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Border Terrier

Breed Characteristics

Compatibility With Children
Trainability (Learning Rate)
Energy Level
Exercise Requirements
Grooming
Compatibility With Other Pets
Loyalty
Protectiveness

1 paw - breed exhibits the least amount of this characteristic
5 paws - breed exhibits most amount of this characteristic

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Border Terrier

Country of Origin Great Britain
Weight Males: 13 - 16 lbs. (6 – 7 kg)
Females: 11 - 14 lbs. (5 – 6 kg)
Height (at withers) Males: 13 - 16 in. (33 – 41 cm)
Females: 11 - 14 in. (28 – 36 cm)
Coat Border Terriers have a short, dense, wiry double coat.
Colour Red, grizzle and tan, blue and tan, or wheaten. There may be a small amount of white on the chest. A dark muzzle is desired in the show ring.
Litter Size 2 - 8 puppies, average 4 - 5
Life Span 12 to 15 Years
Origin & History The Border Terrier is a small rough coated breed originally developed as a fox and vermin hunter in and around the Cheviot Hills between England and Scotland. This region, which included what is now Northumberland (located in the far north of England) is known as the Border Country. It was once a barbarous no man’s land, the bloody ground of frequent wars between the Scots and the English. A slice of its violent history was portrayed in the movie “Braveheart” (1995). The frequent battles left the people who lived there starving and without resources and subject to senseless attacks from whichever army decided to plow through their land. After centuries of such pillaging and destruction, the land was so ravaged that those who did remain struggled to eke out their existence farming and sheepherding. Any lines of people or strains of dogs who managed to survive generation after generation in this forsaken territory, had to be tough as nails.
In the thirteenth century the people who lived in this territory took matters into their own hands. From the mid1200s into the 1600s, it was every clan for themselves, stealing sheep and cattle from each other. Raids, feuds, kidnapping, and murder were the stuff of everyday life. The ancestors of the Border Terrier survived in this milieu as well, and over time developed into three distinct Terrier breeds, through the judicious breeding of gentle sportsmen, farmers, and shepherds.
The first evidence of the Border Terriers’ ancestors comes from as early as 1219, when fox hunting had become a popular sport among the gentry. Sportsmen kept their own strains of hounds and Terriers. At this time forest land was owned by the King as his personal hunting grounds; history tells us that Sir John Fitz-Roberts, Sheriff of Northumberland, received permission from His Majesty King Henry III to keep his own Terriers for fox hunting in Northumberland’s forest. These dogs were the ancestors of the Dandie Dinmont, the Bedlington, and the Border Terrier and of the three Terrier breeds descended from dogs, the Border Terrier is believed to be the oldest, it having retained most of its original working Terrier traits.
For sportsmen’s purposes, the Terriers not only needed to be small to hunt underground, they also needed to be able to keep up with the horses and be pack oriented enough to get along with the pack of foxhounds. Therefore, they bred them to have longer legs and less dog-aggressive temperaments. Those traits, along with their otter shaped heads, differentiated them from other Terrier breeds then, as well as today.
The breed was also made hardy by the farmers and sheepherders who struggled to survive in the wild and rugged Border Country and who depended on their Terriers to protect their food and livestock from being decimated by foxes, rats, rabbits, and other vermin. A common practice among farmers in the 1700s, was to deprive their Border Terriers of food. This deprivation forced the dogs to fend for themselves, toughening them up and causing them to go after their prey more ferociously. Like the Border Country people, these Terriers needed to have the endurance to withstand long periods of time in physically harsh environments with limited food.
The Border Terrier’s hardiness is also attested to in their ability to not only navigate dangerous rocky areas, but the equally treacherous peat moss bogs of Northumberland. These bogs required the Terrier to swim underground after its prey, who might have found a dry spot in which to hide. It was not uncommon for Border Terriers to die in these bogs or even, after being rescued, die later from the physical stress.
By the 1700s, evidence of the Border Terrier being recognized as a distinct breed can be found in The Dogs of the British Isles (1872). In it John Walsh wrote that in the late 1700s, “another race of terriers, analogous to the real pepper-and-mustard was common on the Border…it was nearly like a Dandy on long legs, but with a shorter body, and in general, a [smaller] head…” Also, a portrait painted in the mid 1700s, shows a man named Arthur Wentworth with his pack of foxhounds and Terriers, the latter very much resembling the Border Terrier.
Names of Border Country clans include the Robsons, Dodds, and Hedleys, with the Robsons being one of the most well known. By the 1800s, these three families kept some of the earliest known strains of Border Terriers; the Robson family, again, playing a lead role, this time in developing and establishing these Terriers as a distinct breed. In 1857, John Robson and John Dodd of Catcleugh, founded the Border Hunt in Northumberland. In those early days of the Border Hunts, these Terriers were considered at an ideal weight when fifteen to eighteen pounds. Mr. Robson and Mr. Dodd preferred the Border Terriers (not yet known by that name) above any other because of their keen noses, their gameness, and their superior ability to bolt foxes. Some of these early dogs had red noses; both John Robson and his son Jacob subscribed to the belief that red nosed Borders had the keener sense of smell than black nosed dogs.
Jacob Robson recalled a Border Terrier the family owned in the 1850s, a small mustard colored dog, Flint, who he believed was the best fox bolter he had ever seen. The dog lived for twenty years. He wrote of how he had witnessed Flint roust a fox from its hole without any “manning” (encouraging words from the hunters) after six or seven other good quality game Terriers had failed. Mr. Robson had such a high opinion of Flint that if the dog passed by a hole, he trusted that it did not have a fox in it; he claimed that Flint had gone underground as long as three days after his prey and came out virtually unscathed.
