Border Terrier E-Book

Muriel P. Lee

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: Comprehensive Owner's Guide
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 259

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

Courageous of heart, active and game, this little working terrier known as the Border Terrier delights his owners with his friendly, happy disposition as well as his unwavering work ethic. Historically bred to follow the horses on the hunt, this is an energetic, purposeful terrier that is smart and resourceful, requiring an owner who can keep up with his quick mind and body.

Leseprobe

Physical Characteristics of the Border Terrier

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

Head: Similar to that of an otter.

Eyes: Dark hazel and full of fire and intelligence.

Muzzle: A dark muzzle is characteristic and desirable.

Nose: Black, and of a good size.

Teeth: Strong, with a scissors bite.

Body: Should be capable of being spanned by a man’s hands behind the shoulders.

Forequarters: Shoulders well laid back and of good length. Forelegs straight and not too heavy in bone.

Skull: Plenty of width between the eyes and between the ears.

Ears: Small, V-shaped and of moderate thickness, dark preferred.

Neck: Clean, muscular and only long enough to give a well-balanced appearance.

Back: Strong but laterally supple.

Loin: Strong.

Tail: Moderately short, thick at the base, then tapering.

Hindquarters: Muscular and racy, with thighs long and nicely molded. Stifles well bent and hocks well let down.

Coat: A short and dense undercoat covered with a very wiry and somewhat broken topcoat which should lie closely.

Color: Red, grizzle and tan, blue and tan, or wheaten.

Weight: Dogs, 13–15.5 pounds, bitches, 11.5–14 pounds.

Feet: Small and compact. Toes should point forward and be moderately arched with thick pads.

Contents

History of the Border Terrier

Unearth the origins of the little working terriers from the Border Counties of northern England and southern Scotland. Learn about the development of the Border Terrier and intended purpose of these game hunters. Cross over borders as the breed gains popularity and acceptance around the world.

Characteristics of the Border Terrier

Find out what makes this game and active terrier so unique and endearing. Are you the right owner for this independent, determined and thinking canine companion? Learn about the breed’s positive attributes as well as its daily needs, potential health concerns and a few frustrating habits.

Breed Standard for the Border Terrier

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Border Terrier by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Your Puppy Border Terrier

Find out about how to locate a well-bred Border Terrier puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy-accessory shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and acclimating pup to his new home.

Proper Care of Your Border Terrier

Cover the specifics of taking care of your Border Terrier every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes and nails; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are the essentials of dog identification.

Training Your Border Terrier

Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of house-training the Border Terrier, including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Get started by introducing the pup to his collar and leash and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and other activities.

Healthcare of Your Border Terrier

By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD

Become your dog’s healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss pet insurance, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and a sensible, effective plan for parasite control, including fleas, ticks and worms.

Your Senior Border Terrier

Know when to consider your Border Terrier a senior and what special needs he will have. Learn to recognize the signs of aging in terms of physical and behavioral traits and what your vet can do to optimize your dog’s golden years. Consider some advice about saying goodbye to your beloved pet.

Showing Your Border Terrier

Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Here’s how to get started in AKC shows, how they are organized and what’s required for your dog to become a champion. Take a leap into the realms of obedience trials, agility, earthdog events and tracking tests.

Behavior of Your Border Terrier

Analyze the canine mind to understand what makes your Border Terrier tick. Among the potential problems addressed are various types of aggression, separation anxiety, sexually related issues, digging, barking and food-related problems.

KENNEL CLUB BOOKS®BORDER TERRIER

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-223-8

eISBN 13: 978-1-59378-700-4

Copyright © 2005 • Kennel Club Books® • An Imprint of I-5 Press™ • A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC™

3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA

Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 • Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Photography by Carol Ann Johnson

with additional photographs by

Paulette Braun, T.J. Calhoun, Liza Clancy, Juliette Cunliffe, Isabelle Français, Bill Jonas, Antonio Phillipe, Steven Surfman and Alice van Kempen.

Illustrations by Reneé Low and Patricia Peters.

The publisher wishes to thank all of the owners whose dogs are featured in this book.

The spirited and plucky Border Terrier is a family dog, compact enough to fit in well with either country or city living.

