When the Border Terrier first made its appearance in the A.K.C. show ring, onlookers were often heard to ask "What breed is that ugly little brown dog?" The Border Terrier does appear to be rather plain, a simple and straight forward looking, unassuming brown dog.

Personality wise however he packs a lot of punch. Developed to "run with the hounds" and worry the fox , the Border Terrier is courageous and exploratory in nature. As an addition to a household, he can get himself into a lot of trouble! His inquisitive forays into the neighborhood mandates that his owners have a securely enclosed area, especially since he is not a large dog and he can wiggle his way out of a lot of enclosures.

The Border Terrier has boundless energy. He is playful and a bit scrappy in nature. However he should not posses the typical aggression associated with most terrier types, since he must blend well into the fox hound pack. The history of his usefulness as an "assistant" to the hounds demands that he get along well with other dogs. He was bred to worry the fox when the hounds caught up, thus his nature should be one of dauntless courage and tenacity.

The standard calls for a small dog of stocky proportions. He should have a broad, otter-like skull with folded ears set close to his head, and a broad and sturdy body which is not actually very representative of most breeds who are within the Terrier group. The height is about 13 centimeters at the withers. The chest should not be "barrel" and his coat should be straight and lie close to the body. Colors range from dull red to wheaten to black and tan or blue and tan, a small amount of white on the chest is permissible but not common. Teeth should have a scissors bite and be strong. Shoulders should be well laid back so that he can negotiate rough country when running with the hounds.

The Border Terrier has proved himself useful as a therapy dog. His small size and gentle nature work well in this pursuit, plus his coat is not a difficult care coat so that he is easy to keep clean for his visits to hospitals and homes for the elderly. He has also become a favorite dog for the agility ring as he has speed and a genuine love of the chase. He is tractable and easy to train, being highly intelligent. The border terrier is equally at home in a small apartment or as a country dog. Assistance dogs generally are larger than this little dog, but in the areas of assistance dogs for the deaf or as a "seizure dog" the Border terrier has made himself quite useful. And of course, in the show ring, he is gaining steadily in popularity.

The Border Terrier seems to be very stable in matters of health. He presently is not considered a "problem dog" but care must be taken with responsible breeding or surely problems of health will develop, as this has often occurred in the history of breeding dogs. Especially when a dog is of a smaller stature or becomes popular, puppy millers tend to breed indiscriminately to meet the demands of the market, and this can lead to health related problems which were not present early on. If responsible breeders continue to maintain a tight control over the sale of un-neutered animals then the future will be secured with good health remaining one of the attributes of this "ugly little brown dog".

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Animals

If you have visited a dog show lately and seen a small somewhat funny looking dog with what can only be called a monkey"s face, you have most likely seen a version of the "Brussels Griffon" breed developed mostly by the Belgians. There are three varieties, almost identical except for coat texture, and since all three varieties can be found within the same litter, it is more appropriate that they should be called varieties rather than separate breeds. However, they are indeed called by separate names: the Griffon Bruxellois, (Brussels Griffon), the Petite Brabancon, and the Griffon Belge. Their pug like appearance and small size is due to the original crosses of a pug and a King Charles Spaniel with the larger Stable Griffon. They first appeared in 1883, and although some of the original dogs may have been bred by Dutch or German breeders, the majority of the development of the breed appears to have come from the breeders in Belgium.

The bug eyed appearance of the Brussels is due to the large rounded eyes perched above the bracocephalic (foreshortened) nostrils and short muzzle. These facial characteristics lead to problems in hot weather, because dogs with such shortened muzzles appear to have more trouble breathing than breeds with more room in the nasal passages. Also the large eyes can be subject to scratches or even irritations due to the long facial hair surrounding the eyes. The eyes need to be checked daily and washed out frequently. The Brussels Griffon can also be prone to the slipped patella or knee cap associated with some of the other toy breeds. Also, as with any toy breed, owners need to watch that the dog, especially as a puppy, is not allowed to jump from furniture or onto hard surfaces for fear of damage to its small legs.

In the United States, the "Griffs" have increased in popularity as both a show dog and a pet since they were introduced into this country in the mid 1950s. Show classes include both the rough coat and the smooth coated one rather than different varieties in the Toy group. They are now often seen in the conformation ring and more and more as a general family pet and apartment dog. These little dogs are noted for their intelligent and inquisitive nature. The AKC standard calls for a temperament that is "full of self-importance" and that really says it all. Griff owners have found that the Griffon puppy needs to believe that the training is HIS idea...this seems to work well as a training method for this somewhat independent minded little dog.

A person who is wanting a small and laid back breed that does not need a lot of attention should definitely not consider the Brussels Griffon, for although they are indeed small, energetic is their middle name. They are inquisitive and have the temperament of a "guard dog", being faithful and loyal to their human families and often intolerant of intruders. However when with their owners and families they are generally sweet and gentle to all visitors. They are very playful and enjoy nothing more than a good play time with children and other small dogs.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Animals