet expert Vetstream's border terrier information">https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/breeds-pages/border-terrier</a></li>
	<li>Brooks D E, Williams D L &amp; Gould D (online) Retina: central progressive retinal atrophy (CPRA). In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/Retina-central-progressive-retinal-atrophy-(CPRA)" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's retina central progressive retinal atrophy page">https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/Retina-central-progressive-retinal-atrophy-(CPRA)</a></li>
	<li>Vetstream Ltd (online) Heart murmurs in dogs. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/heart-murmurs-in-dogs" target="_blank" title="Link to vet expert Vetstream's dog heart murmur information page">https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/heart-murmurs-in-dogs</a></li>
	<li>Garosi L &amp; Vetstream Ltd (online) Canine epileptoid cramping syndrome (CECS) in Border Terriers. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/canine-epileptoid-cramping-syndrome-(cecs)-in-border-terriers" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's canine epileptoid cramping syndrome in border terriers page">https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/canine-epileptoid-cramping-syndrome-(cecs)-in-border-terriers</a></li>
	<li>O&rsquo;Brien D &amp; Lowrie M (online) Epileptoid cramping syndrome. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/canine-epileptoid-cramping-syndrome" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's canine epileptoid cramping syndrome page">https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/canine-epileptoid-cramping-syndrome</a></li>
	<li>Mariani C &amp; Platt S (online) Spongy degeneration of the central nervous system. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/spongy-degeneration-of-the-central-nervous-system" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's spongy degeneration of the central nervous system page">https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/spongy-degeneration-of-the-central-nervous-system</a> 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Content provided from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="link to vet experts Vetstream's website">Vetstream&#39;s Vetlexicon Canis</a>

Vetlexicon is the world&rsquo;s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world&rsquo;s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

Looking for a relaxed, good-humoured pup? A Border Terrier can be a perfect new addition for active families. These are smart dogs and they&#39;re definitely trainable, although they can have a stubborn streak - so aren&rsquo;t necessarily the best choice if you&rsquo;re completely new to dog ownership.

Most Borders are more than happy to curl up on your lap - and if you&rsquo;re up for half an hour or more of <a href="/all-things-pet/the-dog-exercise-guide" title="Link to Everypaw's dog exercise guide">exercise each day</a>, this breed will suit you fine.

At home, they&rsquo;re usually down for some rough and tumble with the kids, and most Border Terriers get on fine with other dogs in the house. If there are cats about however, this might not be the best breed choice. Their high prey drive means they love to chase anything small and furry!

Looking for a relaxed, good-humoured pup? A Border Terrier can be a perfect new addition for active families. These are smart dogs and they&#39;re definitely trainable, although they can have a stubborn streak - so aren&rsquo;t necessarily the best choice if you&rsquo;re completely new to dog ownership.

Most Borders are more than happy to curl up on your lap - and if you&rsquo;re up for half an hour or more of exercise each day, this breed will suit you fine.

At home, they&rsquo;re usually down for some rough and tumble with the kids, and most Border Terriers get on fine with other dogs in the house. If there are <a href="/cat-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Cat Insurance page">cats</a> about however, this might not be the best breed choice. Their high prey drive means they love to chase anything small and furry!

Border Terrier <a href="/puppy-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Puppy Insurance page">puppies</a> are cheeky and always getting up to mischief. They&rsquo;re quick to chase, so keep an eye on them when you <a href="/all-things-pet/how-to-train-a-puppy-to-walk-on-a-leash" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to puppy lead training">start letting them off the lead</a>. They have a hunting instinct and will be off like a shot if they catch a whiff of an interesting scent.

It doesn&rsquo;t take them long to find their voice, they are lively and bossy and will make sure they get the attention that they want from you.

This friendly dog breed will easily fit in with a family household. They love the attention of humans and are also good with children - they love to play and have lots of energy. They&rsquo;re not keen on other dogs but if raised with one from a young age they will get along just fine.

While they&rsquo;re less &ldquo;yappy&rdquo; than many terriers, <a href="/all-things-pet/how-to-stop-dog-barking-in-5-easy-steps" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to how to stop your dog from barking">excessive barking</a> can sometimes be an issue with Borders. This is more likely if they&rsquo;re left alone without enough stimulation while you&rsquo;re at work. These guys love to dig, so if you leave your buddy alone with free run of the garden you could come home to find they&rsquo;ve been burrowing their way out!

