meet the...Border Terrier
Breed Summary
Breed Group Group 6: Terrier Breeds
Sub-group 6-B: Medium Terriers
Origin Country Great Britain
Weight Males: 13-16 pounds. Females: 11-14 pounds.
Height Males: 11-16 inches. Females: 11-16 inches.
Other Name(s) (Formerly) ReedWater Terrier, Coquetdale Terrier
Breed Type Pure
click here for FULL BREED STANDARD
Origins
The Border Terrier shares a similar history with many of the terriers that originated from the borderlands between England and Scotland, most likely coming from the same stock as the Fell Terriers and Patterdale Terriers. Like many Scottish-English terrier origin stories, there’s evidence of unspecified rough-coated terriers recorded in the border country for centuries. However, it doesn’t appear as though the breed was documented under the name Border Terrier until the 1880s. Prior to this, the dogs were called Reedwater Terriers and Coquetdale Terriers, reflecting the areas in which they were most commonly known.
Shepherding was a way of life throughout Scotland and England, and the borders were no exception. The borderlands were known for their sheep and shepherding dogs. In fact, the herding dogs from these areas eventually became known as today’s Border Collies. Along with the importance of sheep farming came the essential, tedious, and constant job of pest control. For this, dogs were used to rid areas of disease-spreading varmints, such as rats, as well as quarry large enough to hunt or harm sheep, such as foxes, directly. Over time, stories began to circulate about a gritty, hard-working, large, and leggy terrier that was capable of keeping up with horses and dispatching foxes in their dens. The storied canine came to be known as the Border Terrier.
However, this version of the Border Terrier’s history is questionable since there are not many examples in the short history of the breed itself that suggest many of these dogs were actually worked in such a way. In fact, since the breed was officially recognized, only a very small number of Border Terriers have ever earned working titles or champions in their original country of origin (less than 200 since the breed’s recognition). But, regardless of their resume, Border Terriers managed to attract a modest following, gaining the attention of dog show enthusiasts who petitioned the kennel club of England to accept the breed. Unfortunately, the breed was initially rejected due to a lack of unique characteristics that could distinguish Border Terriers from existing established English terrier breeds. However, they did eventually receive recognition in 1920 as a result of breed enthusiasts’ perseverance.
Today, the breed has retained a scruffy, gritty, rugged appearance. While they do retain quite a bit of terrier pluck and tenacity, they are quite a bit more docile by nature than their terrier brethren. They are also now somewhat more refined and quite a bit larger than their predecessors, and therefore, they can often be found in the show ring rather as opposed to the field. Today, they are often considered too large to be able to easily and safely go to the ground.Breed Characteristics
Head: Mesaticephalic skull type, moderate in size, broad, yet slightly wedged like an otter. It is in proportion to the rest of the body. The skull appears broad and flat from the front. In profile, the topskull appears of good length. The length of the topskull (measured from occiput to stop) is equal to the width (across the top, in front of the ears). The temporalis and masseters are powerful and fairly pronounced, giving the head breadth and depth and contributing to the somewhat otter-like appearance. The head is clean-cut without excess skin or wrinkles.
Eyes: Moderate in size, opened oval to almond in shape, and medium to (preferably) dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.
Ears: Fairly small to medium in size. Set somewhat high, yet with the break of the ears being level with (never far above) the plane of the skull and fairly well-apart. They are triangular in shape. The ears hang with the inner edges and tips close to the head, breaking so the outer edge has a lift, causing the tips to fall or orient toward the face. The ears are never long, overly large, rose, flyaway, or fully erect.
Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight and level. It tapers only slightly from the broad base toward the nose. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, have good bone substance, never snipey or weak.
Nose: The nose is well-pigmented, black, or self-colored, according to the coat. The nostrils are well-opened.
