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Breed Guide

The Border Terrier: What They Were Bred to Do

The job was going to ground after fox.

What drives your dog?

Breed is a starting guess. Take the free drive test to see which job your dog actually runs on, with three ways to give them that job this week. We email you the result.

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Where the Border Terrier came from

The Border Terrier comes from the border country between England and Scotland. Early names were the Coquetdale Terrier and the Redesdale Terrier, after local valleys. The modern name likely comes from the breed's long link to the Border Hunt in Northumberland.

They were used to bolt foxes that had gone to ground. They were also used on rodents, and sometimes on otters and badgers. A sturdy, narrow dog that could follow into a den was worth a lot to farmers and hunts.

The first Border Terrier registered with the Kennel Club in the UK was Moss Trooper in 1913. The club first turned the breed down in 1914, then recognized it in 1920, the same year the Border Terrier Club was founded. The AKC recognized it in 1930. Today they are cheerful family dogs.

  • 1913 First Border Terrier is registered with the Kennel Club
  • 1920 The Kennel Club recognizes the breed and a breed club is founded
  • 1930 AKC recognizes the Border Terrier

The job a Border Terrier was bred for

The job was going to ground after fox. That shaped a sturdy, narrow dog who is friendly, tough and willing to dig. At home they are busy and curious.

Sports that fit a Border Terrier

  • Earthdog. The original job
  • Barn hunt. Love tunnels and searching for rodents
  • Scent work. A good use of their nose
  • Agility. Quick and athletic
  • Rally. Friendly and trainable

Training tips for a Border Terrier

  • Offer a legal digging spot or sandbox.
  • Use food rewards and short sessions.
  • Practice recall in safe places, because they chase small animals.
  • Keep exercise varied.

Body and health

Sturdy and healthy overall.

Fun fact. The Kennel Club in the UK first rejected the Border Terrier in 1914, then recognized it in 1920.

Breed is where we start

A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Border Terrier is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.

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