Border Terrier

A Border Terrier is a small, rough-coated breed of dog in the terrier family. more...

Appearance

The Border Terrier has a double coat consiting of a soft undercoat and harsh, wiry outer coat. Colours include grizzle and tan ( a sort of salt and pepper look), blue and tan (sometimes looks almost black), red grizzle, and, less commonly, wheaten. The coat needs to be stripped by hand (not clipped) regularly, as the top coat becomes long and shaggy and eventually dies. Borders being shown generally have a short coat that has been stripped and is starting to grow back in.

Temperament

Border Terriers are friendly and playful, and can make good family pets as they are sometimes good with children. They are best kept by people who have had dogs before and know how to maintain human social dominance over them. They are highly energetic dogs, and so unless a lot of time can be devoted to them, they are generally best kept with other dogs of similar temperament. Ideal companions would be other Border Terriers, Collies, and most Spaniels.

Border Terriers are relatively easily trained, although they can develop a cat-like independence and, when kept as part of a group of dogs, can have confusion recognising that each dog has a different name (they occasionally respond to them all). Some members of the breed make a highly effective alternative to a doorbell, due to their sharp hearing and the distinctive frenzied barking that results when they hear someone approaching the door. They are best kept in pairs or small groups, or with dogs of other breeds. Their dominant personalities can be used to the advantage of the owner if larger dogs are also kept as, like all terriers, they will generally occupy a high position in the 'pack', subordinate to the owner. This is especially true if a Border Terrier is an adult and the larger dog a puppy when introduced. However, if a large dog comes into the family, although it is already an adult one, the Border Terrier starts to "test" his new companion and, if there's no objection from the side of the larger dog, maintains his leadership.

Border Terriers are generally unsuitable for homes where there are rabbits, cats (except Maine Coons), smaller breeds of dogs, or other similar pets, as they will attack and kill all animals smaller than themselves; they were bred for this purpose. Exceptions to this are where the Terrier was introduced to the other animal as a puppy. Despite this instinct, they are generally amicable with other dogs, and often develop strong friendships with dogs they meet frequently. Nevertheless, in case they don't like another dog, they don't hesitate to start a fight and, as it is the case with most terriers, it's not easy to stop them. One has to train the Border Terrier carefully from the beginning so that he learns a correct social behaviour with other dogs (especially with dogs that are of bigger size!).

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