This annotated standard is to benefit those interested in judging the
Border
Terrier. The official Border Terrier Club of America standard is in
bold, commentary follows in regular. An Introduction is included
for
explanation of breed purpose.
INTRODUCTION
The Border Terrier is a "working terrier", bred since at lest the 18th
century
in Northumberland and on the Scottish borders of the United Kingdom.
The
border farmers, shepherds and sportsmen required a game terrier of
sufficient
length of leg to follow a horse. This dog must be able to run with the
foxhounds,
to go to ground after foxes and to maneuver in tight places, and defend
himself
when necessary.
The breed had other names, depending on the locality. However, in the
1800's
the name Border Terrier triumphed because of its long association with
the
Border Foxhounds and the fact that the breed had been kept pure by the
Robeson
and Dodd families. Although it is generally accepted that they are
related,
the Border has no resemblance to the present day Bedlingtons and Dandie
Dinmonts.
Today one will occasionally see a Border that has the soft topknot
characteristic
of those two breeds.
The American standard is a more explicit and descriptive copy of the
British
standard. It is intended to be a word-picture of the ideal Border
Terrier.
GENERAL APPREARANCE
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 e 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 overemphasis
of
any point in the standard as might lead to unbalanced exaggeration.
The Border is a natural terrier. His breeders strenuously resist any
attempt
to follow fads or emphasize a particular feature. He is not stylized or
over
groomed in any exaggerated fashion. What you see is what you've got.
A Border should not have:
* Heavy or spindly bone
* Loaded shoulders
* Cobby body
*Straight stifles
*Flat feet
Borders should not have sculptured coats, trimmed beards, or fluffed-up
front
legs in an attempt to look like highly trimmed breeds. This is unseemly
in
a no-nonsense dog.
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE
Weight: Dogs, 13-15.5 pounds, bitches, 11.5-14 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 1-1.5 inches in a 14-pound
dog.
Of medium bone, strongly put together, suggesting endurance and
agility,
but rather narrow in shoulder, body and quarter.
Many Borders exceed the suggested weights as few, if any, are in
hardworking
condition. If two specimens are equally good, preference must be given
to
the one closest to the standard. Smaller Borders are often overlooked
by
judges who prefer a more substantial animal. Borders that are too big
have
lost breed character.
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 cheek. 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 good size. Teeth
strong,
with a scissors bite, large in proportion to size of dog.
Look at a Border's head from the front and in profile. The look and
shape
of the head distinguish a Border from other terriers. Moderately broad
and
flat are the key words in the standard. Like the otter head, the Border
is
refined, not excessively broad or coarse in the skull. The breadth is
carried
through to below the eyes to give the width and space for the large
punishing
teeth. The strong masseter muscles give the Border's face a cheeky
appearance.
The eyes are set wide apart and there is a fill under the eyes. The
stop
is moderate with little drop-off. An adult Border's skull if flat, not
domed.
The proportions of a Border's head are 2/3 from the occiput to the stop
and
1/3 from the stop to the nose.
The muzzle is strong and in proportion to the head. Some dogs with very
hard
coats lack furnishings which detract somewhat from their expression. A
few
whiskers lend character to the head and are typical. A dog should not
be
penalized for lack of whiskers,because it is always possible they were
lost
when the dog was working underground or came in contact with wire
fencing.
A profuse beard is neither necessary or desirable.
The eyes are dark and set well apart. Their expression ranges from
friendly
placidity to fiery keenness. A large, round or protruding eye can be
easily
damaged and is faulty. Light eyes or those set too closely together
detract
from the desired expression.
The Border must have a punishing jaw and large teeth with no missing
incisors.
The upper teeth fit closely over the lower jaw in a scissors-like grin.
Correct
teeth are very important. Teeth that are too small are of no use to a
working
terrier. Undershot or overshot mouths are highly undesirable and are
major
faults. The lips fit closely over the teeth.
V-shaped, dark ears show the expression to best advantage. Dark ears
are
preferred. The ears are not set on too high, do not break above the
line
of the skull and do not lie Fox Terrier-like above the eyes. Round,
heavy,
hound-like ears, as well as fly-away ears are incorrect. The ear
leather
drops close to the cheeks, protecting the inner ear when the dog is
working.
The size of the ears are in proportion to the head.
The nose must be black and of good size. Any color other than black is
faulted.
Nostrils should be well open for optimim air intake.
NECK, TOPLINE, BODY
Neck clean, muscular and only long enough to five 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 to 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.
The neck is well set on, long enough to allow freedom of head movement.
It
should be fairly strong and muscular. A short necked dog with a stuff
appearance
is usually too thick in front and too deep in the brisket.
The body must be built to go through narrow spaces. The dog cannot be
too
wide in front, or oversprung in rib because he would not be able to get
through
crevices, or worse he would get stuck trying. He must be able to travel
over
rough terrain, which is why reasonable length of leg and agility are
required.
Do not mistake deep body to mean a deep brisket. A certain amount of
depth
is necessary for heart room but the whole body should be rangy, narrow
in
the shoulder and loin with little tuck-up. The spring of ribs desired
in
short-backed breeds is out of place in the Border whose ribs are
carried
well back. They should neither be oversprung or slab sided. The
phrase"spanned
by a man's hand" comes from the huntsman's way of measuring. There are
great
differences in the man's and woman's hands. The object is to estimate
if
the dog has the desired narrowness to enter a fox hole. To try this,
place
your hands behind the dog's shoulders with the middle fingers meeting
underneath
the dog.
