Border Terrier
A small, good-natured working terrier with an otter-like head that is affectionate at home and tireless outdoors.
At a glance
- Size
- Small
- Height at the withers
- Males 30–40 cm · Females 28–36 cm
- Weight
- Males 5.9–7.1 kg · Females 5.1–6.4 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- 60–90 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Wire-haired, Double coat, short
- Colours
- Red, Wheaten, Blue, Tan
- Bred for
- Terrier work, Companionship
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- FCI
- Group 3, no. 10 · Terriers
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 2/5 – Low |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 4/5 – High |
| Suits apartment living | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Adaptability | 4/5 – High |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a friendly, sturdy small dog for country walks
- have a family with older children
- share your home with other dogs
Think twice if you …
- keep cats, rabbits or rodents
- can't secure your garden fence
- want a dog that stays happily alone all day
Care
Temperament
Affectionate, good-tempered and adaptable, with less sharpness than many terriers. It is curious and determined when following a scent.
Exercise
Needs at least an hour a day; it enjoys hiking, scent work, agility and exploring the countryside.
Grooming
Brush weekly and hand-strip the coat roughly twice a year; shedding is light to moderate.
Training
Usually willing to learn with positive methods, though recall can fail when it finds a scent.
Health
Canine epileptoid cramping syndrome (also called Spike's disease), seizures and some eye and heart conditions are reported in the breed. Ask the breeder for eye and heart results on both parents.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Eye examination
- Heart
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Border Terrier was bred in the hill country along the border between England and Scotland to run with foxhounds and bolt foxes from their earths. It needed long legs to keep up with horses and a small, flexible body to follow underground.
Today it is one of the most popular family terriers in Britain. It is usually easygoing with people and other dogs, enjoys long walks, and is happy to curl up afterwards. Its hunting instinct remains strong, so small pets and wildlife are a real temptation, and some individuals are skilled escape artists.
Did you know?
The breed takes its name from the Border Hunt in Northumberland, whose followers used these terriers in the field.