INTRODUCING THE BORDER TERRIER

A “plucky” terrier! Regardless of what book you read, the one-word description of this breed is always the same—plucky! Roget’s Thesaurus offers synonyms for plucky: “resolute” and “courageous.” Webster defines plucky as “spirited and marked by courage.” As plucky, resolute, courageous and spirited a breed as this may be, the Border Terrier is an excellent family dog, good for country or city and nicely sized to fit into any size home.

This book will tell you about the history, description and breed standard of the Border Terrier. You will also learn about puppy care, training and any breed concerns. This may not be the breed for everyone, as terriers are active, busy dogs. However, if you like a game canine that will be a true companion to you and your family, this may be just the dog for you. And, as is true with most other breeds, once you give your heart and home to a Border, you will remain a devotee to the breed for a lifetime.

FROM THE BORDER COUNTIES TO THE WORLD

The Border Terrier is one of the oldest terrier breeds in the British Isles, tracing its roots back to the 18th century. He belongs to the group of dogs known as terriers, from the Latin word terra, meaning “earth.” A terrier is a dog that has been bred to work beneath the ground to drive out and exterminate small and large vermin, rodents and other pests that can spoil the tranquility of the country landscape. The Border Terrier was bred specifically to drive out foxes.

Originally bred to hunt foxes, the modern Border Terrier is a fine pet. While not traditionally considered “lap dogs,” they do enjoy a cuddle with their favorite people.

Britain lays claim to most of the known and recognized terrier breeds. An exception is our handsome bearded German friend, the Miniature Schnauzer, as well as a few others. Most of the terrier breeds were derived from a similar ancestor and, as recently as the mid-1800s, the terriers fell roughly into two basic categories: the rough-coated, short-legged dogs of Scotland and the longer-legged, smooth-coated dogs of England. The Border Terrier falls a bit between these two groups, as he hails from the border between the two countries and he has a medium length of leg.

The Border Terrier combines the best of both terrier worlds—Scotland and England, the two countries credited as the birthplace of most terriers.

The Border Counties are the four northernmost counties of England: Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmorland and Durham. The Border Counties of Scotland are the southern counties of Roxburghshire, Dumfriesshire, Selkirk, Peebles and Berwickshire, land of sheep and woollen mills. Between the English and Scottish counties lie the rugged and wild Cheviot Hills. The farmers of the area, reliant upon their sheep and wild game for food, found that, if the vermin and foxes were not controlled, their existence in the wild lands would indeed be difficult. The terriers, “earth dogs,” were developed to keep the vermin and fox population under control.

A close relative of the Border Terrier is the Lakeland Terrier, shown here. The Lakeland can be colored variously, including black, blue, red, liver and wheaten.

The family of border terriers, those bred along the border, were the Lakeland Terrier, Border Terrier, Bedlington Terrier and Dandie Dinmont Terrier. Of the four breeds, the Border Terrier has changed the least from its origins, retaining its toughness, size and general outline from the early 1800s. Throughout the century, the breed was found in nearly every home along the border.

BORDER TERRIER CLUBS OF GREAT BRITAIN

The Border Terrier Club in England was founded in 1920. Activities include the Championship Show at Carlisle, the issuing of Working Certificates and publication of a newsletter.

The Southern Border Terrier Club was founded in 1930 to promote interest in the breed in southern England. A registry of working Border Terriers is published in their yearbook.

The Northern Border Terrier Club was founded in 1946 to encourage breed interest in Durham and Northumberland. It provides an illustrated standard for newcomers to the breed.

Border Terriers, at one time called Elterwater Terriers or Coquetdale Terriers, were bred as early as the 18th century by Lord Lonsdale at Lowther. Early paintings and prints depict dogs that strongly resemble the Border Terrier. The Rural Sports published a print in 1807 of a horseman with a small dog trotting alongside, a dog that looks very much like the present-day Border Terrier.

The primary purpose in the early years was to produce dogs that could go to ground and bolt a fox. Crossbreeding in the early years was common as the breeder attempted to produce the very best working terrier for his purposes, with no regard for color, size, coat or length of leg. This was the harsh truth with all of the terrier breeds and it was stated, “Unless they were fit and game for the purpose, their heads were not kept long out of the huge butt of water in the stable yard.” Those who bred and kept dogs had a specific working purpose in mind when they bred for certain traits: either long legs for speed or short legs for going to ground, a double coat for protection against the elements and a powerful set of teeth for the bloody task.

