Canadian Kennel Club Breed Standard for
the Border Terrier
General Appearance
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 be 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.
It should be the aim of Border Terrier breeders to avoid such over-emphasis of any point in the standard as might lead to unbalanced exaggeration.
The Border Terrier 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. 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 ½ inches (3-4 cm) in a 14 lb. (6.4 kg) dog.
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.
Size
Weight: Dogs, 13-15½ lbs. (5.9-7kg); Bitches, 11½ -14 lbs. (5-6.4 kg), are appropriate weights for Border Terriers in hard-working condition.
