What is the difference between a border terrier and a Yorkshire terrier?

Border terriers and Yorkshire terriers have very similar sizes. Both are about the same height and weight, with an average weight of about 16 pounds. Although this means they have a narrower face than a Yorkshire Terrier or a Border Terrier (both have a narrow face) , their coats are very similar.

What distinguishes Border Terriers from a Yorkshire Terrier?
Their coats vary greatly in colour, with some Yorkshire Terriers having dark brown or black coats. The different coats give them distinctive breeds.

Another significant difference is that most Border Terriers are not socialized. Many Border Terriers are raised without interaction with other dogs, other cats or other people and instead rely on their senses of smell and sight.

This enables the dogs to maintain a very calm temperament in the presence of other dogs. They are very loyal in the presence of their handlers, and they are generally well- behaved when playing and playing with other dogs and other dogs' babies.

They are also more active and assertive than a Yorkshire Terrier, as are most Border Terriers. Why do Border Terriers vary so much in colour and coat colour?
The colour and coats of a border terrier can be more or less varied depending on the coat's parentage (breeding programme) .

Breed of origin of the coat colour is the dominant gene. It is passed down through the mother's pups. Most border terriers are either black or white and some are also light- brown. Some are dark brown and some are black.

Black is a more commonly seen colour in Britain, while the most common colour for a black dog is also black. There are two types of parentage and the dominant gene determines the dominant pattern in the dog, but it has nothing to do with colour.

If the dominant gene is either recessive or intersexed, the dominant colour can be one of two different colours (white or black) or a hybrid between the two. For example, some black- and- white border terrier puppies are a mix of orange, blonde and white with a small amount of light gray spotting.

What is the typical body colour and coat pattern of a Border Terrier?
The most common colour pattern is a pale grey or white coat that can vary from a light tan and golden to blonde and black.

In England and Wales there are a number of different coat colour and pattern varieties and they all tend to have a distinct difference in size, shape, length and texture. However, there are also variations that are visible under a microscope (for example, some coat colour variations can be seen with special techniques for detecting the genetic pattern of fur and body skin of a certain breed) .

In the UK, the two most common coat colour varieties are white and dark grey, which is probably why the majority of Border Terriers are typically brown or solid, and why black has become the most popular colour.

Why do some people call Border Terriers "sneaky" or more "shy"?
The Border Terrier is not shy or sneaky nor is it aggressive. The term "sneaky" is also not appropriate- a dog is not 'sneaky' in that he or she is cautious of approaching other dogs or people.

When you call a dog "sneaky", you are making a negative judgement, and an accurate one at that. The name "sneaky", also, was coined in the United States- a friend had heard the term "bark yaw" used when describing Border Terriers.

She brought this up to me and asked if there was any truth in it. I told her there is, but I also told her that it was also the term used because of its derogatory connotations. My friend said I must have misunderstood and that she was referring to "sneaky people", so I decided to use the term as I thought it better reflected the breed.

The idea behind a "sneaky" was to evoke an image of a dog who was very wary and reluctant to approach people and other animals. It is also similar to the way that many people refer to their dog by its name.

What does the Border Terrier family have in common with other breeds of dog?
The Border Terrier is not found in any other domestic animal family.