Border Terrier vs Irish Terrier

A Border Terrier
Photo: Samuel Cockman
An Irish Terrier
Photo: Sini Merikallio

Side by side

Border Terrier
Irish Terrier
Adult weight
Males 9.6–12.3 kg (21–27 lb); females 8.2–10.3 kg (18–23 lb) (measured in UK vet records, n = 1,161, middle 50%)1
Males 11–14 kg (24–30 lb); females 10–13 kg (22–28 lb) (estimated: ±10% around FCI 139's ideal weights of 27 lb (12.25 kg) for dogs and 25 lb (11.4 kg) for bitches)
Height
Males 30.5–38.1 cm; females 30.5–38.1 cm (breed club figure)2
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 14.2 years3
Median 13.5 years3
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Terriers5
Terriers6
Coat
Wire or harsh coat5
Wire or harsh coat6
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Cushing's syndrome (much more likely); Corneal ulcers (more likely)7,8
Melanoma of the eye or eyelid (far more likely); Skin melanoma (much more likely)9
Class
Family
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Irish Terrier is a little larger on average: about 12 kg (26 lb) as an adult, against 10 kg (22 lb) for the Border Terrier.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Border Terrier: friendly with everyone; Irish Terrier: sticks close to its people) and on independence (Border Terrier: cooperative, with its own ideas; Irish Terrier: decides for itself).
Alike
Both are rated the same on sensitivity: hardy, takes a busy home in its stride.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Border Terrier
Terriers · Small

In temperament the Border is good-natured and determined, with a strong urge to chase small animals. It is often described as less quarrelsome with other dogs than many terriers.

Irish Terrier
Terriers · Small

It is bold and spirited, loyal and affectionate with its own people, and can be quarrelsome with other dogs.

The Border Terrier page →The Irish Terrier page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Border Terrier
Irish Terrier
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Border Terrier
Irish Terrier
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Friendly with everyone
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Decides for itself
Around the home
Border Terrier
Irish Terrier
Sensitivity
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Likely to chase small pets
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour10. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home11,12.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Irish Terrier grows to the heavier adult, about 12 kg against the Border Terrier's 10 kg. The Irish Terrier's weight is not a published figure.
Border Terrier
Irish Terrier
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More comparisons

Compare the Border Terrier with
Border Terrier vs Parson Russell TerrierBorder Terrier vs Cairn TerrierIrish Terrier vs Welsh TerrierBorder Terrier vs Jack Russell TerrierBorder Terrier vs Norfolk TerrierBorder Terrier vs Miniature SchnauzerAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·