Border Terriers are known for being greedy; they enjoy their food and can easily become overweight. You should weigh your dog&rsquo;s food to ensure they are getting the right amount. Feeding guidelines are printed on the back of food packaging, or you can ask your vet for advice.

To keep your dog feeling full and to prevent stomach issues, it is best to split your dog&rsquo;s food into 2 meals, or 3-4 if they&rsquo;re a puppy.

They can be possessive of their food and will attempt to steal others, so it is best to feed them separately to any other pets. 
&nbsp;

Border Terriers have a double coat, but a weekly brush is usually all that&rsquo;s needed to keep your buddy&rsquo;s fur in good condition. The hair doesn&rsquo;t usually need clipping - but should be hand-stripped around once or twice a year, which involves getting rid of the old dead hair the root so the new coat can grow.

If you&rsquo;re new hand stripping and want to get the technique right, it&rsquo;s definitely worth getting a professional groomer to help you out and give you some pointers on how to do it yourself.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Border Terriers are intelligent, which helps a lot when it comes to training. But at the same time they can be independent and strong minded, so don&rsquo;t be too surprised if they ignore you and run off to do their own thing if something interesting catches their eye.

Scolding and shouting won&rsquo;t really help you. With all training it&rsquo;s about positive reinforcement, and early socialisation is important to help your buddy grow into a confident and friendly dog. Basic commands to focus on include Sit, Heel, Come, Leave, Down and Bed.

You can work with your Border Terrier&rsquo;s natural energy and inquisitiveness to give a good mind and body workout. A game of hide and seek, and lots of fetch, can fit the bill perfectly. Agility training, including specialist courses for earth dogs can also be a good call if your pooch is up for a new challenge. 
&nbsp;

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Border Terriers are bundles of fun and full of a natural energy that can need some keeping up with. Now while Border Terrier insurance can&rsquo;t cover you for bumps and bruises, we can look after your Border. <a href="/Home/dog-insurance.html">Everypaw&rsquo;s Lifetime Dog Insurance</a>&nbsp;comes in a variety of cover levels and all with a range of benefits to keep your pup on all four paws.

Border Terriers are bundles of fun and full of a natural energy that can need some keeping up with. Now while Border Terrier insurance can&rsquo;t cover you for bumps and bruises, we can look after your Border.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/dog-insurance">Everypaw&rsquo;s Lifetime Dog Insurance</a>&nbsp;comes in a variety of cover levels and all with a range of benefits to keep your pup on all four paws.

That’s All You Need to Know About Border Terriers

This cheeky little <a href="/dog-insurance-dog-breed-guides" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Breed Guides">dog breed</a> is cute and cuddly and will easily fit in with a family household. They do have a stubborn streak though which means they can be tricky to train. They can also be a bit yappy, but if they&rsquo;re kept occupied and have plenty of company this shouldn&rsquo;t be too much of a problem. And they&rsquo;re generally a healthy breed so there aren&rsquo;t many health conditions you need to worry about.

This cheeky little breed is cute and cuddly and will easily fit in with a family household. They do have a stubborn streak though which means they can be tricky to train. They can also be a bit yappy, but if they&rsquo;re kept occupied and have plenty of company this shouldn&rsquo;t be too much of a problem. And they&rsquo;re generally a healthy <a href="/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Breed Guides">dog breed</a> so there aren&rsquo;t many health conditions you need to worry about.

This hereditary health condition is also known as &lsquo;Retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy (RPED)&rsquo;. It causes loss of sight to the central field of vision, with signs of the condition showing at 3-4 months old.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this condition, but supplements can be given to slow down the progression. Dogs with reduced vision can still have a good quality of life and it is unlikely that affected dogs will become completely blind.

A heart murmur is a disturbance to the blood flow. A vet will be able to detect a heart murmur by the &ldquo;whooshing&rdquo; sound it creates, as opposed to the normal &ldquo;lub&rdquo; and &ldquo;dub&rdquo;.

Not all affected dogs show signs of a problem, but others may suffer from coughing, rapid breathing, reluctance to walk, tiredness or they may collapse.