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is another breed of the Border Counties, known for his unique head and silky coat, seen in “flavorful” shades of pepper or mustard.

The 1935 American Kennel Club Book of Terriers noted the following about the Border Terrier: “With the hills at their disposal and miles from habitation, stock were subjected to the ravages of the big and powerful hill foxes and the Border farmer and shepherd required a dead game terrier to hunt and kill them, with length of leg sufficient to follow a horse, yet small enough to follow a fox to ground.” These are dogs that are designed for use, not for beauty.

James Dodd, Joint Master of the Haydon Hunt, noted that he knew about Border Terriers from family letters as early as 1800, having himself owned the breed for 60 years; his grandfather had owned the breed before him. Mr. Dodd, a well-known breeder, thought that the breed was descended from the old Bedlington Terrier and from crossbred Dandie Dinmont Terrier types. Mr. Dodd remained active in the breed for many years and had exhibited many dogs when the breed was finally recognized by England’s Kennel Club.

Bedlington Terrier puppies, representing another of the Border breeds. Bedlingtons have profuse topknots on their heads and hair that forms tassels on the ends of their ears.

Another Northumberland Border family was the Robsons, many of whom were well known Masters of the Border Foxhounds. John Robson was Master of the Border Foxhounds when the pack was formed in 1857, and members of the family were masters of the pack as late as 1954, almost a century-long connection with the breed.

Tom Horner, in Terriers of the World, wrote, “The Robson and Dodd families intermarried several times, forging even closer ties with their great interests—the hunt, the hounds and the terriers working alongside them.” Because of Mr. Robson’s long association with the Border Foxhounds, the breed eventually became known as the Border Terrier.

In time, the owners of this hard-working breed wanted to show their prize specimens and to prove to one another just which dog was the best. The first show where Borders were shown was in 1881 at the Agricultural Show in Bellingham in Northumberland, and the Borders were shown in the classes for working terriers.

With the worry that the breed might become unsuitable for the work for which it had been bred, a group of fanciers formed the Border Terrier Club and drew up a standard for the breed. In 1914, the breed applied to The Kennel Club of England for recognition and was turned down. Following World War I, application was again made and recognition of the breed was approved in 1920. Both the Dodd and Robson families made major contributions to the Border Terrier in writing the standard and in getting the breed recognized by The Kennel Club. In the same year, The Kennel Club granted official recognition to the Border Terrier Club. At that time, it was estimated there were about 1,200 Borders in the border region, although only 150 had been registered.

HUNT MASTER

The Master of the Foxhounds tended to the dogs that were used in the hunt. He fed them and nurtured the sick or injured, but, more importantly, he trained the dogs to run in a pack with the horses. Traditionally, hunting meant fox hunting and it was a social and sporting function through which the hunter, from the aristocrat to the gentry to the farmer, established local bonds. The sport included the horses and the riders, the hounds for chasing down the fox and the Border Terrier for bringing the fox out of the hole.

The first Kennel Club-sanctioned classes for Borders were held at the show in Carlisle in late September 1920 with, appropriately, a Dodd family member presiding as judge. The first champion of the breed was Ch. Teri, gaining his championship in 1921 at the age of five, winning one of his Challenge Certificates (CCs, awards toward an English championship) under Jacob Robson. Teri was described as a red dog with a good head, plenty of bone and, of course, a very game spirit.

After World War I, three breeders came to the fore: Adam Forester, Wattie Irving and John Renton. All three not only were breeders who produced numerous champions but all three also worked tirelessly for the breed and held positions throughout the years in the Border Terrier Club.

The three early dogs who became pillars of the breed were Revenge, whelped in 1922, and Rival, both dogs owned by Adam Forester; and Eng. Ch. Station Master, a bitch whelped in 1924 and owned by Wattie Irving. Adam Forester had a game bitch named Coquetdale Vic, whelped in 1916, who was the dam of Little Midget, whelped in 1919, sired by a dog named Buittie. This mating produced Revenge, who was one of the great sires of the breed. Although the dog never became a champion, he sired five champions, of which two were litter sisters that were purchased by John Renton. Rival, bred by Mr. W. Carruthers and owned by Adam Forester, sired many champions and was the grandsire of Eng. Ch. Grakle, who won nine Challenge Certificates. Adam Forester was active in the breed for nearly 50 years, until his death in 1967.

