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Border Terrier
Medium Breed
The Border Terrier is a happy dog that is good with children and always looking for an opportunity to please their master.
Breed standards
Country of origin
Great Britain
Weight
Males 6-7kg / 13-16lbs;
Females 5-6kg / 12-14lbs(standards may vary)
Height
25-30cm / 10-12in (standards may vary)
Coat
A harsh and dense outer coat with a soft undercoat
Markings
Red, wheaten, grizzle and tan, or blue and tan.
Lifespan
Long, 15+ years
Their scruffy looking coat and small size have given the Border Terrier lots of fans over the years, and with its loving temperament and playful outlook on life, families have welcomed this small dog into their lives.
Temperament
The Border Terrier is a scruffy, happy, playful dog, described as a big dog in a small dog's body. Genuinely happy around everyone, though their love of hunting cannot be totally bred or trained out, even though they are easy to train and will often go bolting off after something. This has led to many being run over by cars. These social little dogs are not happy being left alone for long periods of time, and you will not see the best the breed has to offer if this happens.
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PoorChildrenGood
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VeryCombativenessNot very
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VeryDominanceNot very
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Not veryFriendlinessGood
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Not veryIndependenceVery
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LoudNoiseQuiet
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Not veryTrainabilityVery
Good to know
This loving breed is a fantastic pet, with its unusual looks making it impossible to not like. A dog originally bred for the job of hunting, with its flexible spine and wiry coat, has made the transition to family life very well.
- Makes a wonderful family pet and is excellent with children
- A happy worker
- Adapts well to most climates
- A very light shedder
- Good for novice owners
- Does require trimming and stripping
- Grooming is needed
- Quite active indoors
- Due to insensitivity to pain, the breed does not display illness so should be watched carefully
- Prone to Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome (Spikes Disease) which is a genetic disorder, and symptoms should be watched for