About this breed
"Essentially a working terrier" says the standard and the breed remains so, hugely popular in the country for his gameness, but adapting also to family life in the town and city. The borders of Northumberland and Scotland gave the breed its name around 1880 after he was used as the earth dog with the Border Foxhounds. He had also earned the local names of the Reedwater Terrier and the Coquetdale Terrier.
Temperament
Border Terriers are intelligent, affectionate and good natured dogs, prized as much for their friendly family temperament today as for their working history as fox terriers. Bred to run alongside foxhounds, they tend to be less dog aggressive than many other terrier breeds and generally get along well with other dogs when properly socialised.
They retain a strong prey drive and a natural instinct to dig and chase, so recall training and secure fencing are essential. Smaller pets such as rats or rabbits may be seen as prey unless introductions are made carefully from puppyhood.
Despite this independent streak, Border Terriers are eager to please and are considered one of the easier terrier breeds to train, particularly with consistent, reward based methods started early. They thrive on being part of family life and do not do well left alone for long periods or kept purely as an outdoor dog.
Exercise needs are moderate to high for their size, generally at least one hour a day, and they benefit from both physical exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom related behaviours such as digging or chewing. Anyone researching the Border Terrier as a potential family pet should be prepared for a lively, engaged companion rather than a low maintenance lap dog.
Images for this breed
The Terrier breed group
Dogs originally bred and used for hunting vermin. 'Terrier' comes from the Latin word Terra, meaning earth. This hardy collection of dogs were selectively bred to be extremely brave and tough, and to pursue fox, badger, rat and otter (to name but a few) above and below ground. Dogs of terrier type have been known here since ancient times, and as early as the Middle Ages, these game breeds were portrayed by writers and painters.
Colour Watch
Category 0: Breeds with no NBS colour registration options.
Read more about Colour Watch.
Breed Standard colours
Breed standard colour means that the colour is accepted within the breed standard and is a traditional and well-known colour in this breed.
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
- Blue & Tan
- Dark Grizzle
- Dark Grizzle & Tan
- Dark Red Grizzle
- Grizzle
- Grizzle & Tan
- Light Grizzle
- Red
- Red Grizzle
- Wheaten
Other colour/s
'Other' means you consider your puppy to be a colour not currently known within the breed and one that does not appear on either the breed standard or non-breed standard list. In this instance you would be directed through our registrations process to contact a breed club and/or council to support you on identifying and correctly listing the new colour.
Non-breed-standard colours
Non-breed-standard colour means that the colour is not accepted within the breed standard and whilst some dogs within the breed may be this colour it is advised to only select a dog that fits within the breed standards for all points.
Colour is only one consideration when picking a breed or individual dog, health and temperament should always be a priority over colour.
Health
Whether you're considering buying a Border Terrier puppy or breeding from your dog, it's important to understand the health issues that may affect the breed and how they can be managed or avoided.
Pre-breeding Health Screening
Good Practice schemes and tests
DNA test for spongiform leucoencephalomyelopathy (SLEM).
Best Practice schemes and tests
These tests address conditions that are still significant for the breed, though they might be less common or newly identified, and research is ongoing to determine their full impact
To support the breed’s health, responsible breeders should ensure they complete all tests in best practice.
Click here to find out more about The Royal Kennel Club's health standard
Find out about a particular dog's results
Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Royal Kennel Club's Breed or Activity Register.
You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.
DNA Testing Services
We don’t currently offer a breed-specific DNA testing package for this breed, but we have a wide selection of individual DNA tests available. To find out more and view our full selection, click here
The breeding for health framework
Throughout 2025 we ran a major review of our pedigree dog health work, from which we have developed a new model called the breeding for health framework.
This framework covers all aspects of health and welfare that should influence breeding decisions for any breed or type of dog, building on from our previous Breed Health and Conservation Plans, and is broken down into three main areas of health:
- inbreeding/ genetic diversity
- conformation
- breed-related disease/ wellbeing
By applying the breeding for health framework, we can group all the breeds that share a certain issue together, so that we can provide targeted support and breed communities can share relevant experiences and expertise. All previous actions and priorities from the Breed Health and Conservation Plans are being transitioned into the new framework.
You can read more about the breeding for health framework here, and watch this space as we update and progress this framework to apply to your breed
More about health
Have any questions about health in your breed?
If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.
Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.
To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email
Breed watch
Category 1
Currently no points of concern specific to this breed have been identified for special attention by judges, other than those covered routinely by The Kennel Club's breed standard.
Breeding restrictions
There are a number of The Royal Kennel Club's rules and regulations that may prevent a litter from being registered, find out about our general and breed specific breeding restrictions below.
Working vs Show
The Border Terrier is one of the few breeds where the working line and show line remain closely aligned, but there are some meaningful differences worth understanding before choosing a puppy.
Working line Border Terriers are bred primarily for functional ability, running with foxhound packs and going to ground after fox. They tend to be leaner, harder in coat and often slightly smaller, prioritising stamina, agility and prey drive over close conformation to the breed standard.
Show line Border Terriers are bred to the Kennel Club breed standard, with more emphasis on conformation, coat colour and ring presentation. They generally have a calmer temperament suited to family life and showing, though the standard itself still describes the Border Terrier as ‘essentially a working terrier’, so even show bred dogs typically retain strong instincts and stamina.
Prospective owners should ask breeders about the working or show background of a puppy's parents, as this can give a useful indication of temperament, energy levels and prey drive. Working bred puppies are often more independent and driven, while show bred puppies can be somewhat calmer and easier to manage in a family setting.
More about breeding
There are not currently any additional breed specific restrictions in place for this breed.
Looking for a puppy?
Looking for a Border Terrier? Explore our list of puppies and rescue dogs for sale near you.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are Border Terriers good family dogs?
Yes. Border Terriers are affectionate, loyal and good with children, and their adaptable nature makes them well suited to both town and country life.
How much exercise does a Border Terrier need?
A Border Terrier needs at least one hour of exercise a day. As an active working breed, they benefit from a mix of walks, play and mental stimulation to stay content.
Are Border Terriers easy to train?
Yes, Border Terriers are generally easy to train and eager to please, though their strong prey drive means recall work should start early and continue consistently throughout their life.
What colours do Border Terriers come in?
Border Terriers are most commonly seen in red, wheaten, and grizzle shades, as well as blue and tan, all of which are recognised under the Kennel Club breed standard. Black Border Terriers are sometimes advertised, but black is not a recognised breed standard colour for this breed, so prospective buyers are advised to check with a reputable breeder, or the Kennel Club, before assuming this is a standard variation.
Where can I find a Border Terrier litter or puppies for sale near you?
The Royal Kennel Club's Find a Puppy service lists registered breeders with a Border Terrier litter currently available, as well as rescue dogs looking for a new home, helping you find Border Terrier puppies for sale near you from breeders who carry out recommended health screening.
What is the difference between a working and show Border Terrier?
Working Border Terriers are bred for stamina and prey drive to support fox hunting, while show Border Terriers are bred to the Kennel Club standard with a greater focus on conformation and temperament suited to family and show life. See the Working vs Show section above for more detail.
More information
Need to find out more about a breed?
Use our Find a Club service to locate a breed club who can offer support and advice for the breed you're interested in.
Use our Find a Puppy service
The Royal Kennel Club's Find a Puppy service connects you with breeders who have puppies available. Search our register, and let's help you find your new best friend.
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