Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Border Terriers Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Border Terriers Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Border Terriers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Border Terriers Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Border Terriers Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Border Terriers Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Border Terriers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Border Terriers Easy to Train?
- Do Border Terriers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Border Terriers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Border Terriers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Border Terriers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Border Terriers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Border Terriers Playful? What is the Energy Level of Border Terriers
- Conclusion on Border Terrier Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Border Terrier
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Border Terrier out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Border Terrier based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Border Terrier breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Border Terrier by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Border Terrier.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Border Terrier for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Border Terrier.
The summary table below shows the score of the Border Terrier for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
Behavior | Score |
---|---|
Prey Drive | 81.3 percent |
Dog Directed Fear | 66.9 percent |
Owner Directed Aggression | 6.0 percent |
Dog Directed Aggression | 58.5 percent |
Energy Level | 52.0 percent |
Attachment Attention Seeking | 50.7 percent |
Excitability | 37.4 percent |
Stranger Directed Fear | 34.2 percent |
Separation Related Behavior | 27.3 percent |
Touch Sensitivity | 24.7 percent |
Nonsocial Fear | 21.6 percent |
Stranger Directed Aggression | 20.5 percent |
Stubbornness | 18.0 percent |
Dog Rivalry | 13.8 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Border Terrier`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Border Terrier, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Border Terrier.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Border Terriers Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Border Terriers are not aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Border Terrier ranks very low for aggression towards strangers.
The Border Terrier ranks number 98 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 30 Border Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Border Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Terrier has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 20.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are not aggressive towards strangers just like the Border Terrier are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
95 | Labrador Retriever | 22.8 % |
96 | Brittany | 22.5 % |
97 | Scottish Terrier | 21.2 % |
98 | Border Terrier | 20.5 % |
99 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 20.1 % |
100 | Eurasier | 20.0 % |
101 | Collie | 19.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Border Terriers Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Border Terriers are not aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Border Terrier ranks very low for aggression towards its owner.
The Border Terrier ranks number 112 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 30 Border Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Border Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Terrier has an owner-directed-aggression score of 6.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are not owner-aggressive just like the Border Terrier are listed in the table below
Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
109 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 6.4 % |
110 | Poodle (Standard) | 6.4 % |
111 | Great Dane | 6.1 % |
112 | Border Terrier | 6.0 % |
113 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 5.7 % |
114 | Mastiff (English) | 5.6 % |
115 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 5.4 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Border Terriers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Border Terriers are quite a bit aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Border Terrier ranks high for aggression towards other dogs.
The Border Terrier ranks number 39 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 30 Border Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Border Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Terrier has a dog-directed aggression score of 58.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit dog-aggressive just like the Border Terrier are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
36 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 60.1 % |
37 | Lhasa Apso | 59.6 % |
38 | Schipperke | 58.6 % |
39 | Border Terrier | 58.5 % |
40 | English Springer Spaniel | 57.5 % |
41 | Standard Schnauzer | 56.4 % |
42 | Maltese | 55.9 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Border Terriers Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Border Terriers are quite a bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the Border Terrier ranks high for fear of strangers.
The Border Terrier ranks number 47 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 30 Border Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Border Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Terrier has a stranger-directed-fear score of 34.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit stranger-fearful just like the Border Terrier are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
44 | Australian Shepherd | 34.6 % |
45 | Great Dane | 34.4 % |
46 | Bearded Collie | 34.4 % |
47 | Border Terrier | 34.2 % |
48 | Greyhound | 33.7 % |
49 | Havanese | 33.7 % |
50 | Poodle (Miniature) | 33.4 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Border Terriers Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Border Terriers are very much fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Border Terrier ranks very high for fear of other dogs.
The Border Terrier ranks number 9 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 30 Border Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Border Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Terrier has a dog-directed-fear score of 66.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much other-dog-fearful just like the Border Terrier are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
6 | Basenji | 76.5 % |
7 | Miniature Pinscher | 71.9 % |
8 | Maltese | 68.6 % |
9 | Border Terrier | 66.9 % |
10 | Parson Russell Terrier | 66.5 % |
11 | Pit Bull mix | 66.2 % |
12 | Dachshund | 62.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Border Terriers Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Border Terriers are a little bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Border Terrier ranks low for non-social fear.
The Border Terrier ranks number 81 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 30 Border Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Border Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Terrier has a nonsocial-fear score of 21.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Border Terrier are listed in the table below
Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
78 | Akita | 22.9 % |
79 | Keeshond | 22.3 % |
80 | German Shepherd | 22.3 % |
81 | Border Terrier | 21.6 % |
82 | Black and Tan Coonhound | 21.5 % |
83 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 21.4 % |
84 | Australian Cattle Dog | 21.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Border Terriers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Border Terriers are not competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Border Terrier ranks very low on dog rivalry.
