When the Border Terrier first appeared in the AKC show ring, viewers were often heard asking “What breed is that ugly little brown dog?” The Border Terrier appears to be quite plain, a simple and straightforward brown dog, with no pretensions.
As for the personality, however, it packs a lot of punch. Developed to “run with the hounds” and preoccupy the fox, the Border Terrier is brave and an explorer by nature. As an addition to a home, it can get you into a lot of trouble! His inquisitive forays into the neighborhood demand that his owners have a secure enclosed area, especially since he is not a large dog and can get out of many enclosures.
The Border Terrier has boundless energy. He is playful and a bit rough by nature. However, he should not possess the typical aggression associated with most terrier types, as he should blend in well with the foxdog pack. The history of its usefulness as an “assistant” to hounds demands that it get along well with other dogs. He was bred to worry the fox when the hounds caught up with him, so his nature should be one of fearless courage and tenacity.
The standard calls for a small dog of stocky proportions. It should have a broad skull, like that of an otter, with the ears folded close to the head, and a broad, stout body that is not really very representative of most breeds within the Terrier group. The height is about 13 centimeters at the withers. The chest should not be “barreled” and its coat should be straight and close to the body. Colors range from dull red to wheaten, black and tan or blue and tan, a small amount of white on the chest is permitted but not common. Teeth should have a scissor bite and be strong. The shoulders should be well relaxed so that you can negotiate difficult terrain when running with the hounds.
The Border Terrier has proven useful as a therapy dog. His small size and gentle nature work well in this quest, plus his coat is not a difficult care coat, making it easy to keep clean for visits to hospitals and nursing homes. He has also become a favorite dog for the agility ring, as he has speed and a genuine love of the chase. He is manageable and easy to train, being highly intelligent. The Border Terrier is equally at home in a small apartment or as a country dog. Assistance dogs are generally larger than this little dog, but in deaf assistance dog areas or as a “seizure dog” the Border terrier has made itself quite useful. And of course, in the ring, it is steadily gaining popularity.
The Border Terrier seems to be very stable in terms of health. Not currently considered a “problem dog”, but care must be taken with responsible breeding or health problems will surely develop, as has often occurred in the history of dog breeding. Especially when a dog is smaller in stature or becomes popular, puppy breeders tend to breed indiscriminately to meet market demands, and this can lead to health-related issues that weren’t present to begin with. If responsible breeders continue to keep a tight rein on the sale of non-neutered animals, the future will be assured and good health will continue to be one of the attributes of this “ugly little brown dog”.