Hello everyone!
Edward will be 19 weeks old this Saturday, I'm looking for good books to buy on the Border Terrier, there are so many, which ones should I be looking at? Do any of you have any recomendations?
We were at PuppySchool last night and the trainer asked if I would be stripping him or having him clipped? This has not really crossed my mind yet, can anyone give me the pro's and con's of stripping as opposed to clipping?
Hope someone out there will have views and will be able to help me.
thanks in advance
Wendy

My Mother has a BT and she is never clipped! There isnt anything to clip. Stripping is the only way to go with a border terrier as its the only way to remove the dead hair properly. You can go to a groomer and have it done for an average of £25 (mother pays £50 as she has her bathed and nails filed too lol).
Hope thats of some help.

Thank you for your speedy reply..... I had a friend quite a few years back with two BT's and she always stripped her dogs. I wasnt sure whether clipping was an option, however with the trainer suggesting it last night it opened up a nagging thing in my head... what would be best etc.....
Will still be looking out for books, have the Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey which is great, however need  recommended BT books for the concise detail on the breed.
thanks again.

Crikey thedark, I thought things were cheaper up in Scotland, the stripping cost is about right, but £25 for bathing and filing claws sounds a lot to me!!!

Hi Wendy

Congratulations on choosing a lovely breed, lovely name for a Border as well :-D  One of my boys is called Ted and Edward on Sundays :-D also well done for taking him to Puppy Classes which will help with socialisation.

There are various books that willbe of help to you:

Pet Owner's Guide to Border Terriers (Pet Owner's Guides) 
Betty Judge

Border Terriers: An Owner's Companion; Paperback ~ Frank Jackson, Jean Jackson

Border Terriers Today (Book of the Breed S.); Hardcover ~ Anne Roslin-Williams

Please don't consider clipping your boy, you will end up with a Border Terrier who looks nothing at all like the breed you bought.

BT's have a brilliant natural waterproofing in their coat, and you can walk them out in all the mud and rain you want to, bring them home and within very few minutes, they will have dried out and the muck will have disappeared.  Mine are usually put into either the utility room or in their cages for about 10 minutes on coming home from a walk, just to stop the muck falling off everywhere.

If you clip a Border it will immediately lose this waterproofing and you will have a very wet dog for some considerable time and probably will have to bath frequently to remove the dirt. You will also have hairloss all year round, when stripped the hairloss is only there when their coat is ready to be stripped.

An average Border will need handstripping twice a year Spring and autumn, whereas a clipped dog will need clipping at least every 10-12 weeks to keep it neat and tidy.  A lot of difference in cost.  Handstripping costs vary according to area, but we charge £25, whereas clipping and bathing will cost you about £20 a time.

If you tell me what area you are in I may be able to give you a contact who could correctly handstrip your lad for you.

Regards

Jayne

Hi Jayne
What a fantastic informative reply - many thanks! will order books from Amazon!

I live in Leicestershire, and for sure.... stripping is my preferred option on reading your response.  Edward is such a wonderful little chap, he is now my life. We live with my four cats, he comes to my office with me every day and has so much attention it is untrue.  We are getting on ok at PuppySchool, last session of puppy class next Monday night, however he is socialised every day with people and out walking with any dog that will stop and sniff! He is coming on a treat.... I'm so proud of him!

regards
Wendy

You're welcome Wendy.  Its lovely to hear of someone who is so pleased with my chosen breed.

I'll have a look and see who I can come up with in Leicestershire (my county of birth by the way :-), I was born in Leicester and brought up in the Market Harborough area).

A very good site for you to look at on the internet by the way is:

http://groups.msn.com/OrenbergBorderTerriers

There are some very helpful Border Terrier owners on there maybe even some in Leicestershire!!

Did you buy your lad locally to you?

He sounds a delight as a well rounded BT should do.