The Border's tail is natural and is never docked. Its length should
complement
the size of the dog. A long, narrow whip-like tail is undesirable. The
shape
is often referred to as being like a carrot, thick at the base and
tapering
to the end. It appears as an extension of the backbone and should never
look
as it is has been stuck up at the end of the body. Carried gaily does
not
mean a sickle carriage, which is a fault. Depending on the mood of the
dog,
the tail can be carried at half-mast or at one or two o'clock position.
Moderate
carriage usually goes with a sensible, clever, cheerful disposition.
The
tail is strong and handy to grab when the occasion warrants.
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.
The shoulders are long and sloping, the blades converging to the
withers
gradually from a brisket not excessively deep or narrow. The shoulders
are
long and sloping with legs set farther back than in a Fox Terrier. This
gives
the Border a chesty appearance rather than a straight line when viewed
from
the side. The Border is an active dog and needs freedom of movement.
The
shoulders are never loaded because this could cause faulty movement and
also
cause a dog to get stuck in a hold. Upright shoulders, or legs set too
far
forward are usually accompanied by a short neck and will be penalized.
Exaggerated, deep briskets interfere with freedom of movement and are
undesirable.
The forelegs are the same distance apart at the elbows as at the feet.
Set
on the corners of the body, the legs are straight, not out at the
elbows
or tied in under the body. A wide fronted dog is at a distinct
disadvantage
in entering a hole or tight place. There should be no more than a
hand's
width between the front legs.
HINDQUARTERS
Muscular and racy, with thighs long and nicely molded. Stifles well
bent
and hocks well let down. Feet as in front.
There must be plenty of drive in the movement of the Border. The thighs
are
well muscled and the stifles well bent. The hocks are neat and low-set
at
a right angle to the ground. The hindquarter angulation and musculature
should
be such that a plumb line dropped from the furthest point of the
buttocks
passes through the point where the foot joins the pastern. The loin is
strong
and muscular.
COAT
A short and dense undercoat covered with a very wiry and somewhat
broken
topcoat which should lie closely, but it must not show a 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 very thick and
loose
fitting.
The Border Terrier coat adds another dimension to his business-like character and appearance. It must be a double coat for protection on the job. A lack of an undercoat is faulty, and a soft, fluffy coat is also faulty. Coat texture is more important than coat length, it should be hard and wiry to the touch. Coat length varies greatly among dogs in the ring, but there should be enough coat to ascertain that it is indeed a double coat. The tweedy jacket coat is preferred. Borders should never be overly trimmed to resemble other breeds. Excessive grooming should be penalized.
The Border is the only terrier that should have a thick and loose fitting skin (hide or pelt). This is crucial because it protects the dog from injury inflicted by his quarry, other dogs, underbrush, etc. A judge must not hesitate to grasp a handful of skin in back of the shoulders (without pinching), and lift it. This does not hurt the dog, in fact Borders are quite used ot it. A thin, light skin is a fault.
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.
Color is immaterial and all colors are equally acceptable, except
white,
which is only permissible on the chest in small amount. The reds vary
from
a light red to a rich dark red(like a fox) with dark ears and muzzle.
The
grizzle and tans have tan legs, sometimes called saddlebacks, are not
seen
as frequently. They might seem to be black and tan, but silver hairs as
well
as red or fawn hairs grow through to give a speckled appearance (in an
adult
dog), which is correct. The wheaten is straw colored and is not seen in
America,
and few are reported in Britain. Most Borders have a ring of
contrasting
color a little way down the tail. This is perfectly normal. Dark ears
and
muzzle are most 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.
A Border's gait has been compared to that of a hunter whose sole
purpose
is to get over rough ground as rapidly and economically as possible. It
is
not a hackney gait. Good reach and drive are essential with front legs
swinging
easily from the shoulders. A dog should not toe in or out, or paddle.
Moving
too close behind, cow hocks or straight stifles all interfere with rear
movement.
There should be amply push and follow through.
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
Those who label Borders lacking in spirit because they do not spar are
unfamiliat
with true Border type. Border Terriers are not aggressive terriers.
They
are bred to get along with other dogs because they must work as part of
a
team. A quarrelsome disposition is a serious fault. Any border who is
quarrelsome
and aggressive should be suspected of having improper Border
temperament.
As for the Border's true spirit, it is best seen when he is facing
vermin,
or when he is attacked.
SCALE OF POINTS
Head, Ears, Neck and Teeth.....20
Back
and Loin..............10
Legs and Feet.............................15
Hindquarters................10
Coat and Skin............................10
Tail....................................5
Shoulders and Chest.................10
General
Appearance......10
Eyes and Expression.................10
Total ............100
CONCLUSION
The Border is a rugged individualist and friendly fellow, and most
probably
has been out working vermin, romping with children, or lying at his
owner's
feet in front of the fire the day before you see him in the ring. There
is
not difference in type, balance or temperament between fierce hunter
and
amiable companion.
The Border usually likes to swim, given the opportunity. Perhaps he
remembers
that his ancestors in Britain were used on otters with the Otter
Hounds.
The Border's Terrier mouth is a formidable weapon and is vital to his
survival.
The fierceness with which he hunts native woodchucks comes from
ancestors
that hunted badgers. Some dogs who have had the freedom associated with
hunting
may take a dim view of trotting around the show ring at the end of a
lead,
but Border Terriers are adaptable to most situations and willingly do
as
they are asked.
The Border Terriers is sound, well-proportioned and balanced, and is a
sensible,
sensitive and devoted companion for all ages.
The Border Terrier Annotated Standard is reproduced here with
permission
of the BTCA Board of Directors.