History of the Border Terrier Breed According to most, the border terrier is thought to be one of Britain's oldest terrier breeds. It is said that this dog's origins lie in and around the Cheviot Hills, which form a border between England and Scotland. The dog was developed to aid farmers by chasing and dispatching fox that had become a nuisance. The border terrier is one of the smallest of the long-legged terrier group, which allowed it to be as fast as a horse but small enough to chase fox into their dens. It is believed that the border terrier is likely related to the Dandie Dinmont terrier, although the specific ancestry of this breed is unknown. The border terrier has been known by several other names, including the Coquetdale terrier and the Reedwater terrier, and some claim that the first evidence of this breed can be found as early as the 18th century. The name border terrier was adopted in 1870, and it is thought to have been influenced by a popular hunt called the border hunt. Basically unknown until it received recognition from the English Kennel Club, the border terrier was shown at most of the shows put on by the agricultural societies in the border country from which the breed originated. The border terrier was first shown in the 1870s, and the AKC recognized the breed in 1930. At first this dog was only popular with hunters, but in recent years it has enjoyed more popularity as a pet and a show dog.