Origin: Great Britain
Height: 9-12 inches at the
shoulder
Weight: Males should weigh
between 13-15.5 pounds, with females averaging
11.5-14 pounds as adults.
Exercise Needs: Moderate
Grooming Needs: Medium
Life Expectancy: 12-15
years average
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Easy
Common Misspellings: Bourder Terrier, Boder
Terrier, Borer Terrier
Alternate Names:
Considered to be one of the oldest Terrier
breeds in Great Britain, the Border Terrier is
believed to have originated within the Border
country, which lies on either side of the
Cheviot Hills. A gamey working terrier, he
was used for a variety of tasks, ranging from
keeping vermin in control on the farms, to
protecting livestock by chasing away fox and
other predators. Expected to hunt and kill
his own food, the Border Terrier that wanted to
keep his belly full had to learn to earn his
meal. Only the strongest and most
determined of Terriers thrived in such an
environment, providing a good explanation as to
the breed's stamina and hardiness.
For many years, the Border Terrier was
virtually unknown to most of the world, no
matter how prized they were by local farmers.
It wasn't until they were recognized into the
English Kennel Club and the Border Terrier Club
was formed, in 1920, that he became a popular
face in the various dog shows that were being
shown up and down the British Isles.
Shortly thereafter, this unique little
individual made his way into the United States
and the first Border Terrier was registered with
the AKC in 1930.
The Border Terrier is a small dog, averaging
9-12 inches tall at the shoulder and possessing
a medium bone type for his size. Although
narrowly built, he still carries a look of
strength and determination, and is well suited
for both travelling as well as chasing the prey
to ground. The Border's otter-like head
has keen dark hazel eyes and should always carry
an alert and "ready" appearance. While he
may be short in stature, this pint-sized canine
possesses a great deal of courage, strength and
stamina.
Border Terriers come in four colors: blue and
tan, grizzle and tan, red, and wheaten. A
dark muzzle is characteristic of the breed and
desirable and, while a small amount of white is
allowed on the chest, any white on the feet is
considered to be a serious flaw.
The Border Terrier is a terrier, through and
through; he may only stand a foot high, but he’s
not afraid to take on things much larger and
much meaner than himself, often getting himself
into a world of trouble. This is a spunky,
determined and active individual who strongly
seems to believe that the Devil makes use of
idle hands (or paws, as the case may be). Rough
and rowdy, they have a strong tendency to chase
other animals and some individuals can be very
stubborn. For best results, get them involved in
obedience courses at a young age and, if your
dog is overly active, perhaps contact local
breeders to learn more about agility
competitions to help him burn off excess energy.
This spunky little terrier is bred to lead an
active lifestyle and he truly does enjoy it.
Always on the go, they seem to be positively
filled with energy - whether it’s hunting prey
on the farm or tearing around the living room,
these little guys love to move and have a strong
tendency to play long, hard and rough. If you’re
thinking about a Border Terrier, you had best be
prepared to spend a fair amount of time with
your little guy, taking him for a couple of
daily walks per day. Be wary leaving these
little impish canines alone in the fenced-in
yard, however. One thing that a Border Terrier
puppy certainly loves to do is dig and many are
notorious escape artists.
One look at the Border Terrier and you know
that this is not a dog that’s going to stand
still long enough to let you do some sort of
fancy-shmancy poodle-type of haircut on him. No
pompons or doohickeys, thanks! No, the Border
Terrier enjoys a very simple style and that’s
the classic bed-head do. A weekly brushing and a
chance to run the comb through his coat,
ensuring there are no mats, and “scruffy” is
good to go. If you simply must do something
creative, a pair of scissors, gently applied,
may be used to trim the occasional trouble spot
on family pets. In addition to brushing, you will want to
give your Border Terrier baths as needed.
Generally, this only means about once a month,
as the Border Terrier's scruffy double coat is
excellent for repelling dirt and grime.
Unless he decides to piggy it up and go for a
mud roll, caring for your Border Terrier's coat
is generally quite simple. Just don’t forget to
trim his toenails when you do so.
