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.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.