Border Terrier
History of the breed
A Border Terrier is a small, rough-coated breed of dog of the terrier group. Originally bred as fox and vermin hunters, Border Terriers share ancestry with Dandie Dinmont Terriers and Bedlington Terriers.
The Border Terrier originates in, and takes its name from, the area near the border between Scotland and England. Their original purpose was to kill foxes and rodents, but they have been used to hunt otters and badgers too.
Appearance of the breed
Identifiable by their otter-shaped head, Border Terriers have a broad skull and short, strong muzzle with a scissors bite. The V-shaped ears are on the sides of the head and fall towards the cheeks. Acceptable colours are grizzle-and-tan, blue-and-tan, red grizzle, and wheaten, all colours with a dark muzzle preferred. White is not allowed, except for a small patch on the chest. Whiskers are few and short. The tail is naturally moderately short, thick at the base and tapering.[5]
Narrow-bodied and well-proportioned, males stand 13-16 inches at the shoulder, and weigh 13-16lbs. Females 11-14 inches and 11-14lbs.
The Border Terrier has a double coat consisting of a short, dense, soft undercoat and harsh, wiry weather and dirt resistant, close-lying outer coat with no curl or wave. This coat usually requires hand stripping twice a year to remove dead hair. It then takes about eight weeks for the top coat to come back in. For some dogs, weekly brushing will suffice.
Temperament of the breed
Affectionate, intelligent, even-tempered, and obedient. Alert and fearless.
Border Terriers generally get along well with other dogs, however, if they dislike another dog, they do not hesitate to start a fight and, as with most terriers, it can be difficult to stop them.
Border Terriers will get along well with cats they have been raised with, but may chase other cats and small animals such as mice, rabbits, squirrels, rats, and guinea pigs.
Border Terriers will adapt to the activity levels of their owners. Border Terriers do not demand exercise, but do love it when they get it. With sufficient length of leg to achieve reasonable speed, a Border will hike, bike, and run with its owner but just as happily while away the day lying in the sun. A Border Terrier does not mind being left alone but as it is intelligent and loves company, it is not suited to household where people are away all day, every day (4 hours is enough for a dog of its size).
Being bred to work cooperatively with people, Border Terriers do well in task-oriented activities. Border Terriers are intelligent and eager to please, but they retain the capacity for independent thinking and initiative that were bred into them for working rats and fox underground. Border Terriers take training for tasks very well, but appear less tractable if being taught mere tricks. The breed has excelled in agility training, but they are quicker to learn jumps and see-saws than weaving poles. Border Terriers love of people and even temperament make them fine therapy dogs, especially for children and the elderly, and they are occasionally used to aid the blind or deaf. From a young age you should train your border on command.
Health Concerns of the breed
Borders are a generally hardy breed, though there are certain genetic health problems associated with them, including:
> Hip dysplasia
> Perthes disease
> Various heart defects
> Juvenile cataracts
> Progressive retinal atrophy
> Seizures
> CECS (Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome
> Border Terriers are also known to be sensitive to anesthetics and slow to induce.
Due to their instinct to kill and consume smaller animals, Border Terriers often destroy, and sometimes eat, toys that are insufficiently robust. Indigestion resulting from eating a toy can cause the appearance of illness. Typical symptoms include lethargy, unwillingness to play, a generally 'unhappy' appearance, lack of reaction to affection, and inability or unwillingness to sleep. These symptoms are generally very noticeable, however, they are also present just prior to Border Terrier bitches being on heat. They are strong willed and very lively also they like running.
Earthdog trials
More Border Terriers have earned American Kennel Club (AKC) Earthdog titles than any other terrier. An AKC earthdog test is not true hunting, but an artificial, non-competitive, exercise in which terriers enter 9" x 9" smooth wooden tunnels, buried under-ground, with one or more turns in order to bark or scratch at caged rats that are safely housed behind wooden bars. The tests are conducted to determine that instinctive traits are preserved and developed, as the breed originators intended for the dogs to their work. While earthdog tests are not a close approximation of hunting, they are popular in the U.S. and in some European countries because even over-large Kennel Club breeds can negotiate the tunnels with ease, dogs can come to no harm while working, and no digging is required. Since Border Terriers are "essentially working terriers", many Border Terrier owners consider it important to test and develop their dogs instinct. These tests also provide great satisfaction for the dogs. The American Working Terrier Association (AWTA) does conduct "trials"; where the dogs instincts are tested, and then judged to determine a "Best of Breed" Earthdog. These trials are also run similar as described above.
Litter size: 4-5-6-7
Life span: 15+ years
