Border Terriers are true working dogs and essentially that's what they still are today. With this said, they are just as happy living in a home environment being trustworthy, loyal and affectionate members of a family. Border Terriers have a tremendous amount of stamina having been bred to follow horses all day long. As such they need a good amount of daily exercise combined with lots of mental stimulation for them to be truly happy, well-rounded terriers.
These attractive little dogs have been around for a long time and as their name suggests they originate from the border between Scotland and England. However, it was only in 1920 that they were officially recognised by the Kennel Club.
The Border Terrier was originally called the Coquetdale Terrier or the Redesdale Terrier depending on which area they were bred. However, by the end of the 1800's, they were referred to as Border Terriers which many believe was because of their close association with the Border Hunt of Northumberland.
They share their ancestry with other breeds, namely the Dinmont Terrier, Bedlington Terrier and Patterdale Terrier. These little dogs were bred to be strong, robust little terriers that were capable of coping with the bleak climate of the borders between England and Scotland. They were bred and used by local shepherds and farmers to keep the fox population under control. When foxhunting became a popular sport, Border Terriers were used to chase foxes out of their lairs when they ran to ground. These little terriers were renowned for their stamina, capable of following the hunt over great distances and still having the energy to continue working when the need arose. They are one of the UK's oldest native terriers with records of them dating back to the 18th Century.
The dogs we see today are the same as the terriers that were bred back then with many enthusiasts believing them to be the "perfect" dog both in looks and nature. Over the years the Border Terrier has gained in popularity to such an extent that they are among the most popular breeds in the UK achieving excellent results when competing at Championship levels too.
Height at the withers: Males 33 - 40 cm, Females 28 - 36 cm
Average Weight: Males 6.0 - 7.0 kg, Females 5.0 - 6.5 kg
Border Terriers have coarse, dense top coats with a close, softer undercoat and they have very thick skin. When it comes to acceptable Kennel Club breed colours, these are as follows:
· Blue & Tan
· Dark Grizzle
· Dark Grizzle & Tan
· Dark Red Grizzle
· Grizzle
· Grizzle & Tan
· Light Grizzle
· Red
· Red Grizzle
· Wheaten
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