Border Terrier as a hunting companion

PGSD.
4 + years ago my SIL who lives in Portsmouth called us (Manc) saying she’d seen some Border pups for sale in Yorkshire and would we (Being nearer) ride over and look, with a view to buying 2 for herself and 1 for her daughter.
We already had 2 dogs so didn’t need more.
We went to look and played with the puppies and mother for a bit then paid deposits on 3 dog pups.
There was 1 bitch that took a shine to us but the owner said someone was going to send a deposit for her.
These dogs where expensive like many others at the tail end of Covid when prices seemed to rocket!
1750 each but haggled to 1500 for taking 3.
The next day the owner called us saying no deposit had been paid for the bitch, did we want her?
Course we did. 😉
We picked the 4 dogs up 3 weeks later and Sis in law came from Portsmouth and took 3 back with her.
Since then one of hers died in tragic circumstances. (Since replaced)
At 3.5 years old our bitch started having these kind of seizure things so off to the Vet.
PGSD or commonly called Spike’s disease. the Vet said it’s quite common but only mainly in Border Terriers.
These episode only last for a few minutes but it’s not nice to experience and apparently the dogs feel pain when it’s happening.
Vet recommended a Gluten free diet which we follow, but these things still occur, the last being last evening. Belle tries to get near you when it come on but yesterday she tried to jump off her chair to come to me but just collapsed mid air.
Sister in laws’ 2 pups from the same litter have both recently started with the same thing but the dog she got to replace the one that died came from different parents and has been fit free, up to now.
Anyone else on SD with Border got the same?
We wondered if it was a gene passed down as 3 dogs from one litter do this and another from a different litter seems okay.
Cheers, Ken.
 
PGSD.
4 + years ago my SIL who lives in Portsmouth called us (Manc) saying she’d seen some Border pups for sale in Yorkshire and would we (Being nearer) ride over and look, with a view to buying 2 for herself and 1 for her daughter.
We already had 2 dogs so didn’t need more.
We went to look and played with the puppies and mother for a bit then paid deposits on 3 dog pups.
There was 1 bitch that took a shine to us but the owner said someone was going to send a deposit for her.
These dogs where expensive like many others at the tail end of Covid when prices seemed to rocket!
1750 each but haggled to 1500 for taking 3.
The next day the owner called us saying no deposit had been paid for the bitch, did we want her?
Course we did. 😉
We picked the 4 dogs up 3 weeks later and Sis in law came from Portsmouth and took 3 back with her.
Since then one of hers died in tragic circumstances. (Since replaced)
At 3.5 years old our bitch started having these kind of seizure things so off to the Vet.
PGSD or commonly called Spike’s disease. the Vet said it’s quite common but only mainly in Border Terriers.
These episode only last for a few minutes but it’s not nice to experience and apparently the dogs feel pain when it’s happening.
Vet recommended a Gluten free diet which we follow, but these things still occur, the last being last evening. Belle tries to get near you when it come on but yesterday she tried to jump off her chair to come to me but just collapsed mid air.
Sister in laws’ 2 pups from the same litter have both recently started with the same thing but the dog she got to replace the one that died came from different parents and has been fit free, up to now.
Anyone else on SD with Border got the same?
We wondered if it was a gene passed down as 3 dogs from one litter do this and another from a different litter seems okay.
Cheers, Ken.
Really sorry to hear this - I know its not PGSD but my spaniel developed Diverticulosis & had a high risk operation to sort it out only to develop it again. Our last attempt to help him was to put him on a good quality food - we tried CSJ CP30 & he has pulled through & has gained weight etc. I think a top quality food can make a difference to various issues - so worth a try
 
Very sorry to hear, my last spaniel had a very similar thing, he did have a venison rich diet which I think helped him have a very good innings but it was distressing for him and us.
 
Been 25 years since owning one & he was used for foxes nothing else. Had friends own them & family as pets. Easily trained compared to others & these days, just get one from a decent breeder. Money ruined the breed as workers, I fancy another in the future myself.
 

