Border Terrier Dog Breed Washington DC

The Border Terrier is the smallest of all the working terriers.  He has a compact, sturdy body, medium-boned, and well put together.  His otter-like head sets him apart from the other terriers.  His eyes have been described as “full of fire and intelligence.”  He has long legs that enable him to keep up with dogs of much larger size.  Perhaps the most personable of the terriers, this plain little brown dog is full of charm and life, which makes him a wonderful family dog.  He is a playful dog with lots of energy.   He loves children and will play tirelessly with them.  However, young children need to be instructed not to roughhouse with the dog.  He is hardy, reliable, a very active breed with tenacity and great drive.  He seems to have a greater desire to please than other breeds in his group.  This lovable breed usually shows aggression only if spoiled.  He can be dog-aggressive if not socialized early.  Because of his terrier instinct, he has a high prey drive toward small animals.  Training should be patient and consistent but not overbearing, as this breed have a sensitive side to him.  The Border Terrier loves to dig and should not be left alone in the yard for long periods of time.  Overbearing owners may cause this breed to worry and exhibit fear-aggression.

Size:  The Border Terrier stands 9-11in at the shoulder and weighs between 11 and 15lb.

History and origin:  The Border Terrier is one of the oldest terriers that were used to hunt fox and badger.  He is a spunky, athletic dog bred to have endless stamina and determination.   He is a natural breed that evolved in the border counties of England and Scotland in the middle of the 19th century when it was a common practice to produce a terrier tailor-made for the job it would perform.  The Border Terrier still works with hounds and has been less changed to meet the standards of the show ring.  The breed was recognized by the British Kennel Club in 1920.

Feeding:  Recommended feeding for this breed is ½ - 1 can of high-quality meat product (13.3oz size) with biscuit added in same amount or 1 ½ cups of a complete dry food.  Increase the amount of food for a very active terrier.

Exercise:  An ideal surrounding for this breed is a fenced-in yard with plenty of space for him to run around.  However, the Border Terrier can make a good apartment dog as long as he is getting plenty of exercise.

Grooming:  This breed has a short, weather resistant coat that is coarse and wiry with minimal shedding and requires minimum grooming.  Show dogs should be hand-stripped to tidy up for the show ring.  Hand-stripping is a lengthy plucking method that preserves the texture and luster of the coat.