Breed profile
Border Terrier
Explore the care, lifestyle and household factors that matter before making a commitment.
SizeSmall
ExerciseModerate
GroomingModerate
ChildrenGood
BarkingHigh
HealthLow
What this means
Source-linked data has been researched to help you make an informed decision about life with this breed.
Read how evidence is handledAt a glance
Key facts
Size classSmall
Adult weight5 to 7 kg
Exercise needModerate
Energy levelHigh
BarkingHigh
Grooming effortModerate
Health burdenLow
Breed profile
Life with this breed
Home and lifestyle
- Flat suitability
- Good fit
- Alone tolerance
- Very low
- Energy level
- High
- First-time owner fit
- Good fit
Care and training
- Minimum daily exercise
- 60 minutes
- Mental stimulation
- High
- Trainability
- Good
- Grooming effort
- Moderate
- Professional grooming
- Professional grooming likely
- Shedding
- Moderate
Household fit
- Children
- Good
- Dogs
- Good
- Cats
- Moderate
- Prey drive
- High
- Visitors
- Moderate
Health and evidence
- Health burden
- Low
- Heat tolerance
- Moderate
- Cold tolerance
- Moderate
Health-burden evidence confidence: Medium.
Recorded health considerations
- Luxating patellas
- Skin problems
- Ear problems
- Spongiform leukoencephalomyelopathy (SLEM)
- Canine epileptoid cramping syndrome (CECS)
- Canine gallbladder mucocoele
These are breed-level considerations, not a diagnosis or a guarantee that an individual dog will be affected.
Children and pets need supervision and careful introductions. Individual behaviour varies.