The bitch Station Master was bred by Mr. A. Fox and owned by Mr. Wattie Irving. Mr. Irving was also very active in the breed for many years, owning not only the great Eng. Ch. Station Master but also Eng. Ch. Rising Light, who won some ten Challenge Certificates, and Eng. Ch. Bright Light. His life was spent enjoying the breed and sharing his knowledge with others. Walter Gardner wrote, “He was a great character, jovial, and win or lose made no difference to him. He was helpful to any novice who made an approach for advice.”

COQUETDALE VIC

Coquetdale Vic was indeed a game bitch. She once went into a rocky hole where, after three days, the huntsmen dug her out, as the hole behind her had filled with rock. She was in an exhausted state, as she had killed two foxes and four cubs. On one occasion, she had the flesh torn from her underjaw by a fox. Later, she won a Challenge Cup three times in succession at a dog show. The club’s rules stated, “If any part of a terrier’s face was missing through legitimate work, that part was to be deemed perfect.”

The Border Terrier has become a favorite because of his rugged elegance, charm and adaptability.

John Renton owned many Borders, including Eng. Ch. Happy Mood, winner of 12 Challenge Certificates. His Eng. Ch. Maxton Matchless won the CC at England’s largest show, the Crufts Dog Show, and the kennel won the Bellingham show for three consecutive years. The Bellingham show was the first show to hold classes for the Border Terrier and still is special to Border Terrier breeders. Even though many of Mr. Renton’s dogs were champions, his primary concern was that his dogs be able to do a day’s work in the field. Mr. Renton bred and owned many champions and was last seen in the ring in 1967 with his Eng. Ch. Handy Andy.

Another breeder of note is Sir John Renwick, owner of Eng. Ch. Grakle, who was bred by Adam Forester. A second-generation Border breeder, Sir John’s father was the founder of the Newminster line of Borders, taking the name from the Newminster Abbey in Morpeth, which he owned. Sir John was Master of the Foxhounds and owned and bred many Challenge Certificate winners.

MR. GARROW, THE DOG MAN

James Garrow was a grand old Scottish gentleman, multi-talented in writing, acting and livestock judging. The Border Terrier was his favorite breed of dog and Mr. Garrow himself was probably the most popular man in British dogs in the first half of the 1900s. Walter Gardner wrote, “If he met me at a show he would say, ‘Aye manu, did ye dae weil the day?’ If I had not got a ticket, he would add, ‘Aye, it hasna been your day!’”

The old-time breeders referred to five major lines in Border Terriers, of which Line A (Revenge) and Line B (Rival) are considered to be the most prepotent, having produced by far the largest number of champions. When breeders Dr. Lilico and Neil McEwan combined these lines and formed the Bladnock dogs, the competition that they offered in the ring became formidable.

Many breeders who had been active prior to World War I remained active after. Miss Helen Vaux of Dryburn Kennels had a good foundation for her Borders, as well as a good eye for the breed. George and Phyllis Leatt, of Leatt Kennel, had many nice winners, particularly the stud dog Eng. Ch. Leatt Druridge Dazzler. Both Mr. and Mrs. Leatt were judges and Mr. Leatt judged some 100 breeds. In addition, Mr. Leatt stayed active in several breed clubs and contributed Border articles to Our Dogs magazine.

Walter Gardner, Maxton Kennels, wrote extensively about the older Border kennels in his very informative About Border Terriers: A View of its History and Breeding. These breeders were in the fore in the 1920s and 1930s but, once again, with the advent of World War II, breeding and showing activity in the British Isles was greatly curtailed.

In the 1950s, Mrs. Bertha Sullivan started breeding Borders under the prefix of Dandyhow Kennels. She bred and owned Dandyhow Brussel Sprout and his famous son, Ch. Dandyhow Shady Knight, from which many of the present-day Border champions are descended. Ch. Dandyhow Cleopatra won the 75th Anniversary Border Terrier Club show at Carlisle and has won at least 11 CCs. Ch. Valmyre Magician of Dandyhow was Best of Breed at Crufts. Am. Eng. Ch. Dandyhow Brass Tacks moved with his owners, Ronnie and Kate Irving, to the United States for several years and sired five American champions before returning to England. Nearly every pedigree in the last several decades has Dandyhow in its background.