Neck: Moderate length allows for good head carriage and movement. It is powerfully muscled with a slight arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and fairly broad, but never overly wide or deep, and never shallow. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. The circumference of the chest, located behind the shoulders and forelegs, should be easily spanned by the average man’s hand, with the fingertips of both hands touching, forming a large “circle” with the thumb and middle fingers around the dog’s chest.
Body: Fairly compact and of good substance. The body is never racy or refined, and more importantly, never cobby, broad, cloddy, or overly substantial. It should reflect a terrier of moderation rather than being thick-set. Overall, the body is deep and narrower than broad, being capable of maneuvering into holes. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Tail: Set neither high nor low on the croup but as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick throughout but stouter at the base and tapering toward the tip, often described as carrot-like. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, usually high up (to the one o’clock position) when alert, but never carried up over the back). It may be held in a neutral position (never tucked) when the dog is in repose. The tail must always be left natural, never docked. The tail is of a moderate length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight or gently curved.
Movement: Smooth, effortless, efficient, energetic, and well-coordinated, the characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament: The Border Terrier is primarily a family companion and a show dog. These dogs make great companions when properly trained and socialized as a puppy. They are known to be very loyal and courageous, with an exceptionally high desire to please, and they are somewhat less fiery than their other terrier brethren. They still retain a certain amount of gaminess and prey drive, making them poor choices for families with smaller pets; however, they are more likely to get along with other dogs than many of the other terrier breeds. Their affectionate temperament and high desire to please make them excellent candidates for many kinds of events, such as obedience and agility. However, like many other terriers, Border Terriers can get into trouble if they are not allowed to exercise their bodies, minds, and senses at least once a day. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Breed Standard
BREED GROUP 6: Terrier Breeds
Proportions: Just slightly rectangular, with the length of the body measured from the point of the forechest to the point of the rump, being slightly greater than the height at the withers. The ideal body height-to-length ratio is approximately 5:4. The distance from the withers to the tail should be slightly greater than from the withers to the ground. The body is well put together, with sufficient substance and medium bone. Preference should be given to a dog that falls within parameters that allows him to easily go to the ground, as opposed to a substantial, showy specimen. Their body proportions should allow for stamina, endurance, and strength in a relatively small package. The weight of males or females is always in proportion to height.
Head
General Appearance: Mesaticephalic skull type, moderate in size, broad, yet slightly wedged like an otter. It is in proportion to the rest of the body. The skull appears broad and flat from the front. In profile, the topskull appears of good length. The length of the topskull (measured from occiput to stop) is equal to the width (across the top, in front of the ears). The temporalis and masseters are powerful and fairly pronounced, giving the head breadth and depth and contributing to the somewhat otter-like appearance. The head is clean-cut without excess skin or wrinkles.
Expression: Alert, capable, amiable, cheery, strikingly keen, and slightly mischievous.
Stop: The stop is not an abrupt angle but somewhat moderately curved.
Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is 1:2 with the topskull being somewhat longer than the muzzle.
The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis is parallel.
Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight and level. It tapers only slightly from the broad base toward the nose. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, have good bone substance, never snipey or weak.
Lips or Flews: The lips are clean and fit tightly over the teeth and jaws. The lips should never extend to or below the lower plane of the bottom jawline.
Nose: The nose is well-pigmented, black, or self-colored, according to the coat. The nostrils are well-opened.
Cheeks: The cheeks are well-developed and powerfully muscled.
Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. The bite may be level, scissor, or reverse-scissor. Contact must be made between the top and bottom incisors. Missing or broken teeth due to routine work are not to be penalized.
Eyes: Moderate in size, opened oval to almond in shape, and medium to (preferably) dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.
Ears: Fairly small to medium in size. Set somewhat high, yet with the break of the ears being level with (never far above) the plane of the skull and fairly well-apart. They are triangular in shape. The ears hang with the inner edges and tips close to the head, breaking so the outer edge has a lift, causing the tips to fall or orient toward the face. The ears are never long, overly large, rose, flyaway, or fully erect.
