THE BORDER TERRIER’S VOCATION
The Border Terrier has the unique structural conformation and temperament required to pursue the Red Fox in dens comprised of unyielding (and undiggable) volcanic stone as found in the fells of the Lake District in England. (P Saunderson photo)
The headpiece of the Border Terrier is indeed a hallmark of the breed. It is uppermost on the Scale of Points and the “head like that of an otter” is mentioned twice. The Border Terrier Club of America, which has done an outstanding job of preserv- ing the working qualities of the breed, often offers a class for Best Otter-Shaped Head at its specialties. It’s not all hype. The factors that contribute to the shape of the head, such as a muzzle that is “well filled” and a “moderately broad and flat” skull, serve to deflect injury. The same breadth of skull and foreface that creates the head like that of an otter also virtually eliminates the possibility of a weak underjaw and/or misplaced canine teeth. And finally, let’s not forget the tail, “thick at the base, then tapering.” Think of it as a rescue tool to allow the hunter to remove the terrier from harm’s way. It’s also a mighty conve- nient handle even outside the den. The tail is “Not set on too high,” to reduce the likelihood of a snap tail which would lodge between the tunnel and the back, making retrieval of the dog by this means impossible. (If showing at Crufts, you may want to disregard this paragraph.) The takeaway here is that if one understands the vocation of the Border Terrier and how it differs from the more than 30 other breeds in the Terrier Group, one can easily apply the Standard which was written to create working prowess to the exhibits in the Conformation ring. Most of the Border Terri- ers that are currently in work both here in the US and abroad have come from breeders who breed primarily for the Confor- mation ring but have a keen awareness of the requisite working qualities. The diligence of these breeders and the knowledgeable adjudication by judges who are well aware of the Border Ter- rier’s vocation will ensure the preservation of breed type in this unique terrier.
The manual technique for spanning and pelting is easily mastered, but the real challenge is incorporating the information resulting from those exams into your final decision. In the ring, it’s a simple matter of priorities. In the field, it’s a matter of life and death. Another barely noticeable requirement of the Standard is, “Back strong but laterally supple.” It is the ability of the BT to navigate the tight rock-encased dens (and for that matter, even our earthen tunnel in the US) and not only reach its quarry, but to actually turn around in those tight quarters. We can’t test specifically for that lateral flex- ibility, but a dog that feels stiff, or cannot be compressed while span- ning, often lacks the requisite elasticity to enable it to work effectively in the earth. Like many breeds, the Standard calls for “hocks well let down” and additionally “flexing of stifle and hock.” These few unemphasized words are actually as important as the characteristics of the sharp end of the dog. The BT is not considered a “hard terrier” by the terriermen (of both sexes). Its style of hunting is to locate its quarry deep in the earth and attempt to force it into a dead end or cause it to bolt. BTs work with a charge and retreat type of attack, a technique that keeps it rela- tively safe and encourages the quarry to attempt a bolt. In order to do this, the dog needs to collect its rear legs under it in order to shift into reverse. Excessively long or stiff hocks can prevent retreat and actually endanger the dog. Judges can easily gauge the relative length of the hock and can see its flexibility while observing the side gait.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Richard Reynolds, despite a lifelong desire, has never owned a Border Terrier. He has been privileged to hunt with (and dig out) some of the very best workers (both human and four-legged) that the breed has to offer, both in the US and abroad. He is equally honored to have judged some truly
left: The ability to literally bend itself in half (laterally supple in the AKC Standard) enables the Border Terrier to extricate itself from unyielding and confining dens. This characteristic in and of itself is often a lifesaver. (J Todd photo) right: The Border Terrier, by virtue of its being “rather narrow in shoulder, body and quarter,” is ideally suited for work in dens located in rock and other very tight, unyielding, and undiggable locations. Its temperament and style of hunting help to keep it safe in that environment. (photo by Gert Baartmans, www.terrierwerk.nl)
great BTs in specialty rings and all-breed shows around the world. He hopes this article will bring the reader closer to the actual functions required of the LBD and the corresponding priorities within the Standard.
62 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2024
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