Hi everyone,

I was not sure whether to post this question under feeding or showing but here goes. I own 3 Border Terriers, two of which I work and the other who is only 6 months is going be worked also. My wife wants to show one of the girls and the puppy which is fine by me and on their first outing to an open show she got a 2nd for Jess and a reserve for the puppy (the only class available to enter him in was Junior and for six months she was very pleased with his success). My query is as follows as I work them their diet has always been important, they are not overweight but more muscle with little or no fat on them but my wife was told by someone at the show that they were overweight upon weighing them the bitch who is 12 inches tall weighs 15lbs and the puppy who is 14 1/2 inches tall weighs 17lbs according to show standards they are both very over weight yet they do not look overweight and you can easily feel their ribs. They are all fed one third of a tin of chappie plus a handful of buscuits, we have tried dried food but this gave them all upset stomachs. Do you have any suggestions on how to bring their weights down for showing, although to be honest I am not sure that I want them brought down too far especially Jess as she works really well at the weight she is and is easy to pass around I think that the pup does need to lose some weight. I am really asking for some suggestions especially as I know there are quite a few Border Terrier owners out their who may be able to help. I look forward to hearing from you.

Charles

According to the Kennel Club breed standard a border terrier dog should weigh between 13 and 15 1/2 lb, and a bitch should weigh 11 1/2 - 14 lb. So your adult male is within the standard for weight. The pup may be overheight for a border....if he is you'll have to keep him at the right weight for him and not try to get him down simply to show him.

If they are not carrying fat, and can be spanned, I don't think there is anything you can do without reducing their muscle - which is not want you want to do to a healthy active working dog.

Sorry this isn't a lot of help, but if they're not carrying fat you can't get their weight down safely.

Charles, as a rough old fashioned guide we always reckon that a bt should weigh in pounds, what it measures to the withers. eg a 12 inch tall bt shouls weigh 12lbs.

Hi Charles.
I have Borders too. There is no height standard for Borders just weight. There are NOT many Borders that are the ideal weight. I see so many Borders too thin because people try to keep down to the standard as much as possible. These dogs look ill !!! The Border Terrier should be capeable of being spanned behind the shoulder (I am sure you know what that means) so if you can do that, then chances are you dog isn't too big, but thats not to say they are not overweight. I doubt your dogs would be too fat though if you work them, mine all work, and I would say that during the summer they tend to gain weight more easily, but as for getting fat, no.

My best worker and show dog weighed 17.5lbs, he was rock hard, not an ounce of fat on him, he was spannable, so "theoretically" too heavy, but the most versatile, capable Border I have met, he did the work of a Spaniel, Retriever and a Terrier!! I am sure I could have got him lighter but to what end, a rosette, a place in the line up? not a chance, FIT NOT THIN, thats what I say. Good luck with your Borders Charles, and happy hunting !!
Dawn.

Thank you Dawn for your reply and for the other replies to my post.

My Borders are spannable and having gone with my wife to a show today the others looked so thin and underfed apart from one other than mine none of them would have been any use for work, far to skinny and not a bit how a true working border should look. My girls definitely do not have very much fat on them if any they are built with good muscles, my pup is still only a pup at 6 months and what puppy fat he has by this time next year will be muscle too. Both my wife and I have decided to leave them as they are and just show them for fun (a hobby my wife has taken to). When I spoke with some of the other owners of Borders I was told by more than 5 that they never let their Borders off because they would not come back! which I think says it all. I enjoy working my girls and when my pup is old enough at least when the girls are in season I will still be able to go out, as the others I work them with all own dogs with only one other working a bitch.

Many thanks for your reply and the others I have received

Charles

We are hoping to get a BT later this year. I understand what is meant by spanning, but, and I know this probably sounds stupid, what size hands would that be? I only ask as my hands are quite small.....................

Hayley

Its only a generalisation. It was originally meant for the average terriermans hands....quite big I suppose....just go for a rough average!

The dictionary definition of a "span" is 9 inches. (Just like a "hand" is 4 inches, and a "foot" is 12 inches....) So I guess a "spannable" dog would have a girth of less than 18 inches.
:)

oh good - I'm glad to see this post ;) I didn't know what it meant but was too proud to ask and now I don't need to admit I didn't understand what it meant and have people laugh at me ;) ;) :D :D