Dog Breeds :: Border Terrier

Characteristics
He is an active terrier of medium bone, strongly put together, suggesting endurance and agility, but rather narrow in shoulder, body and quarter. The body is covered with a somewhat broken though close-fitting and intensely wiry jacket. The characteristic ''otter'' head with its keen eye, combined with a body poise which is ''at the alert,'' gives a look of fearless and implacable determination characteristic of the breed. Since the Border Terrier is a working terrier of a size to go to ground and able, within reason, to follow a horse, his conformation should be such that he be ideally built to do his job. No deviations from this ideal conformation should be permitted, which would impair his usefulness in running his quarry to earth and in bolting it there from. For this work he must be alert, active and agile, and capable of squeezing through narrow apertures and rapidly traversing any kind ofterrain. His head, ''like that of an otter,'' is distinctive, and his temperament ideally exemplifies that of a terrier. By nature he is good-tempered, affectionate, obedient, and easily trained. In the field he is hard as nails ''game as they come'' and driving in attack. Male dogs weigh 13-15½ pounds, bitches, 11½-14 pounds.

Did you know?
The formation of the Border Terrier Club was 1920 with the English Kennel Club.The first registration of the Border Terrier in the United States was 1930. The Border Terrier has a weather resistant coat with a hard, wiry outercoat and soft undercoat repels most dirt. The Border Terrier loves children and is friendly, affectionate, alert, sensible and a sensitive member of the family.

AKC Recommends
The American Kennel Club recommends that anyone interested in a breed should take the time to thoroughly learn about that breed, talk to responsible and knowledgeable breeders and seek out the resources of the AKC national club formed by individuals devoted to preserving and protecting their breed for future generations. The AKC offers links to the official national Club of this breed - the club's officers, breeder referral, and breed rescue contact persons.