Border Terrier Dog Breed

AKC Dog Breeds: Border Terrier

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Terrier Group
Height: 13-16 inches Weight: 12-16 pounds Color: tan, red, grizzle

Alert, active and agile, the Border Terrier is willing to squeeze through narrow holes and sprint across any terrain to capture his quarry: the fox. This persistence made him an excellent working terrier back in England. The Border originated in the border country between England and Scotland, and may be one of the oldest kinds of terriers in Great Britain. Purely a working terrier, the Border was bred to protect the stock of their owners. They had sufficient length of leg to follow a horse, but were small enough to follow a fox to ground. Borders on the farm in the 18th century also had to find their own food, so they had to be good hunters to survive. The Border Terrier was registered with the AKC in 1930.

General Appearance
Known for his "otter" head and game attitude, the Border is medium-sized with a wiry coat. While the coat can sometimes be long and a bit tousled, there are other dogs whose wiry coat is fairly smooth. On the face, the hair is tame with a bushy muzzle, giving the appearance of dense whiskers. He has dark lively eyes, a short muzzle, black nose and small ears, which fold forward into a "V" shape. The jaw should meet in a scissors bite. The tail is relatively short and tapers from a thicker base to the tip. It is carried level with the back unless the dog is very excited. Its limbs are not heavily boned. The Border Terrier comes in red, blue & tan, tan, and grizzle & tan. Although small, the Border Terrier is a robust and sturdy little dog.

Temperament
Friendly and playful, the Border Terrier is very affectionate and thrives on human interaction and attention. This breed is more placid than is typical of the other terrier breeds. They do best in a home with older considerate children. They will generally get along with other dogs but are not recommended for homes with cats or other small household pets. The Border Terrier does not do well if left alone for extended periods of time and will become destructive and bark excessively if bored or lonely. For this reason a two-career family is not an ideal situation for them. They are wary of strangers but are generally not aggressive. This breed is not recommended for the novice, apathetic or sedentary dog owner. The Border Terrier is known to get along very well with children, and in most cases will get on with other pets that he is raised with, particularly other dogs. However, the Border Terrier may hunt smaller animals such as rodents, so bear this in mind when considering this breed if your child has a favorite pet hamster that likes to run around the bedroom! This breed is usually fine with strangers and his tendency to bark makes him an effective watchdog. This is a responsive breed when it comes to training, and those with the experience and know how can use the right attitude to get the best out of this plucky little dog.

Grooming
The Border Terrier must be brushed weekly and have the coat professionally stripped twice a year. Bathing should only be done when absolutely necessary using a mild shampoo to preserve the integrity of the coat. This is a low shedding dog, and therefore may be suitable for people with allergies providing he is groomed regularly.

Health Problems and Life Expectancy
The Border Terrier is relatively insensitive to pain and shows few signs of illness, so the owner should watch this breed's health carefully. Border Terriers are prone to hip dysplasia, PRA, cataracts, seizures, heart defects, allergies, and a low tolerance for anesthesia. It is important to not over-feed this breed as they have a tendency to gain weight easily. The life expectancy of the Border Terrier is around 12-15 years, sometimes longer.

Activity Level
Border Terriers were bred to hunt and have great vitality and stamina. They need plenty of exercise, which includes a long daily walk. The Border Terrier needs regular, daily exercise and enjoys being given a job to do. They benefit from securely leashed walks, family play sessions, and a safely fenced area to romp and run freely. This breed will do okay in an apartment dwelling provided they receive sufficient physical exercise and mental stimulation.

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