Madeline Aspinwall’s Farmway Kennels has been very successful in the show ring and several of her dogs were imported into the US where they have become Register of Merit winners, producers of many champion progeny. Others of her breeding have been exported to Europe, especially the Scandinavian countries, where they have done well in the show ring.

Peter and Maureen Thompson’s Thoraldby Kennels have finished champions in Britain, including two Group-winning Border bitches: Ch. Loristan Amber, a Group winner at the Scottish Kennel Club show in 1982, and Ch. Thoraldby Yorkshire Lass. The Thompsons have been frequent visitors to the United States.

Today’s Border Terrier descends from generations of hard-working terriers whose “pluck” has withstood the test of time.

Stewart McPherson, Brumberhill Kennels, has had many wins with his breeding since the early 1980s. Ch. Brumberhill Blue Maestro won 4 CCs as a puppy and had 9 CCs before being exported to the Netherlands. Ch. Brannigan of Brumberhill, sired by Ch. Blue Maverick of Brumberhill, won 31 CCs and 7 Groups and was the top Border in 1986, 1987 and 1988. He was Best of Breed at Crufts in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

Wilf Wrigley’s Duttonlea Kennels bred the top-winning Ch. Duttonlea Steel Blue, who won 11 CCs, a record at the time. His brother, Am. Ch. Duttonlea, was imported into the United States by Nancy Hughes and won Best of Breed at the Border Terrier national specialty in 1982, 1983 and 1986. He sired at least 40 American champions. Mr. Wrigley has had great success with his dogs in both Britain and the United States.

Mr. and Mrs. Tucker’s Nettleby Kennels owned the well-known stud dog Ch. Lydding Lets Go, sired by Ch. Nettleby Mellein, who had won at least 18 CCs, a record for the breed. His son, Ch. Nettleby Nighthawk, was Best of Breed at the 1990 American specialty.

BTCOA

The Border Terrier Club of America (BTCOA) was established in 1949. With a founding membership of ten dedicated fanciers, the club today has a membership of over 800. The breed club’s function is to protect the Border Terrier and promote its best interest through many activities, including educating prospective owners about the breed, breeder referral, establishing ethics for breeding and other canine activities, health research and breed rescue. The club’s extremely informative website can be found at http://clubs.akc.org/btcoa. The site provides much helpful information about the Border Terrier and about the club itself, and can point you in the direction of members in your area.

The Border Terrier was no newcomer to the US at that time. The Border Terrier had been recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1930, with six Borders registered with the AKC in that year. Acceptance of the breed in the US was slow and there were no new registrations in 1931. However, the first American-bred litter was whelped in that year. In 1927, Mr. William MacBain, a breeder of Scottish Terriers under the Diehard prefix, imported several dogs from England, including the import Pyxie O’Bladnoch of Diehard. Her breeding in 1937 was the basis for the breed in the United States. She became the first American Border Terrier champion.

In 1948, Philabeg Red Miss, a Pyxie granddaughter owned and bred by Dr. Merritt Pope of Philabeg Kennels, became the first American-bred bitch champion. Marjorie Van der Veer and Margery Harvey acquired their first Border Terrier from Dr. Pope, and thus began Dalquest Kennels. Between the Dalquest, Philabeg and Diehard Kennels, the breed was off to a good start in this country.

In 1948, a breed standard was written and, in 1950, the Border Terrier Club of America, with ten founding members, was recognized by the American Kennel Club. Dr. Pope was the president and Miss Van de Veer was the secretary (for the following 34 years!). William MacBain was also one of the founding members. Mr. MacBain had some busy years, as he was also president of the Scottish Terrier Club of America in 1932 and 1933. Ch. Partholme Mhor of Dalquest was Best of Breed at the first Border Terrier Club of America Specialty in 1959 and Ch. Dalquest Smokey Tigress was Best of Opposite Sex.

Another breeder who made an impact upon the breed in the United States should be mentioned. Betsy Finley of Woodlawn Kennels in St. Paul, Minnesota, had been a well-known West Highland White Terrier breeder of champions. I was fortunate enough to have met Betsy shortly after she purchased her first Border Terrier from the Dalquest Kennels, also the first Border to come into the Midwest area. She was a no-nonsense breeder who bred her dogs carefully and selectively. She bred over 100 Border champions, in addition to importing 17 dogs from the British Isles who finished their championships. Betsy died in 1998 at a relatively young age, a great loss to the breed and her many friends.

