How long does a Border Terrier live?

The listed lifespan for a Border Terrier is 12–15 years.

How tall is a Border Terrier?

The listed height for a Border Terrier is 12–15 in.

Is a Border Terrier good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Border Terrier is 5 out of 5.

When is a Border Terrier full grown?

The growth size band for a Border Terrier is 8–12 months.

Terrier Group

Border Terrier

Border Terrier is a small dog in the Terrier Group. Adult weight is 13–15.5 lb (male), 11.5–14 lb (female), height is 12–15 in, and the listed lifespan is 12–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Affectionate, Happy, Plucky.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Border Terrier dog — Photo: DaisyField · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–15 years

Weight13–15.5 lb (male), 11.5–14 lb (female)

SizeSmall GroupTerrier Group

Height

12–15 in

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

2 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13.5 years is about the same as the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 13.5 lb is about 2.5 lb lighter than the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is England/Scotland. The coat is described as wiry, short. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.6 points below the group average of 3.6 for the Terrier Group. Shedding scores 2 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 91 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Hip Evaluation, Cardiac Exam, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, and Spongiform Leukoencephalomyelopathy (SLEM) - DNA Test. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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