As a breed, BT's are generally healthy. A good diet, plenty of exercise, regular grooming, routine veterinary care with the necessary inoculations and a heartworm preventative, should keep a Border in good health. Borders should be fed a measured amount of a high quality dry dog food. Since they gain weight easily, care should be taken to match food intake with proper exercise. A Border should be well-muscled, not fat. You should be able to feel the dog's ribs.
One of the reasons the BT is a fairly healthy breed is years of concerned, responsible breeding. Genetic problems occasionally found in Borders are hip dysplasia, heart defects, PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) and Juvenile Cataracts (forms of blindness), seizures, allergies, bite malocclusion and undescended testicles. Though these conditions are a concern, the incidence is limited compared to other breeds. These defects have not become widespread in the breed because of careful, selective breeding by BT breeders.
Borders have been known to have problems with anesthesia because they may be slow to induce. This should be mentioned to to the veterinarian. The anesthesia dosage should be adjusted to the weight of the dog. Another thing to remember is that Borders are very stoic. If they are suddenly withdrawn and quiet, they must be checked carefully since they do not show pain or discomfort when they are not feeling well. The problem could be anything from a thorn in a paw to the ingestion of a toxin.
A breeder may offer a show
quality
or a pet
puppy. Many breeders sell their pet puppies
with
limited AKC registration, which denies offspring AKC registration unless revoked, or with
a spay/neuter
contract. Although some people may consider this an intrusion, it is a sign
of a responsible breeder, one
who cares about the future of the breed. It means that the
breeder has determined that this puppy, although
a wonderful companion, is NOT so superior
an example of the breed that it should be bred. What your breeder
is doing will help
maintain the high quality standards of the breed and his decisions and the contract should
be honored.
If you are interested in a
show puppy
, bear in mind that the most perfect eight week old puppy may
not
turn out to be show quality. The bite can go off, or a testicle may not drop, for example.
These unforeseen
problems happen to the best of us. Showing is a time consuming, expensive
commitment, but let us assume that all
goes well and that you have a champion. Should you
breed? Many champion dogs and bitches are not bred. Keep in
mind that dogs do not need to
be bred to experience a full life, as many people assume. Not all AKC champion dogs
and
bitches should be bred. Your breeder can help you decide if breeding this particular
Border will contribute
to the future of the breed. If the breeder agrees that you should
breed your champion Border, he can suggest
appropriate mating. However, it is very
important to x-ray for hip dysplasia first. Your veterinarian will explain
the procedure
required and submit the films for evaluation and certification to the OFA. A dog must have
had its
second birthday before it can be certified as clear of hip dysplasia. Owners who
plan to do advanced obedience,
flyball, or agility work should also check hip
conformation. It is also recommended that your dog be screened for
inheritable eye
problems before you breed. An eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist can be obtained at
minimal
cost at dog shows offering an Eye Clinic, or your veterinarian can help you locate
a specialist practicing in your
area. These things are important. No Border with genetic
or temperament problems should ever be bred.
A female puppy should have her first season between six to ten months of age, and subsequent seasons about every six months thereafter. Usually the heat cycle lasts twenty-one days. Throughout this period, she needs to be confined to protect her from being bred accidentally. Most veterinarians advise waiting to breed until at least the third or fourth season. There is always a risk to the mother and the puppies during any pregnancy and whelping. A veterinarian should be consulted before breeding and worked with closely during gestation and delivery in case problems arise.
Should you decide to breed, you will
become a breeder
. Being a breeder is rewarding, but can be heartbreaking,
as
any breeder will tell you. Whelping and rearing puppies properly is very time consuming
and costly. You will NOT make
money breeding dogs and you ultimately must be responsible
for each and every puppy you bring into the world. Many
concerned breeders accept this
responsibility for the entire life of the dog. Should you become a breeder, you will
share
the responsibility for the future of BT's with other breeders and, hopefully, will strive
to maintain the
wonderful temperament and health that the Border now enjoys.