- Dog suitable for non-experienced owners
- Extra training required
- Generally healthy breed
- Enjoys active walks
- Enjoys one to two hours of walking a day
- Small dog
- Minimum drool
- Requires grooming once a week
- Chatty and vocal dog
- Barks and alerts to visitors/anything unusual
- Generally friendly with other dogs
- May need additional training to live with other pets
- May need additional supervision to live with children
- Needs a small garden
- Can happily live in the city
- Can be left occasionally with training
The Border Terrier breed can suffer from:
- Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome, which is where muscle spasms, cramps and seizures that can affect all or part of the body.
- Atopy where the skin reacts to allergens in the environment and becomes sore and itchy.
- Spongiform leucoencephalomyelopathy, also known as shaky puppy syndrome, which is an inherited condition that affects the nervous system causing tremors often affects growth and development.
- Canine gallbladder mucocoele, which is where the gall bladder doesn't empty properly.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
None but there are several recommended schemes that the Kennel Club recommends which can be found here.
Key Facts
| Lifespan: | 12–15 years |
| Weight: | 5–7kg |
| Height: | 28–30.5cm |
| Colours: | Border Terriers have a harsh, dense coat that comes in a variety of colours including red; wheaten; grizzle and tan or blue and tan |
| Size: | Small |
| Kennel Club group: | Terriers |
Ratings
| Family-friendly: | 4/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 5/5 |
| Easy to train: | 3/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 1/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 2/5 |
| Energy level: | 4/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
| Shedding: | 3/5 |
Personality
The Border Terrier breed is an affectionate, fun-loving one. They are brave, adaptable and good with people, especially with children. Generally easy-going, they have an independent nature and like to make their own decisions. The Border loves to chase rabbits and squirrels but will live in harmony with other household pets, if socialised and introduced carefully. This dog is equally at home in town or country.
The Border Terrier would suit an active owner who loves the ‘big dog in a small body’ attitude of a terrier but who prefers a softer, less feisty - and more social - version.
History and Origins
The Border Terrier dog breed first appeared in the 18th century and has changed little since. They were used as working terriers in the Scottish Borders, hunting foxes which preyed on livestock. They needed to be fast enough to run with the hounds but small enough to flush the fox out of their den. During their history they were known as Reedwater Terriers and Coquetdale Terriers but nowadays are referred to as Border Terriers. They are still occasionally working terriers in the countryside but now are mainly family companions.
Did You Know?
-
As the Border Terrier was bred to run with the hounds, they are longer legged than many of the other terrier breeds and are more social than most too!
-
This breed is known for being escape artists, so you’ll need to make sure you have a secure garden to prevent them getting out.
-
Border Terriers are keen diggers; however, you can prevent ripped up flower beds by providing them with their own space to dig such as a sandbox.
-
They’re usually not yappy but if bored, they may result to nuisance barking.
-
Border Terriers shouldn’t be kept with small furries such as rabbits, guinea pigs, etc as they’re hunting instinct is too strong.