Jacob Robson named outstanding specimens of the breed he knew of in the mid 1800s, such as Nailer and Tanner, owned by Mr. Dodd of Catcleugh; Flint, Bess, Rap Dick, and Pep of Byrness (probably owned by the Robson family); Rock, Flint’s son who belonged to Mr. Hedley of Burnfoot; Tanner owned by Mr. R. Olivier; Bob, owned by Mr. Elliott of Hindhope; and Ben, who belonged to Mr. Robson of Newton. Other outstanding strains of Border Terriers of that era included those of the Sistersons of Yarrow Moor in North Tyne, Mr. Hedley of Bewshaugh, the Scotts and the Ballantynes, both of Lidderdale, and Ned Dunn of Whitelee, Reedwater.
In these early days of the breed’s development, they were often named after the locale in which a strain was kept, such as the Coquetdale Terriers and Reedwater Terriers. But by 1870, the breed was given the permanent nomenclature of Border Terrier, after the Border Hunt and the Border Foxhounds with which they worked. The 1870s were also the decade when large numbers of Border Terriers were shown in Agricultural Shows throughout the region. In 1878, William Hedley showed his Border Terrier, Border Bacchus at the Bellingham dog show. This show at Bellingham was considered one of the most important ones for the breed. Still, the Border Terrier, while becoming increasingly popular in its region, remained virtually unknown outside of it.
Jacob Robson and E.L. and Simon Dodd, offspring of the founders of the Border Hunt, became the joint masters of the Border Foxhounds in 1879 (a role they retained for fifty-four years). These men continued to promote the Border Terrier breed and eventually helped start its first breed club ‘The Border Terrier Club’ in 1920. But success did not come overnight. The Moss Trooper, born in 1912, sired by Jacob Robson’s dog Chip, was the first Border Terrier registered with the Kennel Club in 1913. Unfortunately it was under the category “Any Breed or Variety of British, Colonial, or Foreign Dog—Not Classified”. Between 1912 and 1919 forty-one Border Terriers were registered under this non-classification category. In 1914, the Kennel Club rejected Border Terrier breeders’ and owners’ application to recognize them as a distinct breed. Mr. Morris, from the Tyne area, and others, used the columns of “Our Dog” as a forum to push for the KC’s recognition of the breed. Their efforts came to fruition at long last in 1920.
On June 24th, 1920, The Border Terrier Club (BTC) was officially formed and Jasper Dodd was elected the club’s first president. This clubs formation coming after a group of breed enthusiast met at Harwick, where they argued the merits of forming a club. The main objection to the clubs formation was that the breed could lose its cherished working traits, so long maintained and honed, if the breeding focus was shifted from that of a working terrier to that a dog designed to win in the show ring. Mr. John Dodd of Riccarton argued against the formation of the club, but eventually joined with John and Jacob Robson to draw up a breed standard. After the draft of the standard was read at its Bellingham Show, objections were raised regarding the size standards. This would result in a change to the standard reducing the weight. On September 1st, of that same year application was made to the KC to create a separate register for the breed (giving it official recognition) and to register the name “The Border Terrier Club” (which already had 121 members) as its official parent organization; both applications were accepted by that same month. The BTC and later to come Border Terrier Club of America (BTCA) have made it their mission to keep the Border Terrier as much like the original working dog as possible.
In 1921 Mr. and Mrs. Dodd had the honor of owning the first male Border Terrier to be made up, Ch. Teri; Miss Bell Irving owned the first female Border Terrier Champion, Ch. Liddesdale Bess. In 1922 or 1923 Adam Forster’s Coquetdale Vic won the Cup at the North England Terrier Club dog show. Vic was born in 1916; his parents were Barron Jock and Nailer II, both unregistered Border Terriers.
No championship dog shows were held from 1940 to 1945 due to WWII; afterwards the KC ruled that championship shows could only be held by breed clubs and Border Terriers were allowed only two shows. By 1950 however, Border Terriers claimed eighty-three champions with 659 annual registrations; they had come a long way from the 111 registrations in 1920.
Still, Border Terriers are visible in popular culture in America, in movies, on TV, and as pets for the currently famous. Borders have played roles in many movies, such as “There’s Something About Mary” (“Puffy” is the movie name of the Border) and “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”. In the movie “Lassie” (2005), “Toots” is a Border Terrier. “Puffy’s” offspring, Raleigh (female) was a Border Terrier owned by the singer Clay Aiken. Also, in the TV show “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia”, the character Mac has a pet Border Terrier named “Poppins”.
Today Border Terriers perform well in Earthdog, Obedience, and Agility competition. In fact, the Border Terrier has won the AKC Earthdog trials more than any other Terrier breed. They enjoy participating in tracking, with their keen sense of smell, and in flyball competitions. Their even-tempered, affectionate natures and gentleness with people also enable them to be used as therapy dogs for children, the elderly, and ailing adults.
Personality The Border Terrier is an alert, bold little hunter. Very agile, it is willing to squeeze through a narrow space to capture any quarry that may be on the other side. Lively, they enjoy playing with children. Affectionate, mild-mannered dogs that aim to please their owners makes them easy to train. This sturdy, scruffy, little terrier is a good watchdog, and may bark, but is not aggressive. Be sure to socialize them well. Puppies should be made accustomed to loud noises while they are still young to avoid excessive timidity. Puppies and adolescent Border Terriers are very active, but will mellow as adults provided they get plenty of exercise. Border Terriers like to dig; it is a good idea to install additional reinforcements along the bottom of fences. Good with family cats if socialized with them, however this hunting terrier has strong instincts and should not be trusted with non-canine pets such as hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, and birds. Be sure you are always your dog’s firm, confident, consistent pack leader, to avoid Small Dog Syndrome, and separation anxiety.

