THE OTTER HEAD HALLMARK OF THE BORDER TERRIER
BY BTCA & D'ARCY DOWNS-VOLLBRACHT
T he look and shape of the head distin- guishes the Border from other Ter- riers and is a hallmark of the breed. Specifically, the breed standard twice references the otter head and devotes considerable detail to the fea- tures of the head as they embody the look of an otter. In fact, while the Border is most decidedly a working Terrier, the scale of points in the official breed standard allots a full twenty (20) out of a pos- sible one hundred (100) points to the “ head, ears, neck and teeth.” “Eyes and expression” are valued at another ten (10) points. Collec- tively, this ascribes a full thirty (30) points to the head of a Border out of one hundred (100) points. This equates to a 30% empha- sis on the distinctive otter-like head and expression in the breed
standard’s judging scale. The Border Terrier is, in all things, a moderate breed. While definitely not considered a “head” breed by breeders, the distinguishing features of the head are critical to maintaining breed type. The characteristic otter head, with its keen eye (combined with a body poise that is “at the alert”), gives a look of fearless and implacable determination that is characteristic of the breed and is highly valued by breeders.
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, SPRING EDITION | 219
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