Treatment depends on the cause of the heart murmur, which can be the result of heartworm disease or a congenital condition. Medication and/or surgery may be required to improve the quality of the dog&rsquo;s life.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome (CECS)

CECS is a condition with Paroxysmal Dyskinesia (PD). Paroxysmal refers to normal behaviour with periodical signs of the disease, and dyskinesia is the involuntary movement of the body. Affected dogs will appear normal but then have episodes where their body will cramp or tremor. First attacks may occur from as young as 6 weeks or up to 7 years of age.

Recent research has found a link between gluten sensitivity and PD. It is also suspected that there may be a genetic abnormality, but this is still being researched.

A gluten-free diet is the most effective management of CECS. Affected dogs should not be bred from and there is a blood test that can be done to confirm the diagnosis. 
&nbsp;

Spongiform Leukoencephalomyelopathy (SLEM)

This is an autosomal-recessive gene, meaning that the puppy will have inherited two copies of the abnormal gene (one from each parent). First signs are visible when the puppy begins to stand and walk, they display an uncontrollable shake of the hind limbs. As the puppy grows, this shaking will progress to the rest of their body and they will have poor coordination. It is caused by problems with development in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in holes that give the tissue a spongy appearance.

Unfortunately, most puppies are put to sleep due to a poor quality of life. DNA testing is available for this condition - affected dogs should not be bred from. &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Common Border Terrier Health Problems by Vetstream

Border Terriers are relatively healthy; there aren’t many health conditions that are linked to them - phew! But to keep you in the know, we’ve teamed up with vet experts Vetstream to lay out some of the most common conditions that you should keep an eye out for.

Border Terrier Insurance, Health Advice, and Health Problems | Everypaw

Get a quote for your Border Terrier's insurance

Border Terrier

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The benefit values featured in the table may vary across the different levels of cover and will depend on the cover you choose. Please check your cover before purchasing. Be aware, for some breeds of dogs we do not provide our &pound;8k and &pound;10k Lifetime cover. 
 
All policies and features are subject to special conditions and exclusions of the insurers, please click the link to read about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Insurance Exclusions page">our policy exclusions.</a> 
 
Excess is applicable to all vet fees claims. When your pet reaches a certain age, the excess payable may change. The excess will be your set excess plus a percentage of your claim amount.

Getting your furry friend covered shouldn&#39;t just come down to cost. There&#39;s a lot more to it than that, so take the time to do a pet insurance comparison. Think about their breed, the level of cover they might need, and what would be important to you. After all, insurance is there for both of you.

One of the best ways to do that is to compare cover levels. This will give you an idea of how much your pet insurance will cost, how much you can claim against vet bills, as well as the policy benefits. It&#39;s all about finding the Lifetime Pet Insurance that works best for you and your pet.

*Based on Everypaw claims data from February 2024 to March 2025

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As our furry companions age, they&#39;re more likely to suffer from ailments and illnesses here and there. And we want you to be able to look after your pet well into retirement. That&#39;s why we don&#39;t have age limits on our policies. Our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-for-older-pets.html">pet insurance for older pets</a> can help you do the most important thing &ndash; looking after your pet.

What about younger pets? We also offer <a href="/cat-insurance/kitten-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Kitten Insurance page">kitten</a> and <a href="/dog-insurance/puppy-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Puppy Insurance page">puppy insurance</a>, covered by our cat and dog insurance. No matter how old or young your purr-fect pet is, our pet insurance can give you all-important peace of mind.&nbsp;

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Whether you are looking for a playmate for your pet or if your house is more like a <a href="/dog-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Insurance page">dog</a>, <a href="/cat-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Cat Insurance page">cat</a> and <a href="/rabbit-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Rabbit Insurance page">rabbit</a> smallholding, you need multi-pet insurance that works for you. Everypaw&#39;s policies are just that and give you a discount on every pet too. No matter how many pets you have, from glorious <a href="/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides/golden-retriever-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Golden Retriever Dog Breed Guide page">Golden Retrievers</a> and majestic <a href="/cat-insurance/cat-breed-guides/maine-coon-cat-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Maine Coon Cat Breed Guide page">Maine Coons</a> to lovely <a href="/rabbit-insurance/rabbit-breed-guides/lionhead-rabbit-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Lionhead Rabbit Breed Guide page">Lionheads</a>, it&#39;s there for every single paw.

