The last two years have seen many of us welcome a new four-legged friend into our homes, as the Kennel Club saw dog ownership rise by nearly eight per cent over the pandemic.
But with 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your perfect pup.
Those with active lifestyles might want to consider a larger dog, while somebody with allergies will be looking for a hypoallergenic dog.
There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
One dog that often appears at the top of people’s canine wishlists is the Border Terrrier – they were one of the UK’s 12 most popular dog breeds in 2020 and have a range of positive attributes that make them a great family pet.
Here are 10 fun and interesting facts about the breed.
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5. A change of name
The breed has only been known as the Border Terrier since the late 1800s - before then it was referred to as the Coquetdale Terrier or Redesdale Terrier. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
6. The perfect size
The Border Terrier's size was specially created to make them perfect at their job - they needed to have long enough legs to keep up with the horses and hounds on fox hunts, but had to be small enough to crawl into the animals' burrows. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
7. Famous fans
Celebrities who have welcomed Border Terriers into their families include Sir Andy Murray, David Walliams, Dennis Quaid, Diane Keaton, Daniel Craig, James Herriot and Kate Lawler. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
8. Long living
Border Terriers have a longer average lifespan than most breeds - living for between 12 and 15 years. Photo: Canva/Getty Images