Why won't my Border Terrier come back when called?

It is very often instinct rather than disobedience. Border Terriers were bred to pursue quarry, and a scent or a fleeing animal can override recall in a way that has little to do with how well trained the dog is generally. Building recall gradually in secure areas, with high-value rewards, is the usual way through it.

Are Border Terriers good for a first-time dog owner?

They can be, given their food motivation and general willingness to work with their owner, but their strong hunting instinct is worth knowing about in advance. A first-time owner who is prepared for that, and keeps early walks on a lead near wildlife, tends to get on well with the breed.

At what age should I start training a Border Terrier puppy?

As soon as they arrive home, in short, gentle sessions. Basic commands and recall practice in a safe, enclosed space can start from a young age, well before formal obedience training, and early consistency pays off given how instinct-driven the breed becomes as they mature.

Do Border Terriers dig a lot, and can training stop it?

Many do, since digging after quarry is part of what the breed was bred for, and it is more realistic to redirect the instinct than eliminate it entirely. A dig pit, scatter-feeding in the garden, or a scent game gives the behaviour somewhere appropriate to go.

Are Border Terriers easy to train?

Border Terriers are generally regarded as one of the more trainable terriers, largely because they are food-motivated and keen to work with their owner. The catch is not intelligence but instinct: they were bred to go to ground after quarry, and that hunting drive can override recall in a way that has nothing to do with how well trained the dog otherwise is.

What makes them trainable

Border Terriers were bred to work alongside hounds and their owner, following a huntsman on foot rather than working independently at a distance the way some terriers do. That heritage tends to produce a dog who wants to be near their owner and pays attention to them, which is most of what makes basic training go smoothly.

They are also reliably food-motivated, which is one of the easiest traits to train around. Short, treat-led sessions tend to hold a Border Terrier's attention better than long ones, and the breed generally responds well to consistency rather than needing a heavy hand.

Compared with some other terrier breeds bred to work alone underground, Border Terriers were expected to stay in contact with the hunt, which shows up today as a dog who checks in with their owner far more readily than their terrier reputation might suggest.

Where it gets harder

The same instincts that make them tenacious working terriers can make recall genuinely difficult once a scent or a small moving animal has caught their attention. A Border Terrier mid-chase is not ignoring their training out of stubbornness; the instinct to pursue is doing exactly what it was bred to do, and it can briefly override almost everything else.

This is worth planning for rather than being surprised by. Many owners keep their Border Terrier on a lead in unfenced areas with wildlife around, and build recall in stages in secure spaces before ever testing it somewhere the dog could disappear down a hole or into cover.

Digging is a related instinct worth expecting rather than fighting outright. A Border Terrier who is left to their own devices in a garden may well start excavating, not out of naughtiness but because digging after quarry is precisely what the breed was developed to do, so redirecting that energy into a game or a job tends to work better than trying to train the instinct away entirely.

What helps in practice

Starting training young, and keeping early sessions short and reward-led, plays to the breed's food motivation rather than fighting their independent streak. A high-value treat kept specifically for recall practice, rather than used for every command, tends to work better with a breed this driven by scent and movement.

Mental stimulation matters as much as obedience drilling for this breed. A Border Terrier with nothing to occupy that working brain tends to find their own entertainment, which is rarely what an owner had in mind, so puzzle toys and scent-based games are a genuinely useful part of training rather than an optional extra.

A long training lead is worth using while recall is still being built, giving the dog the feeling of freedom to explore a scent while you retain a physical way to bring them back if a real distraction appears. Moving to off-lead freedom is then a gradual decision made in low-distraction places first, rather than a single leap of faith.

Kit for this breed

Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.

Inflatable Herding Ball with Handles for Dogs

A large, tough inflatable herding ball that taps into your dog's natural chase-and-nudge instinct. Reinforced bite-resistant fabric and grab handles make it great for active outdoor play with medium and large breeds.

£29.99

Waterproof Dog Harness, Collar & Lead Set

A sturdy waterproof harness, collar and lead set that keeps walks tidy and your dog under control.

From£7.99

Plush Strawberry Snuffle Mat

An interactive foraging mat with removable plush strawberries that hide treats and kibble. Encourages natural snuffling and slows feeding, providing mental enrichment for dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs alike.

From£13.99

Plush Snuffle Foraging Mat

A roll-up plush snuffle mat with cute animal designs. Hide treats in the folds and let your pet sniff and forage to find them - a rewarding enrichment game that beats boredom and slows feeding.

£13.99

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Common questions

Why won't my Border Terrier come back when called?: It is very often instinct rather than disobedience. Border Terriers were bred to pursue quarry, and a scent or a fleeing animal can override recall in a way that has little to do with how well trained the dog is generally. Building recall gradually in secure areas, with high-value rewards, is the usual way through it.
Are Border Terriers good for a first-time dog owner?: They can be, given their food motivation and general willingness to work with their owner, but their strong hunting instinct is worth knowing about in advance. A first-time owner who is prepared for that, and keeps early walks on a lead near wildlife, tends to get on well with the breed.
At what age should I start training a Border Terrier puppy?: As soon as they arrive home, in short, gentle sessions. Basic commands and recall practice in a safe, enclosed space can start from a young age, well before formal obedience training, and early consistency pays off given how instinct-driven the breed becomes as they mature.
Do Border Terriers dig a lot, and can training stop it?: Many do, since digging after quarry is part of what the breed was bred for, and it is more realistic to redirect the instinct than eliminate it entirely. A dig pit, scatter-feeding in the garden, or a scent game gives the behaviour somewhere appropriate to go.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Blue Cross — Pet advice

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.