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Border Terrier: Temperament

Since the end of the 18th century, there have been dogs in the Scottish-English border region that are very similar to the Border Terrier in its current appearance. In the harsh and mountainous districts they are used to hunt foxes, rats and mice.

Wanted Border Terrier

Before he was given his current name in 1880, he was often called the Redwater Terrier or Coquetdale Terrier. These names refer to the areas and valleys of its first occurrence. It originally comes from the border area between England and Scotland, where exactly it got its name from is not entirely clear. A perfectly adapted body and an adaptable nature help the four-legged friends to successfully tackle the tasks assigned to them.

The Redwater and Coquet districts give their names to the Redwater Terrier and the Coquetdale Terrier. These dogs are described as the ancestors of the Border Terrier, which received its current name in 1880. He either comes from the so-called “Border Hunt” (= border hunt), in which he was a member of the pack, or he was so named because he very often ran together with Border Foxhounds in the pack when hunting. After all, it can also simply have been named after its origin from the border area.

The beginning of modern border terrier breeding at the beginning of the 20th century is documented for the first time. The breed has been recognized since 1920, for which the FCI awards the standard number 10.

The terrier’s appearance is determined by its flat skull. It has a medium-sized, compact body, which the resistant fur protects against all weather conditions and even against biting attacks. The dog accompanies vagrants and itinerant people or is given shelter by small farmers. He decimates the unwanted rodents on the farms and in the fields.

He performs his role intelligently, courageously, and with great stamina – regardless of the weather and in any terrain, above and below ground as well as preferably in the water. He even masters hunting alongside horses in an exemplary manner. The Border Terrier looks quite ordinary and almost unimpressive. Appearance plays a significantly subordinate role in this breed.

The bitches, which are up to 36 centimeters tall, weigh five to a good six kilograms. The males, which are slightly heavier than the females, can reach a shoulder height of up to 40 centimeters. Red, wheaten, mottled, and tan coat colors conform to the breed standard. Furthermore, a blue coat pattern, comparable in shape to a saddle, is characteristic of this breed.

It is a low-maintenance coat that dresses the Border Terrier’s thick and loose skin. The short, hard topcoat grows over the soft and dense undercoat – a robust suite for working in dense undergrowth and in narrow burrows. The predominant coat colors are red to wheaten and gray mottled (grizzle) or blue mottled with light brown. Except for a small spot on the breast, the color white is not desired.

This dense and broken coat is water-repellent and offers the dog excellent protection from the harsh and humid climate of its homeland. Regular use of a comb and brush is required to care for the coat. The animal hardly loses hair – in some cases, it is sufficient to pluck out dead hair or use a trimming knife. Shearing the fur, on the other hand, is out of the question.

Equally uncomplicated is the training of the family and companion dog. The companion wants to please and is sensitive to guidance. For novice dogs, their alert and agreeable qualities are helpful. The owner only has to clearly and lovingly specify the path to be taken A typical feature of the Border Terrier is its head, which is said to resemble an otter’s head and has a broad skull, a moderate stop, and a short, blunt muzzle.

Although there is no historical record of the Border Terrier’s exact lineage, it is clear that the breed’s first breed dates back to the late 17th century. As an original Jagdterrier type, it is related to the other terriers of the region.

Border Terrier Creature

The Border Terrier reacts sensitively to a hard line in dealing with him. As brave as he goes to work in the field, the hunter’s canine soul is just as vulnerable.

The hunter does not stop hunting! Border Terriers still have a strong hunting instinct. Anyone interested in buying a dog of this breed should definitely be aware of this. And the hunter is able to bark loudly. At a volume that ensures the voice can be heard even when the dog is hunting inside a fox’s burrow. The Border Terrier has remained very natural and genuine over the years. Vital, robust, supple as well as agile, and alert.

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