...about getting a puppy, especially a Borderterrier puppy, especially Nelson...

The choice of breed

In January 2004 my husband and me started to take a closer look at different dog breeds. My husband who grew up with dogs as a part of the family, was the one who spured it on. I conciderd myself more of a cat person. But at last we decided that now was the right time. We just had to find the right breed for us.
We both love beeing outdoors and enjoy long walks. That´s why we where looking for a dog with great endurance, easy to care for, good company and not to big - both my husband and me have backproblems and, if necessary, we wanted to be able to lift the dog.

As I grow up my best friend and neighbour actually had a Borderterrier. It was in the early 70th and the breed was quite rare in Sweden at the time. So, at least I knew the breed a little bit. We looked at many other breeds though, and at last we went to a big dog exhibition. We immediately fell in love with all the small Borders we saw. The big question was solved!
We where lucky and was able to get a puppy for the summer. It was a blue and tan dog. At the instance we met him and his mother we knew he was right for us. He was the coolest of them all and his mother was delightful. He was ours and we would name him Nelson.

Nelson moves in

We fetched him exactly at Midsummers Eves morning 2004. A two hours travel home with train and underground was before us. Everything went very smoth, and he slept nearly all the way home in his new masters arms. Only looking with big eyes at everyone in the underground. Not a sound was heard.
At last in his new home, he was unafraid, just curious - wanted to get to know everything and everyone. My husband who had some experience with puppies had expected a lot of cries and peeps the first nights, but apart from some trips outside to pee, Nelson sleept all the way through and the night was calm.

Nelson as a puppy

Looking back at the puppy-time you mostley just remember the best things, but of course it was also strenuous at times. Everything from biting the leash to crazy rushes around. The only thing you know is that it soon disappears.

First Nelson was to be house-trained. A little puppy has a small bladder, so the first few weeks we didn´t sleep that much, checking him out and taking him outside. We started to say the word wee-wee everytime he did it outside and then he was given a treat. He soon got the swing of it. After a couple of days he started to lick his mouth as soon as he had done it. When he started to feint us - just sitting down in position quickly and then looking, pleading and licking his mouth - we knew he understood the word. It wasn´t really a problem, sometimes we wasn´t quick enough but he soon was totally house-trained.

He was very quick learning a lot in the beginning. After only a couple of weeks he knew his name, sit, come, stay, heel and wee-wee. Then he just went on learning. At times he has learnt everything swiftly and other times it has taken a bit longer. He always want to please, and sometimes he take things a step further. We say lay down and he roll around... because he know what´s comming! The best way to encourage him is by praise and treats. Some things was strenuous as they lasted. As every pup he had a short time when he was biting the leash all the time. The best thing was just to ignore it and it soon was history. As soon as he learnt the word NO it was very useful. He accutally listen and let things be when told.

The most strenuous thing was when he regulary got what we called "rabies-outbreaks" outside. He was beyond contact for a short while - just running around like crazy. I started when he was about 3 month old, and it got much better when he was about 6 month. First we didn´t know it happened to other puppys. Then we learnt from other dog owners it wasn´t that unusual. Especially with very active puppys like the Borderterriers are. When he was about 6 month it started to get better - as he got more control over his feelings - even though it still happend when he got to carried away.

Nelson grows up

He was always very obedient indoors, calm and almost never barking - but of course he always loved playing and having fun. Outdoors it was something else - up till about 6 month of age it was almost impossible to disencourage him greating all poeple we meet, either he knew them before or not. Since every one we meet also loved him he often got his way. At about 6 month of age he´s interest switched from humans to all other dogs - he loved and wanted to play with everyone. He never barked or snarled at any other dog. Well, it actually happened ones when he was about 3 month old. A small Chihuahua barked at him uninterruptedly in about 10 minutes - at last Nelson snarled ones - he had enough!

The Borderterrier puppy Nelson

The Borderterrier is truly a just wonderful breed, and we have never had any regrets! They are super social and at least Nelson have never shown any agression towards anyone.
But, when you get yourself a Borderterrier puppy you should know they can be both extremly lively and stubburn. They are in no way some kind of cuddly creatures without any will of there own. "A small dog with a large dog´s attitude to life" are a description that fits the Borderterrier perfectly. Unafraid, curious and with a personality larger than life. Our Nelson have been the most kind, wise, happy and loving creature you have ever meet. He is simply fantastic and he´s ours!

More about the Borderterrier as a breed - compared with Nelson as a grown up - THE BREED