I live in the US and would like to contact reputable Border Terrier breeders in the UK.  There are absolutely no breeders in my area of the US and if  I have to travel across the US to meet with one breeder, I'd rather come to the UK where there are a larger number of breeders to meet.  I am interested in 2 puppies as pets and would like to explore the idea of breeding.  Any suggestions as to how I can educate myself with breeders and bloodlines?  Thanks for any help,
Jen

A reputable breeder won't sell two puppies together, even as pets (or especially as pets).  Two puppies at the same time is 4 times the work of one puppy as they will need to be trained seperatly and then together, as well as egging each other into mischeif when they aren't being trained.  Also two puppies of a similar age raised together will suffer if seperated, unless trained to accept being alone.  And when the time comes, the surviving dog will often morn the loss of its partner, and often you will suffer the loss of two dogs very close together.

All in all, it's not a good idea for ALL concerned, not just the owner......

Good advice Digger, I agree wholeheartedly. :)

Dawn R.

I thought your response to my request for help with looking for breeders was a little odd, as you have absolutely no idea my situation, level of experience, etc...  I would think a response like yours, being so completely off topic from the request, may have been better suited in the form of an e/m so that we may better discuss your opinions.

While I have to say I would never consider myself an 'expert' on dogs or the breeding thereof, I am definitely not a novice.  I can also say that I agree with the merit of your opinion, for the novice owner.  Last, my situation with mine and my husband's employment, and my older child's schedule, leaves one (or all) of us at home practically 24 hours a day, everyday, and allows us to be much more devoted to our dogs and their needs than the average pet owner.

I certainly do not wish to start off on the wrong foot on this board with you or anyone else, but please allow the potential that I may not be 'some idiot'  who doesn't know what she's doing.  I am simply trying to locate reputable breeders in the UK so that I may thoroughly educate myself about this amazing little dog that is so difficult to find in the US, and bring into my family the highest quality dog (or dogs) possible.

Thank you,
Jennifer

Perhaps you'd better ask some of the 'experienced' people on here who HAVE taken on two puppies, and get it stright from the horses mouth then.........  Most of them will say 'never again'!

I agree, I have no idea of your situation, but that doesn't make any difference, I would still advise anyone against getting two puppies together, especially from the same litter, but even just the same breed or same sex can still be ladened with problems such as I have described.

My response was aimed at warning you that most 'responsible' breeders will not let two puppies go to the same home, or even let one puppy go to a home where there is already a puppy or adolescent dog for VERY GOOD REASONS - which I have already listed......

JenMckee,I kept two bitch puppies from my litter two years ago, BIG mistake and I'm no novice owner either. I have kept dogs in multiples, for over thirty years. Absolutely never again will I keep two the same age, even now two years later the two bitches are still a  pain in the neck, and I regret not selling the black one at 8 weeks.

I can understand completely your feeling that you will be the one to be successful in the two pup adventure, and you might be, we are just giving you the benefit of our experience; but if you want to learn for yourself, that's your perogative.

Good Luck,

Dawn R.

As someone who has kept 2 puppies from a litter (not from choice), I can't imagine why anyone would voluntarily have 2 together. One puppy is less than half the work & twice the fun. If you buy 2 of the same sex, there's always the very real risk that when they grow up they'll hate each other. If you buy one of each, you have the nightmare of keeping them apart & the risk of an accidental mating of brother/sister.
When I have had puppies for sale, people quite often think 2 would be lovely - I will never sell 2 of the same age to a family for the above reasons. Much better to buy a 2nd one 2yrs later & enjoy puppyhood all over again.

I'm another who has reared two puppies at the same time (after 30 years of dog ownership) and endorse the view that it's a huge mistake. It's four times the work and half the fun.

As for reputable breeders, if you contact the breed clubs listed at the bottom of the Breed Standard they will be able to help you.

As an experienced breeder and exhibitor, I ran on 2 Rough Collie puppies 10 years ago and would never do it again.  I make my choice at 8 weeks and stick with my decision now.  Nor will I sell 2 pups to the same home without 12 months difference in age, and I do not know any responsible breeder who will.  Each puppy deserves individual attention regardless of what the owner thinks, and as a breeder I want the best possible homes for my puppies.

Me, too Jen - again, I'm a relatively-experienced breeder, but we kept 2 puppies from the same litter nearly 3 years ago - I knew I wanted to keep a bitch, but one of the males was (and still is) sooo scrumptious!   Whilst I wouldn't be without either of them, it really is more than 4 times the work!