Care Requirements

Health Border Terriers are a healthy breed with a life span of twelve to fourteen years, possibly longer. They do tend toward pudginess, so it is important to feed them the appropriate amount of food, provide a high quality diet, limit treats, and make sure they get a sufficient amount of physical activity.
Border Terriers often do not exhibit signs of sickness or injury, because of their high pain tolerance, therefore it is important to know your dog and pay close attention to your pet’s health care. This breed is also sensitive to anesthesia, making them sometimes difficult to induce.
Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome (CECS), formerly known as Spike’s Disease, has recently been recognized as a health concern for dogs and a specific concern for Border Terriers. This hereditary disease can be mistakenly identified as canine epilepsy.
Some dogs with CECS experience only one or a handful of episodes, making it difficult to identify. Currently no definitive way to diagnose this syndrome exists, but at the University of Missouri, blood samples are being collected for research toward finding a DNA marker for CECS. Even though it is not curable, for many dogs the symptoms can be ameliorated with dietary changes.
Grooming The durable, wiry coat needs to be brushed weekly and professionally groomed twice a year. The object is a completely natural look. The Border Terrier sheds little to no hair and is good for allergy sufferers. Bathe only when necessary.
Exercise Border Terriers were bred to hunt and have great vitality and stamina. They need plenty of exercise, which includes a long daily walk.
Other Considerations The Border Terrier will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They are moderately inactive indoors and a small yard is sufficient.
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