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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
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.
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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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The Border Terrier Dog