Are male border terriers supposed to wander? My border terrier does is it normal? mine is around 6 months.

Hi Guest

If a garden is not fenced securely then any dog would be inclined to wander and possibly get shot for livestock worrying, run over by a car etc etc.

If it is wandering off from you whilst out for a walk then it may be best to keep him on a lead whilst you teach a solid recall

Most dogs will wander if not prevented. Make sure your garden is securely fenced and you train him properly to come when you call him when you're out exercising him.
:)

My only experience of Border Terriers would lead me to say that they are some of the best excape artists ever!

Just after we moved into our present house - when it was little but a ruin - with 3 small children & no 4 on the way, the local gamekeeper gave my OH a border terrier "for the kids" in exchange for a favour or two the OH did for him - think it was drawing up some plans or something.   This border terrier Tramp (soon renamed the Border Terrorist :D)  could find his way out of anywhere - and if he couldn't - he knew a dog that could.

At that time our labrador was a loveable rogue of great brawn and very little brain - so Tramp did all the thinking & figuring out - and Jet did the dirty work - those two were an absolute pain in the neck for me at that time - if one of the children wasn't opening a door or a gate and letting them out, they would find a weakness in the old fencing and work through it in no time at all!    If, in desparation with builders and children in and out I would resort to putting both of them of running chains, they would manage to station themselves beside the gate or the side fence bordering the golf course and look so pathetic that I would have golfers knocking at the door and demanding that I unchain them!!

Although they were wonderful family dogs the pair of them, and worked very well on the local shoot with my OH and the now eldest KIPPER, they would also fancy doing a spot of hunting themselves - and everyone knew that they were ours (if you have one dog, you can always bluff and say - oh no - my dog was with me at that time ;) ) - but the Border Terrorist & Large Lab were notorious!!  Eventually, the garden was well secured and they both settled down to a dignified old age - but they would still try & get out & do the dustbin round - they particularly liked our nearest neighbour's bin, who used to have her grocerised delivered from Harrods - and on one occasion, Tramp got out & brought his "trophy" back home with him - a very large yorkshire pudding!

Margot

I think terriers because of their independent nature are inclined to wander. I dog walk a pair of jack russells who run away from their owner on a frequent basis (i keep them on leads) chasing rabbits in the woods behind their house. They have done this all their lives, sadly they wandered too far last friday and the older dog (12 years) was too slow crossing a road and was knocked down. He was put to sleep on sunday. :-( Hopefully now he may keep the other on a lead in future.