THE BORDER TERRIER’S VOCATION
THE KEY TO PRESERVING BREED TYPE
I n many breeds of dog, the type and conformation of the breed was and is deter- mined by the specific use and function for which the breed is intended. That need is defined by specific criteria particular to the function and the environment in which the dog is meant to work. The almost endless variation of tasks, functions, and environments are the factors which give rise to the vast number of differing breeds we have today. The quest for excellence in a single role continues today and prompts breeders to continue their efforts to preserve and protect the breed characteristics that enable it to excel in its designated vocation. For its part, the Border Terrier was developed along the western end of the border between England and Scotland in an area known variously as the Lake District or the Fells. The breed was created specifically to hunt the Red Fox in this scenic and rugged countryside, as much out of necessity as out of the desire for sport. The fox was and is hunted by the venerable packs such as the Blencathra, the Ullswater, the Coniston, and their equally iconic huntsmen. Given the mountainous topography, these packs hunt on foot, not on horseback. In comparison to some of the “ancient” canine breeds, Border Terriers are a relative newcomer, appearing on the British hunt scene during the mid-1800s. Originally, they were called the Coquetdale Terrier or the Redesdale Terrier, both names making refer- ence to the towns where they were bred and worked. Not many miles away, other hunters in the Town of Bedlington were working on their own breed of terrier, particularly suited to coursing and night hunting. The purposes are different, the landscapes are different, and most assuredly, the breeders of each type and the dogs they produced are different. Foxhunting in the border counties was and is a markedly different pastime than our modern hunts in America and the well-organized and financed hunts of the British Mid- lands and south. No mounted staff with a hundred followers, but rather, a gnarly hunts- man and a pack of hounds, themselves bred with anatomical features that allow them to adapt to the environment. Most of the fells are over 1,000 feet in height, composed entirely of volcanic igneous rocks which are both incredibly hard and very, very steep. There are often large deposits of scree (sharp gravel) near the base which wreak havoc on the feet of humans, hounds, and terriers.
BY RICHARD L. REYNOLDS above: The country hunted by the original Border Terriers is unique in that the fox dens are located high up in the rocky crags and crevices of the fells along England’s northern border with Scotland. Rescue of a trapped terrier is difficult if not impossible and the dog needs special equipment to complete its assignment. That equipment is spelled out in the Standard and its lack can truly put the terrier in serious danger. (P Saunderson photo) “The breed was created specifically to hunt the Red Fox in this scenic and rugged countryside, as much out of necessity as out of the desire for sport.”
48 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2024
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