Border Terrier Dog
The Border Terrier Dog appeared in the Border country between Scotland and England. The ancestors of the breed were the Bedlington Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. Originally, the new breed was used for hunting small game, like rodents, foxes, badgers, and otters. Nowadays, these dogs are used mostly as pets and therapy animals. The breed is recognized in the Terrier Group by all major organizations: the AKC, FCI, AKC, CKC, KC, NZKC, and UKC. Border Terriers were first recognized by the KC (UK) in 1920. The AKC recognized this breed in 1930. In its place of origin, Border Terriers are much more popular than in other countries.
The personality and working abilities of these dogs have always been more important than conformation, that’s why the breed standard is not very strict. The Border Terrier Dog is medium in size, ranging from 11 to 16 inches at the withers and from 13 to 16 pounds in weight. The coat color in these dogs can be grizzle, tan, red, or blue. The muzzle should be darker than the body.
Since the purpose of the Border Terrier Dog is hunting, it’s well adapted to working in the rough terrain and in cold climate. The coat of the Border Terrier is weather proof, with a dense undercoat and coarse wiry outer coat. The body and shoulders of these dogs are narrow to allow them to follow the prey underground and fight in narrow holes. The Border Terrier is agile and endurable; it’s able to hunt for many hours, following a horse even through a rough terrain. Though able to make independent decisions, these dogs can work cooperatively with people and obey commands.
Like all terriers, these dogs make good pets for families with an active lifestyle. Though the Border Terrier doesn’t need much exercise, it enjoys communication with the family and likes active games. A puppy of this breed should be trained to obey and respect the owner; otherwise it will be difficult to control when it grows up. The temperament of the Border Terrier dog is much quieter than that of other terriers.