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I just wanted to get the SD communities feedback on Border Terriers as hunting companions? I see Franz Albrecht has a border terrier cross which you sometimes see him stalking with - such a chilled dog.
Ideally looking for a small dog breed to keep me company when shooting geese, rabbits, deer stalking & fly fishing.
Open to any suggestions
Hi , I have a 5yr old Border terrorist. Sent trained for Mink and Deer, he has his skippers licence to drive the boat while I fish to, he can drive the van from my knee also. Best companion and very clever. Needs to be on a harness and lead when stalking or he bolts after them when he picks up the sent. Iv had labs and springers and I prefer the BT and wont have any other now.
 
Five years ago I had a serious mental aberration and got a Teckel. Ok she's something else deer wise but a complete lunatic with them, still love her to bits.
Prior to that I had Borders for over 30 years. Get one from the right place and working line and you'll never regret it. All mine worked above and below ground and were rock steady stalking companions even if they did disgrace themselves by running in after the shot. Very loyal, biddable little mates. Get one. Here's two of mine sat on the hill when at the dens painted by my last wife.
 

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Patterdale x border terrorist thats my wife's dog has an amazing nose on her and I've no doubt she would make a great deer dog. Covered in burn scars from her previous owners, hernia after being spayed and cruciate ligament surgery on both knees as they'd both snapped. They dont know how to quit these dogs

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Patterdale x border terrorist thats my wife's dog has an amazing nose on her and I've no doubt she would make a great deer dog. Covered in burn scars from her previous owners, hernia after being spayed and cruciate ligament surgery on both knees as they'd both snapped. They dont know how to quit these dogs

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Funny just picked up a border x patterdale pup today. It'll be a while before this boy is out with me but if he is like mum he'll go far
 

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cheers deerfox, at her time of life anything she wants, she walks about 2 miles most days, she,s still eating well peeing and pooping well, she,s not on any meds, her favourite is anything i eat and rice pudding, my other border was 14 when she passed on, and i had a jack russell that was the runt and he was 21when he passed, so i must be doing something right cheers matey and ghyll says woof woof.🐶
 
Thats awesome, well done. I do hope my Roag lives long and prospers. I cant see past Boarder Terrorises now. Just a fine size for an all round hard as nails dog lol.
 
For a deer-stalking companion, I would imagine a Border from almost any breeding would be okay, but you might want to check how vociferous the parents/ancestry is as you don't want to be constantly working against inherited traits.

Like Dachshunds, the bloodlines of Border Terriers can vary greatly across the globe when it comes to proper prey drive and hardness. If you wanted an earth dog, I would suggest you look solely at those lines, but a stalking companion is a different role. They will all have the nose for it so I would look at lines that are more calm/steady/biddable and, as said earlier, try to avoid those that are easier to open up and give voice.
 
Used a border years ago. As did a few other stalkers I knew. They’d happily trot along beside you all day. Would work any species of deer.

On or off the lead?

I wonder how people use dogs that indicate deer, are the dogs walking on heel off lead or walking ahead slowly?

Or on a lead at all times?
 
On or off the lead?

I wonder how people use dogs that indicate deer, are the dogs walking on heel off lead or walking ahead slowly?

Or on a lead at all times?
On the lead for me, the temptation of hares getting up infront and ruining your stalk and the dog is too great where I stalk.
Once they have had the thrill of the chase its a proper pain to settle them, where I stalk there are hundreds of hares.
 
For a deer-stalking companion, I would imagine a Border from almost any breeding would be okay, but you might want to check how vociferous the parents/ancestry is as you don't want to be constantly working against inherited traits.

Like Dachshunds, the bloodlines of Border Terriers can vary greatly across the globe when it comes to proper prey drive and hardness. If you wanted an earth dog, I would suggest you look solely at those lines, but a stalking companion is a different role. They will all have the nose for it so I would look at lines that are more calm/steady/biddable and, as said earlier, try to avoid those that are easier to open up and give voice.
I would suggest you want a consistent earth dog, not to look at either of those breeds.
 
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