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your secrets safe with me, they are actually pretty common around my parts. Even more so than jrt. I like that they get on with other dogs well, one thing that jrt seem to not have as readily, and having two other dogs its something to consider. Do border terriers still have working ability as I definitely wanna do earth work with them.

"Do border terriers still have working ability as I definitely wanna do earth work with them."



ABSOLUTELY. Hence the phrase "workmanlike little fellow in a plain brown suit."

Are there different lines like shepherds and springer spaniels etc?

as in working breeders vs more show breeders?

Aside from the lesser known terriers the Border people are most active in many different venues such as obedience, rally, Earth dog trials, etc but it's pretty rare to find a working line.

That's not to say they don't still have the working line mentality. Connie's Border Grandog was at war with Porkypines and kept trying to go back in the log even AFTER getting a face full of quills. That's their heart as much as it is their downfall. Sweet, soft,...crazy little Bassids! Dogs that fear nothing including coyotes, etc.
One of my Borders couldn't pass up a snake without doing a Lash LaRue imitation.

The fact that even in the breed ring the terrier group is known for attitude. That keeps the drives up although the Border "should" be known as being more tolerant of the other dogs in the ring.

Many judges today want the high energy dog in the ring. When I was showing my Border in the show ring he could care less about the snapping and snarling around him. He still finished his CH undefeated in the breed ring and got his majors at the Nat Specialty and a group placement first time out as a special.
Same dog was also Best Colored Dog at working terrier shows judged by working terrier men usually from GB.

Working terrier shows are classed as JRTs or Colored dogs. If a Westie showed up at a working show it was a Colored dog simply because it wasn't a JRT. Go figure!
I blieve that goes back to before terriers really had "formal" breeds. They were either white bodied or colored dogs.

Totally different from showing in the AKC ring. The judges would announce your dog's good points as well as it's faults to everyone at ringside around the ring. You'll never see that at an AKC breed show.
Same dog was also a monster in the ground. No give and took to much punishment. I retired him early because that's not what I wanted in an earth dog.

My JRT was a great little earth dog and could be worked every day because he was a baying dog and/or a bolting dog in the ground. Never took more the a couple of nips in the yrs I hunted him.

My JRT was also one of the very few working terriers that could be called out of the ground while in the middle of working the quarry. Saved a bunch of digging if we weren't there to dispatch the quarry for a farmer.
My group didn't hunt to kill unless it was requested by the land owner. We preferred the baying dogs.

Most show lines, be they great hunters or not are often to large for natural earths in the States here. Even with great character the show terriers are pretty much ruined for real earth work.

When my GSDs are gone it will probably be back to a Border. GREAT little bassids. Connie can attest to that also.

I talk to much cause I didn't even answer the question.

MOST breeds have a big divide between the working and show lines.
for instance

The Border collie Club of America is a working club. A border Collie from their lines can't be registered with them unless it has working parents. IF a Border is registerd with the BCCA and AKC it will loose it's registration if it wins a CH in the AKC show ring. That's how bad they want to keep the working lines clear.

The Parson Russell Terrier is AKC. That came about because Some JRTCA members wanted AKC recognition. Once they got it they eliminated a lot of the characteristics of the actual JRT in order to get their "cookie cutter" looking dog.
That's what most AKC show breeders do. Form over function.

I have to apologize cause when I get started on the terriers I don't know when to shut up.

Please please dont shut up. Its funny coz I always just only read about jrt and was like oh god that sounds like an awful dog. Then I met a few and absolutely loved them. I rehabilitated one and got him adopted to a loving home with dogs. He had bitten few dogs and people and was almost put down. I guess my malinois has ruined me and now I like a dog that can work wether a springer for hunting, my mal for schutzhund or a terrier for earth work. With our living arrangements a smaller dog was more suited as much as I long for another mal. Injust thougjt it'd fit better in all the places we go etc but certainly had to keep up to the mal and be agile and outdoorsy. Dont get me wrong i will most definitely be dressing it in adorable sweaters, sonmany more optioms with a small dog! I cant have a dog that can never be ok with other animals either and the fiancee for whatever reason is pretty attached to the cat

Any and all terrier advice and stories are very much appreciated bob

Advice

Don't think that just because it's a "terrier" that it can't get along with other animals. That's as much about what the owners accept/allow as it is the dog/breed....honest!

There will be individuals in any breed where the combo can be delicate if not handled properly.