Training the Border Terrier is relatively
easy, provided you maintain your patience and
understanding. A naturally busy and energetic
dog, they can be somewhat difficult to keep
focused, so obedience training is highly
recommended. Once the basics are learned, most
find that the Border Terrier is a very eager to
please individual, who picks up new tricks
surprisingly quickly. Clicker-training
success has been noted with some, as it keeps
the dog more focused upon their owner, waiting
to hear the sound. Border Terriers work very
well with the positive reinforcement method of
training - don’t ever try to physically
discipline your Cairn, however, as this can make
them shy, sneaky, and nippish.
Like any breed of dog, the purebred Border
Terrier is subject to a variety of health
concerns. For this reason, when deciding to
choose a new Border Terrier puppy, check around
with several breeders and ask about the various
health issues that can affect these beautiful
little dogs. A good breeder should be
well-versed in the health concerns and should be
able to give you more details, as well as
showing you the sire and dam of your potential
puppy. Some of the health problems that can
affect Border Terriers include:
- Hip dysplasia
- Heart defects
- Hypothyroidism
- Seizures
- Luxating patella
- Eye problems
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The Border Terrier has long been appreciated
as a companion and as a capable hunter. He
is eager to please, willing to learn, and
thrives on positive reinforcement and praise.
Of course, just because a Border Terrier is
friendly and smart doesn't necessarily mean he's
the perfect dog for you.
Border Terriers do require a great deal of
exercise and attention. While they may
have a scruffy, scrappy appearance, they still
prefer the company of their humans and do best
when allowed to stay by their owners' sides.
Border Terriers are also excellent family pets,
but care should be given when considering buying
one for a family that doesn't have much time or
for one with small children - far too often, the
Border Terrier forgets to be gentle and will
become quite rough in his enthusiasm.
There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Border Terrier dog breed. We've compiled a list of
Border Terrier information sites to assist you in quickly locating
quality information about the Border Terrier dog breed, while
avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor
attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general.
If you know of a Border Terrier information site that offers unique,
quality information and photos of the Border Terrier breed, please
contact us with the URL and a brief description so that our editors
can consider it for inclusion in our list below.
Border Terriers are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at
Border Terrier pictures, you can usually gain more insight into what
these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help you
decide if you really want to become a Border Terrier owner. The
following sites below offer pictures of Border Terrier dogs, Border
Terrier puppy photos, funny Border Terrier photos and more. Enjoy!
Now that you have decided that the Border Terrier is the right
breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a
responsible Border Terrier breeder from which to buy a healthy,
well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good
breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first
Border Terrier puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To
buy a puppy from a responsible Border Terrier breeder, you may need
to pay more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting time
will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet
store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great
deal of additional expense and heartache, since you will likely end
up falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral problems
that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits,
regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and
find a responsible, caring Border Terrier breeder who home-raises
their puppies with love, screens their breeding dogs for health
problems, offers a health guarantee and post sale support, and who
genuinely loves the Border Terrier breed and is in it for the love
of the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured
of getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family
companion that will provide you and your family with many years of
joy, laughter and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Border Terrier
puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now
online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy
mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of
these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the
breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Border Terrier clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn
even more about the Border Terrier dog breed, help you locate a
responsible Border Terrier breeder, or help you find a Border
Terrier dog or puppy in need of a second chance for a loving,
forever home. We've compiled the following list of Border Terrier
clubs and Border Terrier rescues web sites for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your Border Terrier puppy can be a daunting
task! There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot
of thought and research to find just the right name for your Border
Terrier. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a few days
or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you decide on
just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of humor? A
serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side? A strange
love of cantaloupe? By observing your new Border Terrier puppy over
the first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue about what
type of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog names and pet
names web sites on the internet. Some are wonderful information
resources, while others, unfortunately, are just "garbage" sites set
up with the sole purpose of cashing in on visitor hits for this
popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Border Terrier puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
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