From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (October 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

This article or section includes a list of references or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. You can improve this article by introducing more precise citations.

A Jack Russell Terrier, an example of a working terrier.

The terrier is a group of dog breeds initially bred for hunting and killing vermin. While usually small, these dogs are brave and tough with a lively, energetic, and almost hyperactive personality. The largest breed in this family is the Airedale Terrier.

Most terrier breeds were developed in the British Isles. They were used to control rats, rabbits, and foxes both over and under the ground. Some larger terriers were also used to hunt badgers. In fact, the word terrier comes from the Middle French terrier, derived from the Latin terra, meaning earth. The Kerry Blue Terrier and Airedale, however, are particularly noted for tackling river rats and otter in deep water.

The gameness of terriers was exploited by using them in so-called sporting contests. Initially, terriers competed in events such as clearing a pit of rats. The dog that was fastest in killing all the rats won. Bull Terriers, in particular, were developed as fighting dogs.

Today, most terriers are kept as companion dogs and make great family pets. They are generally loyal and affectionate to their owners but can be "big characters" requiring a firm hand.

This tricolored dog of Terrier type, possibly of mixed ancestry, exhibits several traits characteristic of Terriers, including an inherited instinct for digging

Terrier breeds can be divided into different types and groups, such as:

• Hunting or working terriers - Still used to find, track, or trail quarry, especially underground, and sometimes to bolt the quarry. These dogs are usually of mixed breeding or of breeds not recognized as pure breeds. These include
  • Fell terriers - breeds developed in northern England to assist in the killing of foxes and
  • Hunt terriers - breeds developed in southern England to locate and kill or bolt foxes during a traditional mounted fox hunt.

• Toy terrier - Bred "down" from larger terriers, these terriers are shown in the Toy or Companion group. Included among these breeds are the English Toy Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier. While small, they retain true terrier character and are not "lap dogs."

• Fighting Terriers - The Bull and Terrier types (of which the modern Bull Terrier is one) were originally combinations of bulldogs and terriers as general mixed breed pit dogs. In the late 1800s, they were refined into separate breeds that combined terrier and bulldog qualities. Except for Boston Terriers, they are generally shown as terriers. Responsible breeders have made modern Bull terrier breeds suitable as family dogs and can be considered as show terriers. Sadly, the criminal element still holds illegal dog fights using pit-bull terriers and pit-bull crosses.

Listed at the bottom of the article are all Terrier breeds.

What is considered a terrier varies in the many of the major kennel clubs, including the NTC , AKC, ANKC, CKC, Fédération Cynologique Internationale, KC(UK), NZKC, and UKC. For example, the Miniature Schnauzer is in the Terrier group in the American Kennel Club but not a Terrier according to the United Kingdom Kennel Club. Boston Terriers are true terriers although not put in the terrier group, while the Tibetan Terrier and Black Russian Terrier are terriers in name only and not true terriers at all.

A one-year-old pedigree grizzle border terrier

Two Yorkshire Terriers with typical show-length coats

A terrier used for hunting, February 2005

A Scottish Terrier and a West Highland White Terrier.

• Terriers of Scotland
• Working terriers

• A Pictorial History of Terriers
• Hunting with Terriers: The Basics
• Tips for Tunnel Training Terriers