Border Terrier

The Border Terrier is a very friendly dog with a special appearance. He is not very known as a companion dog and even as hunting dog. This funny little dog with a lively and affectionate temperament is an excellent vermin tracker as well as a good companion. Despite his small size, the Border Terrier has phenomenal stamina.

Height 33 to 40 cm
Weight 5 to 7 kg
Life expectancy 12 to 15 years
Hair Loss Low
Excercise Need High
Home country United Kingdom (UK)

Quick Overview of the Border Terrier

Temperament

  • Very brave and fairly aggressive
  • Affectionate and kind
  • Pleasant life companion
  • Natural stubbornness

Appearance

  • Very original look
  • Short and strong head
  • Rather light and slender
  • V-shaped drooping ears

Health

  • Enjoys good health
  • Rustic and very robust
  • No pathology listed

Temperament of the Border Terrier

Essentially a working terrier, the Border Terrier is very brave and quite aggressive. He will not be suitable for all types of owners because of his vermin tracker and great hunting skills that have been kept intact.

Despite everything, his affectionate and kind character makes him a pleasant companion in life.

Very aggressive with those of his kind, especially of the same sex, he appreciates children, but especially those that will understand when he's had enough. He is endowed with a natural stubbornness that needs a firm and constant education.

His stubbornness and aggressiveness must be controlled by a good education started at a very early age.

border terrier personnalité

Breed Appearance

burrow border

The Border Terrier has a very original look, with a particular head shape. Short and strong, the dog's head looks strangely like an otter's head. Rather light and slender, the Border Terrier is primarily a working dog, and his body reflects that perfectly.

Height

Between 33 and 35 cm (12.99 to 13.78 inches) for the male
Between 36 and 40 cm (14.17 to 15.75 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 5 and 7 kg (11.02 to 15.43 pounds) for the male
Between 5 and 7 kg (11.02 to 15.43 pounds) for the female

Color

His dress is rather varied. It can be wheat, red, tan, black tan, speckled black, blue and tan.

Hair

His coat is rather dense and hard with a very close undercoat.

Morphology

His peculiar head is often compared to that of an otter. His bright eyes are dark. His v-shaped ears fall forward and are slightly thick. His nose is often black. His rather thick tail is not very long.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 3, section 1 and is #10

Characteristics of the Border Terrier

Does this dog suit your lifestyle?

Every dog breed has its own characteristics. However, the actual character of a dog can vary from one to another within the same breed.

Find out if the Border Terrier is your ideal dog breed with our quiz.

That will take you less than 3 minutes!

Take the quiz
Life in an apartment
Good first dog
Tolerates solitude
Tolerates cold weather
Tolerates hot weather
Affectionate
Friendly with children
Friendly with strangers
Friendly with other animals
Hair loss
Drooling level
Easy to care for
Robust health
Easy to train
Intelligent
Tendency to bark
Tendency to nibble
Protective
Instinct to hunt
Adventurous spirit
Energy level
Level of intensity
Need for exercise
Playful

Price and monthly budget

Price you can expect to pay for a Border Terrier puppy: between and
These prices are indicative and may vary from breeder to breeder
Average monthly budget for a Border Terrier:
The monthly budget includes the average expenses for food and hygiene products (grooming, anti-parasite...)

Tips About this breed

Although small, the Border Terrier prefers by far country life to city life in an apartment.

He can live just about anywhere, but the city doesn't excite him that much. His favourite habitat is in the country where he can play and run freely.

Even if he looks like a nice dog, you still have to respect his slightly aggressive and rebellious character.


Naturally stubborn, it is preferable to start his education very young and to make sure to teach him firmness and determination in order to control his temperament, which is aggressive and slightly impatient.

He is still an excellent dog for children and the entire family as long as his limits are respected. He will barely be able to tolerate a young child if the child behaves brutally towards him.

It is best to provide some supervision when he is around toddlers. If he is educated at an early age and is used to being around younger children early in life, he will become much more comfortable and tolerant of them.

Health of the Border Terrier

Even if he looks a little frail, the Border Terrier enjoys excellent health. This hardy dog is very robust and has a good life expectancy. There are no recorded diseases that affect this breed.

GROOMING

His maintenance is weekly. Brushing once a week is enough to ensure a healthy coat. Since he has an abundant undercoat, it is preferable to shave it about twice a year to ensure the health of his coat because it does not moult naturally.

History of this breed

As his name suggests, the Border Terrier was bred in the Scottish Borders region between Scotland and England. This region is also home to many very different dog breeds.

In 1880, his name was already established and the Border Terrier saw the birth of his first specialized club in 1920.

Even if he is only then recognized by the Kennel Club of England, the breed is still very old.

The Border Terrier is most likely descended from the Working Terriers at the beginning of the 19th century, and already participated in the agricultural shows held in the famous Borders region.

Used at the time to accompany hounds, he was also very popular for hunting foxes. Until 1985, he was rather discreet in France, but the passion for the breed developed rapidly thereafter.

From a very brave and rather aggressive working and hunting dog, he has become today a dog that is very much appreciated by families. His very affectionate side makes him a pleasant companion even if he remains essentially a hunter, the breeders having kept the initial aptitudes of the breed absolutely intact.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

best fresh dog food 5 brands

We Tried 5 Fresh Dog Food Brands

Is all the marketing hype worth it? Did our dogs enjoy them? Here’s our dogs’ totally honest review.