The plucky, tough dog from the Border Counties of Great Britain was now well known on both sides of the Atlantic. Border Terriers have become popular in many countries other than its homeland of the British Isles and the United States.

This photo was taken from an early 1900 publication. It shows the early standard and was described in the caption as follows: “This exceedingly attractive hard-bitten Terrier is used to bolt foxes and for other sports. The head is of Messrs J. Dodd and William Carruthers Queen of the Hunt, a great winner.”

In the Netherlands, a few Borders were imported into the country in the 1930s, but the breed did not become known until the 1950s when Mr. and Mrs. C. Langhout added the breed to their kennel of Bull Terriers and Cocker Spaniels. Other owners who have produced winning dogs are Mrs. A. H. Wetzel of Tassels Kennel and Mr. and Mrs. Bons of Roughdune’s Kennels. These three kennels have been the pioneers of the breed in Holland. The Dutch Border Terrier Club (NBTC) was formed in 1971 and further information on the breed in that country can be obtained from them.

While Border Terriers are hardy as pups and adults, children still must be educated in the proper handling of a dog. A Border and child that grow up together form a unique and special bond.

In Germany, the breed was slow to gain popularity. Wiebke Steen has the oldest kennel of Borders in the country; today, there is only a handful of other German Border Terrier breeders. Mrs. Steen remains the “mother of the breed” in Germany, where she has successfully bred Borders since 1947.

The Scandinavian countries have taken to the Border Terrier with zeal! In Sweden, the Border in the oldest breed of the Terrier Group. The breed club was founded in 1961 and now has over 1,000 members, many of whom travel to the major shows in the United Kingdom. In addition to show competition, they are also active in tracking and agility. There are many active kennels in Sweden that are producing outstanding dogs.

In Denmark, the Border is one of the more popular of the terrier breeds, and there are around 150 registered each year. The Danes are greatly concerned that the purpose for which the breed was created is preserved. No Border can win a CC in the country until he has first qualified in a going-to-ground trial. In Finland, the breed is also very popular, having had its start with a Swedish import. The breed club was established in 1994 and it sponsors a Challenge and an Open Show, as well as working and agility tests. Working terriers must vie with foxes, badgers and raccoon dogs. The Border Terrier plays an important role in the country, because he still finds steady work on “vermin patrol.” A leading kennel in Finland is the Kletters Kennel of Aune Luoso. Since the 1970s, well over 30 Finnish Borders have gained their championship titles as well as two international titles. Tuija and Seppo Saari’s Foxfore Kennels have won top awards at the World Dog Shows. The Liisi brothers’ Terras Kennel has also produced top winners.

This American-bred Border Terrier shows that quality dogs are being produced on both sides of the Atlantic.

Borders can be found in many other countries, including Canada, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium and South Africa. The national kennel club of the specific country should be contacted for further information on breeders in these countries.

The Border Terrier is a wonderful little dog! He’s cute, perfectly sized for any living situation, has a lovely personality and is an active dog. In spite of the Border Terrier’s “below the knee” size, this is a masculine dog and, like every other terrier worth his salt, does not show any sign of timidity or shyness. Borders are busy dogs, on their toes and ready for action! If you are looking for a sedentary lap dog, this will not be the breed for you.

The Border has a very steady disposition and fits in well with family life, whether it be in a large country house, a home in a suburban neighborhood or an apartment in the city, provided he gets enough activity. He gets along well with children and will accept strangers once he has had a chance to look them over. It bears mentioning that the Border is an active terrier who plays hard, so caution must be taken that the dog is supervised with young children, and that both children and terrier are taught how to behave properly around each other. Children in the family must learn to be careful, responsible dog owners with all aspects of the dog’s safety in mind, such as keeping gates closed and not allowing the dog to chew on harmful objects. All things considered, kids and Borders can be great friends!

LONG-DISTANCE TERRIER

Border Terriers were expected to run behind the hounds for up to 20 miles a day. When a fox was found, the Border Terrier was expected to go to ground and harass the fox until he bolted from his hole. The Border would stay at his job until the fox came out (or was killed), even if it took a day or two.