The Border Terrier ranks number 118 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 30 Border Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Border Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Terrier has a dog-rivalry score of 13.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are not competition-driven just like the Border Terrier are listed in the table below
Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
---|---|---|
115 | Kuvasz | 16.5 % |
116 | Brittany | 15.3 % |
117 | Labrador Retriever | 15.0 % |
118 | Border Terrier | 13.8 % |
119 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 12.4 % |
120 | Scottish Terrier | 8.2 % |
121 | Italian Greyhound | 6.8 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Border Terriers Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Border Terriers are very much easy to train.
This is because the Border Terrier ranks very high for trainability.
The Border Terrier ranks number 24 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 30 Border Terrier owners reported on the trainability of their Border Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Terrier has a trainability score of 82.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much easy to train just like the Border Terrier are listed in the table below
Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
---|---|---|
21 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 83.4 % |
22 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 82.9 % |
23 | Doberman Pinscher | 82.9 % |
24 | Border Terrier | 82.0 % |
25 | Parson Russell Terrier | 81.5 % |
26 | Bearded Collie | 80.4 % |
27 | Pointer | 80.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Border Terrier is and how the intelligence of the Border Terrier affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Border Terrier is.
Do Border Terriers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Border Terriers are very much into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Border Terrier ranks very high for small-pet-chasing.
The Border Terrier ranks number 9 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 30 Border Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Border Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Terrier has a chasing score of 81.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much into chasing after smaller pets just like the Border Terrier are listed in the table below
Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
---|---|---|
6 | Whippet | 85.5 % |
7 | Jack Russell Terrier | 82.1 % |
8 | West Highland White Terrier | 82.0 % |
9 | Border Terrier | 81.3 % |
10 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 76.3 % |
11 | Cairn Terrier | 76.2 % |
12 | Pit Bull mix | 75.8 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Border Terriers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Border Terriers are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Border Terrier ranks average for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Border Terrier ranks number 67 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 30 Border Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Border Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Terrier has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 50.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking just like the Border Terrier are listed in the table below
Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
---|---|---|
64 | Golden Retriever | 51.7 % |
65 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 51.6 % |
66 | Bearded Collie | 51.5 % |
67 | Border Terrier | 50.7 % |
68 | American Bulldog | 50.4 % |
69 | Saint Bernard | 49.6 % |
70 | Brittany | 49.1 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Border Terriers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Border Terriers are a little bit prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Border Terrier ranks low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Border Terrier ranks number 88 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 30 Border Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Border Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Terrier has a separation anxiety score of 27.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Border Terrier are listed in the table below
Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
---|---|---|
85 | Shetland Sheepdog | 29.0 % |
86 | Mastiff (English) | 28.6 % |
87 | Siberian Husky | 28.5 % |
88 | Border Terrier | 27.3 % |
89 | Chinook | 26.9 % |
90 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 26.2 % |
91 | Akita | 26.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Border Terriers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Border Terriers are a little bit touch-sensitive.
This is because the Border Terrier ranks low for touch sensitivity.
The Border Terrier ranks number 74 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 30 Border Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Border Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Terrier has a touch-sensitivity score of 24.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit touch-sensitive just like the Border Terrier are listed in the table below
Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
---|---|---|
71 | Shetland Sheepdog | 25.6 % |
72 | Belgian Tervuren | 25.5 % |
73 | Norwegian Elkhound | 24.9 % |
74 | Border Terrier | 24.7 % |
75 | English Springer Spaniel | 24.7 % |
76 | German Shepherd | 24.4 % |
77 | Eurasier | 24.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Border Terriers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Border Terriers are a little bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Border Terrier ranks low for excitability.
The Border Terrier ranks number 88 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 30 Border Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Border Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Terrier has an excitability score of 37.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit excitable just like the Border Terrier are listed in the table below
Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
---|---|---|
85 | Dalmatian | 38.5 % |
86 | Portuguese Water Dog | 38.2 % |
87 | Scottish Terrier | 37.6 % |
88 | Border Terrier | 37.4 % |
89 | Bulldog | 37.2 % |
90 | Alaskan Malamute | 36.8 % |
91 | Golden Retriever | 36.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Border Terriers Playful? What is the Energy Level of Border Terriers
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Border Terriers are a little bit energetic.
This is because the Border Terrier ranks low for energy level.
The Border Terrier ranks number 77 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 30 Border Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Border Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Terrier has an energy-level score of 52.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit energetic just like the Border Terrier are listed in the table below
Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
---|---|---|
74 | English Springer Spaniel | 53.4 % |
75 | French Bulldog | 52.3 % |
76 | Scottish Terrier | 52.3 % |
77 | Border Terrier | 52.0 % |
78 | Bichon Frise | 51.9 % |
79 | Golden Retriever | 51.5 % |
80 | Samoyed | 51.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Border Terrier Temperament
The temperament of your Border Terrier comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Border Terrier is exposed to.
You cannot change your Border Terrier`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Border Terrier to.
Exposing your Border Terrier to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Border Terrier to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Border Terrier`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Border Terrier.
If you think the Border Terrier is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Border Terriers cost and Border Terrier puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Border Terrier breeders in the United States and the prices of their Border Terrier puppies.