FCI-Standard N° 10 / 12. 03. 1998 / GB
BORDER TERRIER
ORIGIN : Great Britain.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 24.06.1987.
UTILIZATION : Terrier.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 3 Terriers. Section 1, Large and medium-sized terriers. Without working trial.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Essentially a working terrier. Capable of following a horse.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Combining activity with gameness.
HEAD : Head like that of an otter.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Moderately broad.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Black nose preferable, but liver or flesh-coloured one not a serious fault.
Muzzle : Short, strong.
Jaws/Teeth : Scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Level bite acceptable. Undershot or overshot a major fault and highly undesirable.
Eyes : dark with keen expression.
Ears : Small, V-shaped, of moderate thickness, and dropping forward close to the cheek.
NECK : of moderate length.
BODY : deep, narrow, fairly long.
Loins : Strong.
Chest : Ribs carried well back, but not oversprung, as a terrier should be capable of being spanned by both hands behind the shoulder.
TAIL : Moderately short; fairly thick at base, then tapering. Set high, carried gaily, but not curled over back.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs straight, not too heavy in bone.
HINDQUARTERS : Racy.
FEET : Small with thick pads.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : Has the soundness to follow a horse.
SKIN : Must be thick.
COAT
HAIR : Harsh and dense; with close undercoat.
COLOUR : Red, wheaten, grizzle and tan, or blue and tan.
WEIGHT : Dogs 5,9-7,1 kg (13-15 ½ lbs); bitches 5,1-6,4 (11 ½ lbs-14 lbs).
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect on the terrier’s ability to work and on the health and welfare of the dog.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.