The Border Terrier
Border Terrier Breed Standards
The Canadian Kennel Club Breed
Standard
General Appearance
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 of terrain. His head, like that of an "otter", is distinctive.
It should be the aim of Border Terrier breeders to avoid such over-emphasis of any point in the standard as might lead to unbalanced exaggeration.
The Border Terrier 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. The proportions should be that the height at the withers is slightly greater than the distance from the withers to the tail, i.e. by possibly 1-1 ½ inches (3-4 cm) in a 14 lb. (6.4 kg) dog.
Temperament
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.
Size
Weight: Dogs, 13-15½ lbs. (5.9-7kg); Bitches, 11½ -14 lbs. (5-6.4 kg), are appropriate weights for Border Terriers in hard-working condition.
Coat and Colour
A short and dense undercoat covered with a very wiry and somewhat broken topcoat, which should lie closely, but it must not show any tendency to curl or wave. With such a coat, a Border should be able to be exhibited almost in his natural state, nothing more in the way of trimming being needed than a tidying up of the head, neck and feet. The hide is very thick and loose fitting. Red, grizzle and tan, blue and tan, or wheaten. A small amount of white may be allowed on the chest but white on the feet should be penalized.
Head
Similar to that of an otter. Moderately broad and flat in skull with plenty of width between the eyes and between the ears. A slight, moderately broad curve at the stop rather than a pronounced indentation. Cheeks slightly full. Muzzle short and "well filled". A dark muzzle is characteristic and desirable. A few short whiskers are natural to the breed. Nose black and of a good size. Teeth strong, with a scissors bite, large in proportion to size of dog. Eyes dark hazel and full of fire and intelligence. Moderate in size, neither prominent, nor small and beady. Ears small, V-shaped and of moderate thickness, dark preferred. Not set high on the head, but somewhat on the side, and dropping forward close to the cheeks. They should not break above the level of the skull.
Neck
Clean, muscular and only long enough to give a well-balanced appearance. It should gradually widen into the shoulder.
Forequarters
Shoulders well laid-back and of good length, the blades converging to the withers gradually from a brisket not excessively deep or narrow. Forelegs straight and not too heavy in bone and placed slightly wider than a Fox Terrier.
Body
Deep, fairly narrow and of sufficient length to avoid any suggestion of lack of range and agility. Deep ribs carried well back and not over-sprung in view of the desired depth and narrowness of the body. The body should be capable of being spanned by a man's hands behind the shoulders. Back strong but laterally supple, with no suspicion of a dip behind the shoulder. Loins strong and underline fairly straight.
Hindquarters
Muscular and racy, with thighs long and nicely moulded. Stifles well bent a hocks well let down. Feet small and compact. Toes should point forward and be moderately arched with thick pads.
Tail
Moderately short, thick at the base, then tapering. Not set on too high. Carried gaily when at the alert, but not over the back. When at ease, a Border may drop his stern.
Gait
Straight and rhythmical before and behind, with a good length of stride and flexing of stifle and hock. The dog should respond to his handler with a gait, which is free, agile and quick.
Scale of Points:
Head, ears, neck and teeth ....20
Legs and feet..................15
Coat and skin..................10
Shoulders and chest............10
Eyes and expression ...........10
Back and loin .................10
Hindquarters ..................10
Tail............................5
General appearance.............10
Total .........................100
The Kennel Club Breed Standard
General Appearance
Essentially a working terrier.
Characteristics
Capable of following a horse, combining activity with gameness.
Temperament
Active and game as previously stated.
Head and Skull
Head like that of an otter moderately broad in skull, with short strong muzzle.
Black nose preferable, liver- or flesh-coloured one not a serious fault.
Eyes
Dark with a keen expression.
Ears
Small, V-shaped; of moderate thickness, and dropping forward close to the cheek.
Mouth
Scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to
the jaws. Level bite acceptable. Undershot or overshot a major fault and highly
undesirable.
Neck
Of moderate length.
Forequarters
Forelegs straight, not too heavy in bone.
Body
Deep, narrow, fairly long. Ribs carried well back, but not oversprung, as a
terrier should be capable of being spanned by both hands behind the shoulder.
