Dog breed

Border Terrier

The Border Terrier is a small, hardy terrier from the border country between England and Scotland, with a wiry coat and a distinctive otter-like head. It weighs 5–7 kg and was bred to run with mounted hunters and a pack of hounds. It is gentler and more easygoing with other dogs than most terriers, but it still has a strong hunting instinct.

FCI Group III · Terriers · standard no. 10

Weight: 5.1–7.1 kg
Height: 28–41 cm
Lifespan: 12–15 years
Origin: United Kingdom

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Photo: SheltieBoy, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The Border Terrier combines terrier courage with an exceptionally friendly nature. It is cheerful, devoted to its family and usually gets along very well with children. Because it worked alongside a pack of hounds, it lives more peacefully with other dogs than many terriers do, though it won't put up with being provoked. Small animals are a different story: rats, rabbits or unfamiliar cats can trigger its hunting instinct, and recall around game can be unreliable. It is smart and eager to cooperate, which is why it's considered one of the easier terriers to train. It loves to dig, sniff and run. Without exercise and something to do, it may dig up the yard or chew furniture. It copes poorly with long periods alone and with life in a kennel: it wants to be part of family life.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Border Terrier for?

The Border Terrier suits an active family or person who enjoys walks in open country and wants a small but tough dog with a sense of humor. It does well in an apartment if it gets enough exercise. It can also work as a first dog for someone ready to put in the training. Skip it if you keep rodents or rabbits at home, want a dog to let off leash in the woods, or are away from home all day.

Pros

friendly toward people and usually toward dogs
one of the easier terriers to train
long-lived and healthy
small but tough on outings

Challenges

strong hunting instinct
digs and can escape the yard
needs hand-stripping
copes poorly with being alone

Size and looks

Size and looks: Border Terrier
Height at the withers	males 33–41 cm, females 28–36 cm
Weight	males 5.9–7.1 kg, females 5.1–6.4 kg
Lifespan	12–15 years
Coat	wire
Colors	red, wheaten, grizzle and tan, blue and tan
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Classification	Group III: Terriers
Also known as	Border, Reedwater Terrier, Coquetdale Terrier

Care and exercise

60–90minof exercise a day

2/5grooming needs

2/5shedding

A Border Terrier needs at least an hour of exercise a day, ideally in open country, with time to sniff, run and play. It does great in agility, nosework or canicross. The yard must be well fenced and dig-proof. The wiry coat sheds moderately; brushing once or twice a week and hand-stripping (plucking out the dead hair) two or three times a year keep the coat in good shape. Clipping with electric clippers ruins its texture. Training works best when built on rewards and play: Borders are eager to cooperate but get bored quickly. From puppyhood, teach calm behavior around cats and small animals, and practice recall on a long line before you let it off leash in the woods.

How much should the Border Terrier eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Border Terrier is a long-lived breed: a 2024 UK study reported a median lifespan of 14.2 years. The Royal Kennel Club recommends that breeders use a DNA test for spongiform leukoencephalomyelopathy (SLEM) and places the breed in Category 1 of Breed Watch, meaning no particular conformation concerns. A condition typical of the breed is canine epileptoid cramping syndrome (CECS), known as Spike's disease, with episodes of muscle cramping lasting from a few seconds to about half an hour. In older dogs, gallbladder mucocele, Cushing's disease and cataracts are described. It's worth filming any unusual episode of trembling or unsteadiness on your phone and showing it to your vet.

canine epileptoid cramping syndrome (CECS, Spike's disease)Episodes of muscle cramping lasting from a few seconds to about 30 minutes, usually first appearing between ages 2 and 6.
gallbladder mucoceleExcess mucus distends the gallbladder; it is often found late but can show up on ultrasound.
Cushing's diseaseAn overactive adrenal cortex in older dogs: increased thirst and appetite, bald patches.
cataractsClouding of the lens; regular eye exams help catch it early.
spongiform leukoencephalomyelopathy (SLEM)An inherited neurological disease of puppies; a DNA test exists.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

SLEM DNA test
eye exam (ECVO)

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Border Terrier comes from the border country between Northumberland and Scotland, known as the Borders, which gave it its name around 1880. Locally it was also called the Reedwater Terrier or the Coquetdale Terrier. It worked with the Border Foxhounds: it ran with the pack and the mounted hunters, and when a fox went to ground, it went in after it to bolt it. That explains its stamina, its long legs for a terrier and its moderate temperament toward other dogs. The FCI standard still describes it as above all a working terrier, able to follow a horse. Today it also thrives as a family dog in the city.

Fun facts

The FCI standard says the Border Terrier must be able to follow a horse.
The breed is named after the Borders region between England and Scotland, a name in use since about 1880.
The FCI standard calls for a thick skin, which protected the dog while working underground.
In a 2024 UK study, the Border Terrier ranked among the longest-lived breeds, with a median of 14.2 years.

Frequently asked questions

Do Border Terriers shed?

Moderately. The wiry coat sheds less than many short-coated breeds, especially if it is regularly hand-stripped, meaning the dead hair is plucked out two or three times a year. It is not, however, a hypoallergenic breed.

Are Border Terriers good with cats?

They can be, if raised with a cat from puppyhood and taught to stay calm. Unfamiliar cats, rodents and rabbits are often treated as prey. In a home with small animals, caution and constant supervision are needed.

How long do Border Terriers live?

Usually 12–15 years, and in a large 2024 UK study the median was 14.2 years. It's one of the longest-lived terrier breeds.

Can a Border Terrier live in an apartment?

Yes, if it gets at least an hour of active exercise and some mental work every day. It's small and usually not very noisy, but when bored it may bark and destroy things.

How much does a Border Terrier weigh?

Adult dogs of this breed usually weigh: males 5.9–7.1 kg, females 5.1–6.4 kg. Height at the withers: 28–41 cm. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.