Norfolk Terrier vs Borador - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Hybrid breeds have become popular in the last decade or so. The Borador, hailing from Northern America, is one of these popular crossbreeds between two very popular dog breeds - the Border Collie and the Labrador Retriever. Between the two dog breeds, you get extraordinary intelligence, energy and a wonderful temperament.

You first started hearing about this dog breed in the early 21st century. However each of the two breeds brought together to produce the Borador have got reasonable lengthy histories.

It was in the 1880s that a working terrier was developed in eastern England. The Norfolk Terrier was developed by crossing local terrier-like dogs with the Irish Terrier breed as well as small red terriers.

Known first as the Cantab Terrier and then later as the Trumpington Terrier, the name changed further but in 1932, the Norwich was accepted into the English Kennel Club and the first written standard was created.

The Norfolk Terrier was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1979. It has gained recognition as an independent breed but is a variety of the Norwich Terrier, distinguished from it by having floppy ears and not erect ears. Both the Norfolk- and Norwich are the smallest of the working terriers.

His Looks

The Borador is a medium to large sized working dog which is well well-proportioned and muscular. His size can’t be carved in stone, but generally he will be in size from 40 – 57cm and weight in the region of 18 and 26 kg. His coat can vary significantly, leaning more towards one particular breed than the other. So the coat can be short and smooth or long and wavy or straight.

The Borador essentially has medium-sized ears which are floppy and the tail is medium-length. Sometimes the Borador will have the black and white coat of the Border Collie or he could have a brownish/beige colour from a golden Labrador.

He’s an Amicable Breed

When your energetic Borador is trained and socialized, he becomes a great family member and he gets on well with children and other pets.You’ll find that he often has the sweet, amicable temperament of the Labrador while having the sharp, alert intellect of the Border Collie.

Most Boradors are also good watchdogs and will bark at strangers, but because they are so amicable, from barking, they can quickly become a stranger’s friend.

The Norfolk Terrier is a small purebred dog, standing at 23 to 25cm in height and weighing roughly between 4.5kg and 6kg. The dog has a wire-haired coat which can be in different colors such as wheaten, red, black and grey or grizzle.

The hair on his head and ears is shorter and smoother and he has longer whiskers and eyebrows. The chest is deep, the front legs are short and straight and the tail has always been docked to half its length but left long these days. The tail is set high and carried erect.

Temperament:

Norfolks are feisty, fearless dogs with an independent streak. They’re gentle though, and when it comes to being a companion dog, they get on well with children and other pets. They thrive on their human family’s companionship and wouldn’t do well at all if they were constantly left outside.

They’re not yappy dogs but will bark occasionally so he can sound the alarm if strangers approach.

This little dog is able to live in the city or the countryside, but just because he is little, you can’t neglect his exercise needs. He will most certainly need to be exercised every day and taken for walks as he is an energetic, lively dog. He is intelligent too and easy to train and socialize, turning him into such an obedient, pleasurable pet.

The Borador is an intelligent dog that can be trained. He is a sociable dog and is friendly to all members of his human family, willing to extend a paw of friendship to strangers as well.

The Borador is also a friend of children and other pets. This combination of breeds is very energetic and you can’t just leave him for days on end in the backyard. He will need exercise and walks as well as ball games. When you become involved in his games, you tighten the bond between you and this is what this social, outgoing dog loves.

The Borador is going to make a wonderful pet because he is a mix of two very popular dog breeds. Give him all he deserves as a member of your family and you’ll have the perfect friend and companion for life.

Fearless and brave, the Norfolk Terrier promises to be a wonderful companion.

They're social, loving dogs and want to be part of the household. He is lively and active too and wants to be included in your walks and your games. He loves nothing more than to be running across a field after a ball.

They’re such amicable pets that they make great dogs for first-time dog owners. Let him into your heart and your home – he makes such a splendid pet – that once you’ve had one, you’ll realize you can never be without such a wonderful pet and companion again.

You won’t find serious health problems with your Boradors, as he is a robust breed. Nonetheless, there are some ailments that as a dog owner, you need to be aware of for your Borador.

Skin ailments – you don’t want to see your dog scratching or licking continuously so you want to be aware of things like parasites and allergies. Skin diseases can be debilitating for a dog and can even require lifelong treatments. Yes, corticosteroids can help with itchy rashes, but the best move is to try and avoid skin ailments by ensuring a nutritious diet rich in minerals and vitamins and which includes some raw meat.

Always be checking your pet for skin problems such as ringworm, caused by a fungus and found on your dog and which appear as scaly patches and hair loss.

Hip Dysplasia – an inherited problem with the hip joints. No-one can predict when hip dysplasia settles in, but it can be as early as 4 months of age.Your dog shows signs of stiffness and may not be his energetic self. Some dog owners want to see certificates first that the parents of puppies have been hip-cleared before they buy a puppy.

The life expectancy of your Norfolk Terrier is 8 to 14 years, but there are some who have received excellent care and who have reached 17 years of age.

Just as with any other dog, they are prone to common dog illnesses, and these can include dental issues and mitral valve disease. They also are prone to hip dysplasia, and according to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) they are known for problematic hips.

Grooming

The Borador may have inherited the moderate shedder characteristics of the Border Collie or the more intense shedding of the Labrador Retriever. He will require a good brush at least twice a week to ensure you remove loose hairs so as to keep his coat shiny and healthy. Check your dogs ears too for yeast infections.

Feeding

Puppies and young Boradors are full of energy and they will require a diet that has an excellent protein content. If you’re unsure about how to feed your Borador, speak to your vet as some dogs need more calories depending on their level of activity.

Certainly if your dog has allergies, you may have to look for a special diet but otherwise a top brand commercial dog food can be a good choice if you include some home prepared food such as rice, vegetables and meat. It is important to give your dog some raw meat every now and then as well. Always have a bowl of cool, fresh water available for your pet 24/7.

Grooming:

The Norfolk Terrier’s hard, wiry, straight coat requires being hand stripped about twice a year by hand or with a stripping knife. The paws will also need to be trimmed.

It is recommended to keep the hair short around the anus for hygienic purposes and the tail itself will need to be stripped.

The Norfolk doesn’t shed his coat naturally, and the hair keeps growing, making the dog uncomfortable and ungroomed looking. The dog will certainly need to have his hair kept away from around the eyes.

If you don’t want to strip your dog, there are people who take their dogs to professional groomers, but then this professional grooming makes it that the texture of the dog’s coat changes from wiry to soft.

Small dogs are prone to dental problems, so check your dog’s teeth regularly. A bad tooth can play havoc with your dogs general health.

Diet:

As with any other dog, the Norfolk Terrier will do well on high-quality kibble, specially formulated for small dog breeds. For a tasty treat, boil some chicken and vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots and spinach in a pot, chop them up and add to his kibble with some brown rice and pasta. A tiny bit of raw meat added in occasionally is all this little dog needs to stay healthy and content.

Don’t ‘treat’ him by giving him chocolates, chips and peanuts. You will upset his stomach. Dogs do best on simply, healthy, tasty diets such as mentioned above. Make sure he has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.