someone help I just got my border terrier about 2 months ago she is a year old and i got her for free. first owners unknown. anyway she doesn't bark which under normal circumstances would be a god send but this is a terrier we are talking about and she never barks even when she is hurt. alexis is also potty trained and will not go in the house but will not let any one know she has to go she just holds it till i take her out. but i do have her on a schedual since she won't tell anyone she had to go. alexis does not want to play either she won't chase a ball or anything i am telling you it gets much worse she refuses to go to the bathroom for my boyfriend or anyone for that matter if it is not me she also will not eat till i walk through the door. I love her and i want her to be happy even if i can't change some of the things that are wrong i am still going to keep her. can someone please help.           

                                                                                                   thanks so much, Tracey

its early days yet, youve only had her 2 months. as she grows in confidence she'll probably behave more normally, as yet shes obviously clinging to you, -take your time , she should be ok soon,

Dizzys right its very early. She needs to get confidence in you. Some rescues dont play because they never had the opportunity to play with people as pups so you might have to teach her when she settles down. This was a revelation to me with our rescue pup, I thought all pups played! A very good book is Gwen Baileys Rescue Dog available at Waterstones, and you might want to get in touch with the breed rescue - do a search here or find it in Dogs Today which you can get in WH Smiths. Border Terriers are fab little dogs, so all the best in future. :)

thanks so much for replying but iguess i left some things out like from what i understand with all of the other owners she had never barked or played so this is not uncommon for her i have traced her life back for 8 months. how do i get her to play or maybe even bark if she is upset. thanks so much    tracey

I've got a rescue border who I've had for 6 months and he's 4 1/2 years old.  When I first got him he didn't know what a ball was for and any toys he had were either destroyed or just left.  He was also very clingy to me and very much a one person dog.

I don't know what the non barking thing is, mine does bark (not excessively) but he never asks to go out and just holds it in til I walk him.  He's a different dog now to when I got him so just persevere.  My dog had different problems which are now also being sorted out if you want to read my latest post.

Good luck with the doggie, borders are sooo cute, I'm sure once the dog gets a bit more used to his new home he will be fine.

CG

Please don't worry. my 18 month old Border very rarely barks, when he does it's because somebody knocks on the door or he hears my husbands car. Lots of people have commented on the fact that he is quiet - even when other dogs are barking. Before we decided on a Border I bought a book about them by Betty Judge - Pet Owners Guide To The Border Terrier. It's not a big book but it was really helpful in letting us know what to expect. I think you'd find it really helpful and would set your mind at rest.
He too never askes to go out. I don't know how he manages sometimes !. Not once has he had an accident in the house. He also loves his sleep. He goes to bed at around 10.30pm and doesn't get out of it again until I'm dressed, coat and shoes on and waving his lead at him at 8.30 in the morning !. Sometimes I even have to wake him up !.

Good luck with your new friend, have fun and don't worry !.

Val

That has made me laugh Val as my border is the same, he cannot get up in the morning! He sometimes even gets up has a quick wee and then goes back to bed! When we are competing and everyone has to get up early, we have to literally carry him to the car!

He is rather noisy though but only in certain situations - mostly when he thinks he is missing out on something...