How to Identify A Border Terrier
The Border Terrier was originally bred in the Cheviot Hills area near the border between England and Scotland to help farmers drive predatory foxes from their dens and kill them. Despite being a small breed and having short legs, this sturdy little dog has enough speed and stamina to match a horse at full gallop without much trouble. The Border Terrier was very effective at hunting small mammals, and was often used to run down foxes for sporting hunts. Because of their friendly and loving personality, this breed has since gained popularity as a household pet.
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Instructions
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Begin by looking at the dog’s size and shape. It should be just a shade under a foot in height at the shoulder and weigh less than 14 pounds. Its back should arch slightly near the withers. The dog should have outward pointing legs, its forelegs angled forward while its rear legs are angled back. The tail should be very thick and stubby, being less than half the dog’s height in length, held upward energetically at all times.
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Examine the dog’s coat. It should be very short and wiry. The dog should appear to have fur of many mixed colors, giving it the appearance that it is dirty even when it is clean. These colors should be principally tan with a grizzled wheat and red mixed in. Some small spots of white on the chest can appear too.
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Look at the dog’s head. Its skull should be wide but short with a thick black nose and dark expressive eyes. The ears should be angled forward and triangular, folded over themselves. It’s mouth is usually open in the appearance of a smile, but the most telling feature of the breed are the thick bristles growing around the dog’s lips and chin. Many people feel that it bears a great similarity to the facial features of an otter. If the dog matches this description then it’s a Border Terrier.
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Tips & Warnings
This breed is very affectionate and works well with children, making it for a good family pet. They are also relatively inactive indoors and are unlikely to cause damage to the home, but they should be taken out for a walk daily to ensure their good mental and physical health. If left outdoors it is important to be aware that this breed likes to dig as it was originally bred to hunt rabbits, badgers, foxes and other burrowing animals. Border Terriers are adaptable to new environments and exceptionally eager to please, making their training very easy. While this breed makes for a good watchdog in that it will bark only at intruders, it will do nothing about the problem aside from barking. There is no record of a Border Terrier attacking a human being in the breed’s history.
This is a terrier breed, it is in their blood to hunt and kill small non-canine animals. Do not under any circumstance introduce this dog to hamsters, rabbits, rats or birds. They are only safe to leave with cats if the dog was raised with cats.
Resources
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