We're trying to share our experiences with you - that's all - and advising you - don't do as we have done - do as we say we should have done! ;)

Margot

Thanks to everyone (and I mean it) for taking the time to reply.  I'm sure everyone who has replied has had the best interest of dogs in mind.  Let me try to be more clear about what we want to explore (my original post was written late and without much clarity)....
 
We met a lovely gentleman from London a few weeks ago who is here for approx a year on business and brought his Border Terriers.  We have fallen in love with these little dogs, and while this gentleman has been a great source of information (that's how I learned about this website), there is NO ONE within thousands of miles of us who actually breeds these dogs.  There are 3 breeders that I have been in contact with in the US, all of whom have gone to the UK to get their dogs, and as you can imagine are reluctant to give up the name of their UK connnection.  We have 2 dogs right now that are in the middle stages of their lives, and since they love when bring dog friends to our house for visits (i.e., dogsit for friends), going to the dog park, etc..., we thought now would be a good time to introduce a new member to the family, anticipating the loss it will be when one of our present dogs passes before the other, and the loss we humans will feel.  We really deliberated about what breed would be the right fit for us, and have decided wholeheartedly it will be the Border Terrier.  We would like to get 1 pup initially, and later on down the road, get another puppy as a pet and POSSIBLY a mate for the first dog.  We would love to be able to introduce this breed to more people in our area.  That's why we want to find someone who can educate us as to good bloodlines, breeding issues, etc.. and can help us get not 1 puppy, but 2.  I just don't want to rely on American breeders since the breed is so new to this country and there is such a short list of people to answer our questions and available bloodlines.

Anyway, thanks to the people who have passed on names and websites, the help is appreciated.  Believe me, a trip to the UK will not be cheap, but we are determined to do the right thing in regards to bringing ambassadors for this breed to the US.

Thanks,
Jen

Border terriers are great dogs! But you need to be very sure exactly what it is you're after. Most of the ones I know are predominantly working terriers, and can be 'sharp' - ie, they're great vermin killers! Most of them also have fantastic temperaments - but some of the ones that aren't worked can be rather dodgy with other dogs. So a lot of research into breeders is needed, to sort out the purely 'show' breeders, the purely 'working' breeders and the ones who are trying to do both. I'm told some of the show breeders have stock which is unspannable, so rejected by the working breeders.

I met a lovely BT puppy recently (made him RBPIS). Only other one I met tried to remove my face!! Just agreeing with JG - do plenty of research.

I am sorry if i upset anybody but i must come to the defence of the beautiful border terrier we own 4 borders and we do not have any agression between them or other dogs they are wonderful dogs to own our dogs are so laid back that people cant belive it they love people you would be more likely to be licked to death by my lots thats the danger in our house they get on with other breeds no problem.
we could never be without our borders we have 3 girls and 1 boy and they are all the best of friends .if fact our first border would play for ever with  our fully grown briard

They are the most dog freindly of the terrier breeds in my expereince and they seem to have a special affinity with my breed, in fact a number of breederws over the years have onwed both breeds.

Sadly at the moment the breed is getting too popular for it's own good and there are some with less than sociable tempers, but I ahve rarely met a bad tempered one.  If you go through the breed clubs and make contacts with breeders through them you won't go far wrong.

We have one in the village who'll take on anything. Her son, however, is a dream. That's why I say, do your research. A good one is fantastic. A wrong'un is a pain.

Borders are great little dogs, my friend has one and she is lovely, she doesn't have an aggressive bone in her body although on the other hand she is good watchdog.
I too had littermates without any problems,
Good luck in finding yours!

BT's are great - full of character, cheeky and ours is great with children and adults - just what we wanted!!!!

Ah, one dog some time after the first should be ok. I agree with the others advising against getting 2 at the same time - we got 2 different breed dogs at the same time and now we live in a war zone! :-( Met 2 nice Border Terriers at the companion show I judged today, their owner was surprised I knew the breed as most people don't apparently!

If you would like to e-mail me privately jaynealpe@pipruda.fsnet.co.uk I will do what I can to help you in your research i.e. the right breeders to approach, what Border Terriers are really like and which breeders breed them with the correct temperament etc. etc. I will also be able to give you some UK based Border Terrier forums where you can make the right contacts both in the States and the UK.  Bewarned I will tell you both the up and down side of Border Terrier ownership.

To be honest there are not many reputable breeders who would be willing to export a dog to the States without building up a rapport with the new owner and satisfying themselves that their puppy is going to the correct home, so you may not have success in your search straight away.

Regards

Jayne