Recognising A Border Terrier
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General Description
HEIGHT: Adult - 11 to 16 inches at the shoulder
COLOUR: light brown, red brown, dark brown, grizzle (mixture of brown and black, grey and black or grey and brown hairs) blue & tan (may appear black & tan)
COAT: 1/2 inch to 2 inches. Hard or wirey in texture with a softer undercoat. May look like a small "Benji" if coat is ungroomed. If dog has been clipped, coat will tend to be soft and silky or woolly.
Click here for a simple PDF flyer you can download (please be patient - it may take a few minutes), print and distribute. If you have a color printer, you can also print this page of photographs (2 pages on most printers).
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The following photos are provided to aid in identifying a rescue as a probable Border Terrier.
Please click on the images for enlarged view. (This may take a few moments, please be patient).
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Borders in the Rough
It can be exceedingly difficult to positively identify an ungroomed Border Terrier, especially when working from a photo.
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![](./images/Benjy-3-S.jpg)
Cute as a button and deserving of the good home he has found, but almost certainly not a BT
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![](./images/Benjy-1-S.jpg)
Standing 17 inches at the shoulder he is a good inch taller than even a big BT
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![](./images/Benjy-2-S.jpg)
Note also the profile, longish muzzle and low earset. A visit from a CBTW Rep. confirmed that he was not a BT.
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![](./adopt-imgs/DannyBeforeGrooming.jpg)
This woolly senior was listed as a terrier mix.
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![](./adopt-imgs/DannyAfterGrooming1.jpg)
But when he was pulled from the shelter and groomed (clipped not stripped in deference to his age and condition), he turned out to be a venerable, if elderly, gentleman Border Terrier.
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![](./images/Rex-rough.jpg)
Another BT in the rough - this one is an eight year-old male
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![](./images/MI185.3032354-3-S.jpg)
This cute little fellow was listed as a BT on www.petfinder.com. He has the correct ear set and typical BT expression.
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![](./images/MI185.3032354-2-S.jpg)
He is also the right size and build for a youngster and although his muzzle is a a tad long, it is in correct proportion to his backskull.
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![](./images/MI185.3032354-1-S.jpg)
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![](./images/dexter-1.jpg)
A bit on the scruffy side but this Blue and Tan boy, turned into a shelter by his "owner", is a purebred BT.
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![](./images/dexter-2.jpg)
Fortunately, excellent local support had him identified, pulled from the shelter, placed in foster care and his caring breeder notified.
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![](./adopt-imgs/MN41.5193542-1.jpg)
Overweight and undergoomed, but fortunately this senior lady found her forever home through NABTW/CBTW cooperation
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![](./images/lemon-1.jpg)
The dog in this photo certainly looks like a BT...
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![](./images/lemon-2.jpg)
... another photo shot from a different angle raises some question marks....
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![](./images/lemon-3.jpg)
... and the head shot could go either way. How would you call it?
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Variations on a Theme
Despite the variety in coat and colour, the following are all purebred Border Terriers
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![](./images/Gunter-1.jpg)
Beneath this touzled exterior lurks a handsome multi-titled veteran Border
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![](./images/April2005-Boomer.jpg)
Not a typical "Otter" head but a purebred BT none-the-less
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![](./adopt-imgs/Oliver.jpg)
Another shaggy fellow with a pedigree as long as his hair
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![atypical head](./images/cbtw_Spic10.jpg)
Another atypical head but still a talented and titled BT
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![no top coat](./images/cbtw_Spic2.jpg)
Adult Border in his undercoat with fringes!
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![puppy](./images/cbtw_Spic9.jpg)
A Border puppy - cute but not the right choice for everyone.
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![show coat](./images/cbtw_Spic4.jpg)
Mature male in short, hard coat that has been stripped not clipped.
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![black and tan](./images/cbtw_Spic5.jpg)
A blue and tan may appear almost black and tan.....
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![blue and tan](./images/cbtw_Spic8.jpg)
......or "bluish" if there is more grey "ticking"in the coat.
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![bushy coat](./images/cbtw_Spic6.jpg)
A grizzle and tan female in "full" coat.
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![nearly white](./images/cbtw_Spic7.jpg)
Elderly Borders may appear almost white.....
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![shaved](./images/cbtw_Spic3.jpg)
....and may also have been shaved.
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