Jayne

Hello again Jayne
Sorry couldnt get back to you yesterday evening, had to take Edward home for dinner, can't access from home pc to reply... so here we are back at work.  He is in his bed here at the office, sleeping away the day.... I am so "snowed under" literally with paperwork and looking out of the window it is exactly the same.... heavy snow! 
Anyway, back to the BT's - I checked out the suggested website at home last evening, what a lovely site to visit.  Yes I bought Edward locally - outskirts of Loughborough, a well known local business man, his business not known for dogs I must add, but does have 4 adult BT's and now ....err how old, probably about 13/14 weeks, a beautiful bitch.
If you could possibly at some point advise if you do know of anyone locally who could assist with the stripping of my young man, I would be most appreciative. (just re-read that, good job there's no one in my life at the minute or that could be taken out of context!!! lol)
thanks
Wendy

I would recomend the ohes by Annroslin Williams (the latest one would be best).  I have a nice one written by Frank Jackson with someone else that is donkeys years old, bought in the 1970s, as I loved the breed when I went to Crufts in 1976 :D

Hi Brainless
I have ordered from Amazon, the book by Frank Jackson and one by Anne Roslin-Williams, also one by Betty Judge - got a little carried away, but blow it.... good reading I'm sure! Can't wait for them to arrive now. Thanks for your input. Some early nights coming I think with some hot chocolate... or a couple of g&t's!
regards
Wendy

I really do adore borders (shh, the only Terrier breed I would consider owning) :D  funnily enough they must suit the same sort of people that Elkhounds do as there have been quite a few owners of both breeds (including Ann,of the Masergh affix, and Arthur Sneedon , Opinan).  the breeds also seem to be on the same wavelength and get on with each other very well.

One of my Puppy owners travels to Obedience shows with a freind who has borders, and the Elkhounds like the borders best from all theother breeds.  I have also looked after two, and they got on great with my girls.

I'm very impressed with Edward..... clean almost from day one, nothing chewed that shouldnt be, sleeps right through the night and has done since about the first two weeks of having him home, travels well in the car, gets on ok at PuppySchool, however is with 3 labs and a flatcoat, and seems to be over powered on occasion -size-wise, but he's absolutely great when we are outdoors.   I truly could not have asked for a better puppy.  (Should I shut up now before my words come back to bite me on my bum?)
Absolutely chuffed that I have chosen this breed, I see his parents quite regular and they are just fantastic dogs, should he turn out resembling them then I shall be more than happy.

Yep you are very likely to get a few blips on the way to maturity, especially in the teenage stage :D

Is there any chance the breeder will show you how its done?  Its very easy once you have been shown, honest it is!! :D  Alternatively how about a trip to Crufts?  Meet the Border folk if you can get there on Thursday, or head for Discover dogs section any other day and they will be pleased to help show you how to strip them out.
Dawn.

Hi Dawn
Thanks for your reply, I shall ask the breeder next time I see him, shouldnt be too long away.... tend to see him in the pub!
Does stripping out hurt? or is it something he will get used to?
Unfortunately, I cannot make it to Crufts - I shall make sure I go next year though!
regards
Wendy

Hi Wendy, I would definately ask the breeder to show you how to strip the coat, it can actually be very therapuetic and you will feel very proud of your work after it :D.  Start to get him used to stripping by pulling out the odd hair when you are sitting watching TV.  Stripping shouldn't hurt, but I imagine it feels alittle strange for the dog the first couple of times and the dog may squirm a bit, but just do a little and then have a break.  I have an Irish Terrier and it takes me about 6 hours to do a full handstrip, but I do it over the course of a week.  Not sure how long it will take to strip a border, but I imagine it will be considerably less than 6 hours (lucky you).  Your dog may look a bit bald afterwards but don't worry it grows back. You will start to learn how much to strip out and develop your own technique - I still end up with baldy bits now and again.

I love to hear from terrier owners that are willing to handstrip, as so many owners clip off the wonderful hard, wiry, waterproof coat that makes a terrier a terrier.

Good luck.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.... I shall give it a go once I have been shown how to do it properly.
I will definatley NOT be clipping Edward following advice from people on these boards, everyone is so helpful and full of advice for any kind of issue. Wish I had more time during the day to keep on top of all the posts, keep nipping back now and again for snippets..... oh well back to work, need to finish up before I can go home!
cheers
Wendy