What Is Your Border Terrier Really Thinking?
A hardy, good-natured little worker with an off switch, for a terrier.
Rugged, affectionate and refreshingly level-headed, the Border Terrier is a working terrier with an unusually amiable temperament. Tough enough for the hills, soft enough for the sofa, they win hearts wherever they go. Ever wonder what that scruffy, cheerful little face is thinking?
Border Terrier temperament and personality
The Border Terrier is a hardy, good-natured working terrier, bred to run with hounds and go to ground after fox on the rugged Anglo-Scottish borders. That heritage gives them plenty of energy, stamina and a strong prey drive, yet they are famously more even-tempered and biddable than many terriers, which makes them delightful companions. Affectionate, cheerful and adaptable, they bond closely with their families and generally get on well with people and other dogs. They are intelligent and willing to please, though they retain a terrier's independent streak and love of digging and chasing. Tough, unfussy and game for anything, they enjoy an active life but also happily settle at home. Friendly, resilient and endearingly scruffy, the Border Terrier is one of the most all-round agreeable terriers you could hope to meet.
- Good-natured - Unusually easy-going and friendly for a working terrier.
- Hardy - Tough, resilient and built for a life outdoors in all weathers.
- Affectionate - Devoted to its family and happy to share the sofa.
- Energetic - Loves a good walk, run and adventure in the countryside.
- Intelligent - Bright and biddable, more trainable than most terriers.
- Prey-driven - Still a terrier at heart, keen to chase and dig.
Typical Border Terrier quirks and behaviour
Border Terriers are enthusiastic diggers and will happily excavate the garden in pursuit of an imagined rodent. Their strong prey drive means they may bolt after squirrels, cats and small furries with sudden terrier focus. Many are talented escape artists, squeezing through gaps and scaling fences to follow an interesting scent. Plenty love to burrow into blankets and cuddle up, revealing the softer side beneath the scruffy exterior. They tend to be food-motivated and can be persistent, if charming, beggars. Some make a characterful range of grumbles and chirrups, and most retain a cheerful, adventurous outlook well into old age, always ready for a walk, a game or a good roll in something disgusting.
What is your Border Terrier really thinking?
A Border Terrier's mind blends terrier drive with an easy-going contentment that sets the breed apart. Much of its thinking is about adventure and scent, the eager anticipation of the next walk and the fascinating question of what small creature might be hiding in that hedge. Bred to work hard yet live sociably with the pack, they think in surprisingly balanced terms, happy to switch from tireless chaser to devoted lap-warmer. A good deal of their inner life is about staying close to their people, because for all their independence they are genuinely affectionate. When a Border Terrier tilts its scruffy head at you, it is usually weighing up whether it is time for food, a fuss or a really good dig.
Scan your Border Terrier free and our AI reads their face to tell you the exact thought behind that look.
Are Border Terriers intelligent?
Border Terriers are intelligent and, by terrier standards, notably willing to please, which makes them one of the more trainable terrier breeds. They learn readily with reward-based methods and enjoy the engagement, though their independent streak and strong prey drive mean recall around wildlife can be a challenge. Consistency, patience and plenty of motivation work well. Keep their bright minds and busy bodies occupied with walks, games and training, and they prove capable, responsive and thoroughly good-humoured companions.
Border Terriers with families
Border Terriers make excellent family dogs, affectionate and playful with children and generally sociable with people and other dogs. Their good-natured, adaptable temperament suits active families well, and their toughness means they cope happily with the rough and tumble of family life. Their prey drive can make them unreliable with cats and small pets without careful socialisation. Give a Border Terrier plenty of exercise and inclusion, and it becomes a cheerful, resilient and devoted member of the household.
Frequently asked questions
Are Border Terriers easy to train?
Yes, relatively. They are intelligent and, unusually for terriers, keen to please, which makes them more trainable than many. Reward-based methods work well, though their prey drive means recall around wildlife needs patient, consistent practice.
Do Border Terriers bark a lot?
Less than many terriers. They will bark to alert you or out of excitement, but they are generally not excessively noisy. Adequate exercise and stimulation keep barking to a reasonable, characterful level.
Are Border Terriers good with other dogs?
Generally yes. They were bred to work alongside packs of hounds, so they tend to be more sociable with other dogs than many terriers. Early socialisation helps, and their prey drive still calls for care around cats and small pets.
Do Border Terriers make good family pets?
Excellent ones. They are affectionate, hardy, adaptable and good-natured, coping well with the bustle of family life and bonding closely with children. They need plenty of exercise and, ideally, careful introductions to any smaller household pets.
Stop guessing. See what your Border Terrier is really thinking.
Our free AI Pet Mind Reader reads their face and tells you what is going on in there - about 10 seconds, no sign-up.
Scan my Border Terrier free