Border Terrier

Yes — Borders are among the most family-friendly terriers, being good-tempered, affectionate, sturdy enough for active children, and generally sociable with people and other dogs by design. The honest caveats are that they have a strong prey drive toward cats and small pets, dislike being left alone for long hours and may develop separation distress, and need real daily exercise. For an active household that provides company and activity, they are an excellent family dog.

It depends on management and individual dog, and honestly the prey drive makes it a real risk. A Border raised from puppyhood with a specific cat often coexists with that cat, but they were bred to hunt and will chase unfamiliar cats and small animals with intensity. Plan on supervision and gradual managed introductions rather than assuming the dog will simply adjust, and never leave a Border unsupervised with small caged pets.

Moderate, with a specific technique. The harsh double coat should be hand-stripped about twice a year — you can learn to do it or pay a groomer roughly $50-$90 a session — plus a weekly brush. Hand-stripped coats stay weatherproof and shed very little; clipping the coat is easier but softens the texture and increases shedding. Deciding which trade-off you want is a real pre-purchase choice many owners overlook.

Plan on 45-60 minutes of daily activity plus mental work. Borders are working terriers with genuine stamina, and an under-exercised one becomes a barking, digging problem. Walks, fetch, scent games, and dog sports like earthdog or agility all suit them well. They are not high-strung but they are not low-energy either — the small size misleads buyers who expect a sedentary lapdog and get a tireless little hunting terrier instead.

Spike's disease is the common name for canine epileptoid cramping syndrome (CECS), a paroxysmal movement disorder strongly associated with this breed. The dog stays fully conscious during episodes of muscle cramping, tremor, and sometimes gut upset, distinguishing it from true epileptic seizures. Research links it to gluten sensitivity, and a strict gluten-free diet resolves or greatly reduces episodes in many affected dogs — so filming an episode and trialing a gluten-free diet with your vet is the practical first step.