Border Terrier breed standards compared
Each column is one club's published standard. An empty cell means the club says nothing on that point in our records.
Clubs compared: FCI, AKC, UKC, KC, CKC.
Size
| Measure | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | CKC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight, male | 5.9–7.1 kg | 5.9–7 kg | 5.9–7 kg | 6–7 kg | 6–7 kg |
| Weight, female | 5.1–6.4 kg | 5.2–6.4 kg | 5.2–6.4 kg | 5–6.5 kg | 5.3–6.3 kg |
Conformation
| Form | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | CKC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StopSlight | No ruling | Standard (“A slight, moderately broad curve at the stop”) | Standard (“The stop is a slight, moderately broad curve”) | No ruling | Standard (“A slight, moderately broad curve at the stop”) |
| BiteScissors bite | Standard (“Scissor bite”) | Standard (“Teeth strong, with a scissors bite”) | Standard (“meet in a scissors or level bite”) | Standard (“Scissor bite”) | Standard (“Teeth strong, with a scissors bite”) |
| BiteLevel bite | Alternate (“Level bite acceptable”) | No ruling | Standard (“meet in a scissors or level bite”) | Alternate (“Level bite acceptable”) | No ruling |
| BiteUndershot | Fault (“Undershot or overshot a major fault”) | No ruling | Fault (“Serious Faults: Undershot or overshot bites”) | Fault (“Undershot or overshot a major fault”) | No ruling |
| BiteOvershot | Fault (“Undershot or overshot a major fault”) | No ruling | Fault (“Serious Faults: Undershot or overshot bites”) | Fault (“Undershot or overshot a major fault”) | No ruling |
| Neck lengthMedium | Standard (“NECK: of moderate length”) | No ruling | Standard (“Of moderate length”) | Standard (“Of moderate length”) | No ruling |
| Tail setHigh | Standard (“Set high, carried gaily”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Set high, carried gaily”) | No ruling |
| Tail carriageRaised (gay) | Standard (“carried gaily”) | Standard (“Carried gaily when at the alert”) | Standard (“Carried gaily when at attention”) | Standard (“carried gaily”) | Standard (“Carried gaily when at the alert”) |
| Tail carriageCurled over the back | Fault (“but not curled over back”) | Fault (“but not over the back”) | Fault (“Faults: ... Tail carried over the back”) | Fault (“but not curled over back”) | Fault (“but not over the back”) |
| HocksWell let down | No ruling | Standard (“hocks well let down”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“hocks well let down”) |
Markings
| Marking | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | CKC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest patch | No ruling | Alternate (“A small amount of white may be allowed on the chest”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Socks | No ruling | Fault (“white on the feet should be penalized”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Mask | No ruling | Standard (“A dark muzzle is characteristic and desirable”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
Border Terrier colors and patterns
What each club's breed standard says about every Border Terrier color and pattern. Point at a ruling to see the club's own wording.
Breed standards describe the Border Terrier in Blue, Tan, Red, and Wheaten. Standard patterns: Grizzle and Tan point.
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | Standard (“blue and tan”) | Standard (“Blue & Tan”) | Standard (“blue and tan”) | Standard (“blue and tan”) | Standard (“blue and tan”) |
| Tan | Standard (“grizzle and tan, or blue and tan”) | Standard (“Grizzle & Tan”) | Standard (“grizzle and tan and blue and tan”) | Standard (“grizzle and tan, or blue and tan”) | Standard (“grizzle and tan, or blue and tan”) |
| Red | Standard (“Red”) | Standard (“Red”) | Standard (“red”) | Standard (“Red”) | Standard (“Red”) |
| Wheaten | Standard (“wheaten”) | Standard (“Wheaten”) | Standard (“wheaten”) | Standard (“wheaten”) | Standard (“wheaten”) |
| Black | Not recognized | Alternate (“Black & Tan”) | Not recognized | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Albino | Not recognized | Not recognized | Disqualifying (“Albinism”) | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Patterns | |||||
| Grizzle | Standard (“grizzle and tan”) | Standard (“Grizzle & Tan”) | Standard (“grizzle and tan”) | Standard (“grizzle and tan”) | Standard (“grizzle and tan”) |
| Tan point | Standard (“grizzle and tan, or blue and tan”) | Standard (“Blue & Tan”) | Standard (“grizzle and tan and blue and tan”) | Standard (“grizzle and tan, or blue and tan”) | Standard (“grizzle and tan, or blue and tan”) |
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark brown | Standard (“dark”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) |
| Hazel | No ruling | Standard (“Eyes dark hazel”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Standard (“Black nose preferable”) | Standard (“Nose black”) | Standard (“black preferred”) | Standard (“Black nose preferable”) | Standard (“Black nose preferable”) |
| Liver | Fault (“liver or flesh-coloured one not a serious fault”) | No ruling | Standard (“liver or flesh colored are acceptable”) | Fault (“liver- or flesh-coloured nose not a serious fault and tolerated”) | Fault (“liver- or flesh-coloured nose not a serious fault and tolerated”) |
| Pink | Fault (“liver or flesh-coloured one not a serious fault”) | No ruling | Standard (“liver or flesh colored are acceptable”) | Fault (“liver- or flesh-coloured nose not a serious fault and tolerated”) | Fault (“liver- or flesh-coloured nose not a serious fault and tolerated”) |
What the rulings mean
- Standard
- Described by the club's breed standard.
- Alternate
- Registrable with the club but not described by its breed standard, such as an AKC alternate color.
- Fault
- Named by the club's breed standard as a fault: the animal can be shown but is penalized.
- Disqualifying
- The club's breed standard disqualifies an animal of this color or pattern.
- Not recognized
- The club does not accept this color or pattern for the breed.
Color changes
How a Border Terrier's colors can change over its life.
Blackchanges toRust
Coat · With body condition · can change back
Blackchanges toGray
Coat · Progressive
Blackchanges toBrown
Coat · In the sun · can change back
Tan pointchanges toSaddle
Coat · With age · from 6 to 156 weeks
Blackchanges toSnow nose
Nose · With the season · can change back
Blackchanges toPink
Nose · With the season · can change back
Sources
Each ruling comes from the club's published breed standard or color list.