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Our pet insurance quote form takes just 3 minutes to fill out. Here&#39;s how it works:

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	<li>Select which type of pet you&#39;re looking to insure and enter their age, breed and sex</li>
	<li>Enter basic personal details about yourself including your email and home addresses</li>
	<li>Select your vet fees limit</li>
	<li>We&#39;ll give you a pet insurance price! And we&#39;ll show you what the cost is for the year, plus what your monthly instalments will look like if you choose to pay that way</li>
</ul>

Will my pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Ever found the urge to discover what the best dog breeds to train are or maybe you want to get to the bottom of your pet&#39;s worm problem.&nbsp;<a href="/Home/all-things-pet.html" title="Link to Everypaw's All Things Pet blog">Everypaw&#39;s All Things Pet blog</a>&nbsp;has the content to keep you informed.

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For that extra peace of mind when your pets get up to mischief, there&#39;s Everypaw. Our pet insurance is for cats, dogs and rabbits, and every policy comes with unlimited 24/7 access to vet nurses and vets. So, if you ever feel a bit &#39;for pet&#39;s sake&#39;, know Everypaw is here for you and your pet when you need us most!

Why Choose Everypaw for Pet Insurance in the UK?

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Choosing the right pet health insurance isn&#39;t always easy. We know that. And we also know that a key part of deciding is knowing what&#39;s not covered. That way, at least there are no nasty surprises in terms of coughing up for bills that you thought were going to be taken care of by your policy.

So, here are a few of the main exclusions on our pet insurances:

<ul>
	<li>Treatment for any pre-existing conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment for poisoning or any accidental injury that occurs in the first 3 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment for any illness that occurs in the first 14 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment related to vaccine-preventable conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment related to breeding, pregnancy or birthing</li>
	<li>Treatment on baby teeth if your pet is over 16 weeks when your policy starts</li>
</ul>

*Switching to Everypaw Pet Insurance? If you can prove your previous insurance runs up to the policy start date, we can waive this for you.

Please see our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Policy Exclusions page">exclusions page</a>&nbsp;for further details.

Fingers crossed, you never have to! We want to reassure you that claiming on your pet health insurance is as hassle-free as possible. That&rsquo;s why we have Vet Pawtal. A direct platform for vets so they can submit claims and leave you to care for your pet.

Vet Pawtal is the fastest and most efficient way to claim. There&rsquo;s no more paperwork for you, and we&rsquo;ll keep you updated every step of the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

If your vet can&rsquo;t submit the claim, don&rsquo;t worry; you can still submit it in the <a href="https://petportal.everypaw.com/register#login" target="_blank" title="Link to the Everypaw Pet Portal">Everypaw Pet Portal</a>. It&rsquo;s straightforward; just log in and follow the instructions. Alternatively,&nbsp;you can <a href="https://www.everypaw.com/downloads-2020/everypaw-claim-form.pdf" target="_blank" title="Link to download an Everypaw claim form">download a claim form</a>, but this can take longer.

Please refer to the guidance in your policy documents for Third Party Liability claims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information, head to our <a href="/Home/claims.html">Pet Insurance Claims information page</a>.

We know pets are just as much a part of your family as any human. So, we know how important it is to you that they&#39;re protected. Choose Everypaw for pet insurance in the UK and give yourself that priceless peace of mind.

We know things can be tough right now, with many people facing money worries. If you have such concerns, please get in touch with us, as we may be able to offer some options to help, which could include reducing your cover or increasing your excess.

If you wish to find out more and your eligibility for any options, please call <a href="tel:03445431009" title="Call Everypaw Customer Services and Claims">0344 543 1009</a>.

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Deciding which pet insurance your furry bundle of fun needs can be tricky, especially if you&#39;re a new fur-parent. That&#39;s why here at Everypaw.com, we&#39;re trying to keep things simple, we&#39;re all about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/lifetime-pet-insurance.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Lifetime Pet Insurance page">Lifetime Pet Insurance</a>.

Our Lifetime cover is available for your cats, dogs and rabbits. And if you&#39;re looking to cover your cat or dog, there&#39;s a range of cover levels to choose from. Lifetime covers your pet up to a set vet fee limit, and the limits reset for every year of cover.

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Border Terrier Insurance, Care and Health Advice

Border Terrier Facts

Is a Border Terrier Right for Me?

What Are Border Terrier Puppies Like?

Life with a Border Terrier

Caring for Your Border Terrier

Dinner time

Grooming time

Training & exercise