Loins strong.
Hindquarters
Racy.
Feet
Small with thick pads.
Tail
Moderately short; fairly thick at base, then tapering. Set high, carried gaily,
but not curled over back.
Gait/Movement
Has the soundness to follow a horse.
Coat
Harsh and dense; with close undercoat. Skin must be thick.
Colour
Red, wheaten, grizzle and tan, or blue and tan.
Size
Weight: dogs: 6-7 kgs (13-151/2 lbs); bitches: 5-6.5 kgs (111/2 -14 lbs).
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the
seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact
proportion to its degree and its effect on the terrier’s ability to work.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into
the scrotum.
American Kennel Club Breed Standard
General Appearance
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 therefrom. For
this work he must be alert, active and agile, and capable of squeezing through
narrow apertures and rapidly traversing any kind of terrain. 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. It should be the aim of Border Terrier breeders to avoid such over
emphasis of any point in the Standard as might lead to unbalanced exaggeration.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Weight Dogs, 13-15½ pounds, bitches, 11½-14 pounds, are
appropriate weights for Border Terriers in hardworking condition. The
proportions should be that the height at the withers is slightly greater than
the distance from the withers to the tail, i.e. by possibly 1-1½ inches in a
14-pound dog. Of medium bone, strongly put together, suggesting endurance and
agility, but rather narrow in shoulder, body and quarter.
Head
Similar to that of an otter. Eyes dark hazel and full of fire and
intelligence. Moderate in size, neither prominent nor small and beady.
Ears small, V-shaped and of moderate thickness, dark preferred. Not set
high on the head but somewhat on the side, and dropping forward close to the
cheeks. They should not break above the level of the skull. Moderately broad and
flat in skull with plenty of width between the eyes and between
the ears. A slight, moderately broad curve at the stop rather than a pronounced
indentation. Cheeks slightly full. Muzzle short and "well filled."
A dark muzzle is characteristic and desirable. A few short whiskers are natural
to the breed. Nose black, and of a good size. Teeth
strong, with a scissors bite, large in proportion to size of dog.
Body
Neck clean, muscular and only long enough to give a well-balanced
appearance. It should gradually widen into the shoulder. Back
strong but laterally supple, with no suspicion of a dip behind the shoulder.
Loin strong. Body deep, fairly narrow and of sufficient
length to avoid any suggestions of lack of range and agility. The body should be
capable of being spanned by a man's hands behind the shoulders. Brisket not
excessively deep or narrow. Deep ribs carried well back and not oversprung in
view of the desired depth and narrowness of the body. The underline fairly
straight. Tail moderately short, thick at the base, then tapering.
Not set on too high. Carried gaily when at the alert, but not over the back.
When at ease, a Border may drop his stern.
Forequarters
Shoulders well laid back and of good length, the blades converging
to the withers gradually from a brisket not excessively deep or narrow.
Forelegs straight and not too heavy in bone and placed slightly wider
than in a Fox Terrier. Feet small and compact. Toes should point
forward and be moderately arched with thick pads.
Hindquarters
Muscular and racy, with thighs long and nicely molded. Stifles
well bent and hocks well let down. Feet as in front.
Coat
A short and dense undercoat covered with a very wiry and somewhat broken topcoat
which should lie closely, but it must not show any tendency to curl or wave.
With such a coat a Border should be able to be exhibited almost in his natural
state, nothing more in the way of trimming being needed than a tidying up of the
head, neck and feet. Hide(pelt) very thick and loose fitting.
Color
Red, grizzle and tan, blue and tan, or wheaten. A small amount of white may be
allowed on the chest but white on the feet should be penalized. A dark muzzle is
characteristic and desirable.
Gait
Straight and rhythmical before and behind, with good length of stride and
flexing of stifle and hock. The dog should respond to his handler with a gait
which is free, agile and quick.
Temperament
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.
Scale of Points
Head, ears, neck and teeth 20
Legs and feet
15
Coat and skin
10
Shoulders and chest
10
Eyes and expression
10
Back and Loin
10
Hindquarters
10
Tail
5
General Appearance
10
Total
100
