Border Terrier

Coat and looks how to spot one

double coat: harsh, wiry, close-lying topcoat over a short dense undercoat

A compact, workmanlike little terrier with fairly long legs for its size, built to keep up with horses and hounds across rough hill country. Its head is often likened to an otter's, short and broad in the skull with a short strong muzzle, small dark eyes and small V-shaped ears that drop forward. The wiry, somewhat broken outer coat lies flat over a soft undercoat and shrugs off wet and mud, and the skin underneath is thick and fits loosely.15634

Personality what they are like

Upbeat, plucky and good-natured, the Border Terrier is a warm, affectionate family dog that is keen to please and usually picks up training well. It still has true terrier drive, loves to dig and will happily chase small animals, yet it tends to be far more easygoing with other dogs than many terriers, a legacy of running alongside foxhound packs. Borders like to be part of family life and prefer company to being left alone.5723

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Moderate to lively. The Royal Kennel Club suggests up to an hour of exercise a day, and Hill's recommends at least 20-40 minutes of daily activity. Walks on a lead or in secure areas suit it best because of its strong urge to chase.23

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Low-fuss coat: a weekly brush plus hand-stripping about twice a year keeps it tidy and weather-resistant. Towel off when wet and bathe only occasionally, since frequent baths soften the naturally dirt-shedding texture.328

Home where they are happiest

Adapts to both town and country homes as long as it gets daily activity. A securely fenced garden is useful for this keen digger and chaser.73

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A complete, balanced dog food with portions matched to how much exercise the dog gets, keeping treats in check to help it stay in trim working shape.3

Company who they like around

Very family-oriented and happiest living as part of the household rather than kennelled. Usually gets along with other dogs, especially when introduced properly, though small pets such as rodents may trigger its hunting instinct.32

The story where it all began

The Border Terrier grew up on the hill farms around the Cheviot Hills, where farmers and shepherds needed a small, hardy terrier to deal with foxes that preyed on their lambs. It had to be leggy enough to follow a mounted hunt all day and small enough to go to ground and bolt a fox from its earth. The type was known locally under names such as Coquetdale, Redesdale or Reedwater Terrier, and it shares ancestry with the Dandie Dinmont and Bedlington terriers. Its lasting name comes from its long association with the Border Hunt in Northumberland, with families such as the Robsons and the Dodds keeping and breeding the dogs. The breed was established in its recognisable form around 1880. The first Border Terrier registered with The Kennel Club was The Moss Trooper, sired by Jacob Robson's Chip. Official Kennel Club recognition came in 1920, the same year The Border Terrier Club was founded and Robson and Dodd drew up the first standard, and the AKC followed in 1930. Since then the Border has moved easily from the hunting field to family homes and has become one of Britain's best-loved terriers.32486

Recognised by the official bits

FCI

Standard no. 10, Group 3 Terriers, Section 1 Large and medium-sized terriers, with working trial; standard dated 24.06.1987, country of origin Great Britain.1

The Royal Kennel Club

Terrier group, small size; not a vulnerable native breed. Recognised by The Kennel Club in 1920.2

AKC

Terrier Group; recognised in 1930. Current standard approved 14 March 1950, reformatted 13 July 1990.5

The Border Terrier Club (UK)

Founded in 1920, the year of Kennel Club recognition; the first standard was written by Jacob Robson and John Dodd.4

Popularity Ranked 91st of AKC-registered breeds in 2025; in the UK it was 8th in Kennel Club registrations in 2008.9