Body and Tail
General Description: Fairly compact and of good substance. The body is never racy or refined, and more importantly, never cobby, broad, cloddy, or overly substantial. It should reflect a terrier of moderation rather than being thick-set. Overall, the body is deep and narrower than broad, being capable of maneuvering into holes. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Neck: Moderate length allows for good head carriage and movement. It is powerfully muscled with a slight arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and fairly broad, but never overly wide or deep, and never shallow. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. The circumference of the chest, located behind the shoulders and forelegs, should be easily spanned by the average man’s hand, with the fingertips of both hands touching, forming a large “circle” with the thumb and middle fingers around the dog’s chest.
Topline: Level, or just slightly sloped, from slightly prominent withers to croup. The back is broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is taut and may be flat, level, or slightly arched, yet supportive. The back is never swayed or roached. If the back is too short, the dog will lack the flexibility required to maneuver underground.
Croup: Broad and powerful, may appear almost flat and level with the back or gently sloped.
Underline: A slight to moderate tuck-up is present, or the underline may almost run parallel to the topline. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight.
Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, and oval-shaped, never barrel-chested or slab-sided.
Tail: Set neither high nor low on the croup but as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick throughout but stouter at the base and tapering toward the tip, often described as carrot-like. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, usually high up (to the one o’clock position) when alert, but never carried up over the back). It may be held in a neutral position (never tucked) when the dog is in repose. The tail must always be left natural, never docked. The tail is of a moderate length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight or gently curved.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid-back shoulder blades. Shoulder blades are a good length, approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm.
Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. The point of the elbows is approximately half the dog’s height at the withers. The distance from the withers to the brisket may be equal to, or just greater than, the distance from the elbows to the ground.
Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle, of moderate (yet sturdy) bone, and parallel to one another.
Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns.
Pasterns: Never weak or broken.
Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are of good length, equal in length, strong, of moderate (yet strong) bone, and well-muscled.
Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another.
Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw-lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.
Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns.
Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Coat
Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog.
Coat Type: The Border Terrier comes in two coat varieties: the broken coat and the rough coat. All coat varieties should exhibit a protective, weather-resistant double coat with a soft, dense undercoat.
Broken-coat variety: (Preferred) This is an intermediate coat type that is neither a smooth close coat nor a completely rough coat; however, this is an ideal coat for going to ground. It is, overall, fairly neat and somewhat close. The coat may be short and close throughout, with slightly longer, wiry, rough head furnishings, including beard, whiskering, mustache, or brows. Or the coat may exhibit a smooth, close appearance for the most part but with longer, rough, wiry guard hairs allocated to certain areas of the dog’s body, such as the head, face, or back.
Rough-coat variety: The coat is somewhat longer, shaggier, fuller, and wirier all throughout the face, head, body, and appendages, with the dog appearing less kempt and more “scruffy.” The furnishings on the face are more prominent, fuller, and wirier.
NOTE: The Border Terrier must be shown in a hard, working, natural state. The coat may be plucked or stripped to maintain neatness. However, it should never be scissored or clipped.
Coat Color or Pattern: Red to wheaten, with or without black, blue, or grizzle markings. A small amount of white is permissible on the chest and toes. Melanistic masks that extend to create dark ears are preferred to unmasked or light-eared individuals.
Movement
Smooth, effortless, efficient, energetic, and well-coordinated, the characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament
The Border Terrier is primarily a family companion and a show dog. These dogs make great companions when properly trained and socialized as a puppy. They are known to be very loyal and courageous, with an exceptionally high desire to please, and they are somewhat less fiery than their other terrier brethren. They still retain a certain amount of gaminess and prey drive, making them poor choices for families with smaller pets; however, they are more likely to get along with other dogs than many of the other terrier breeds. Their affectionate temperament and high desire to please make them excellent candidates for many kinds of events, such as obedience and agility. However, like many other terriers, Border Terriers can get into trouble if they are not allowed to exercise their bodies, minds, and senses at least once a day. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Faults
All dogs should be in proper healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles.
