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Terrier Dog Breed Explained

"The terrier is a group of dog initially bred for hunting."

Terrier Dog Breed

Their ancestors were bred to hunt and kill vermin. Many Terrier's continue to project the attitude that they're always eager for a spirited argument.

The majority of Terrier have wiry coats that require special grooming known as stripping in order to maintain a characteristic appearance.

Most of these breed were developed in the British Isles. They were used to control rats, rabbits, and foxes both over and under the ground.

Some larger terrier were also used to hunt badgers. In fact, the word terrier comes from the Middle French terrier and before that the Latin terra, meaning earth.

The gameness of the terrier dog breed 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.

Terrier Group is also an official breed grouping for most of the major kennel clubs, including the AKC, ANKC, CKC, Fédération Cynologique Internationale, KC(UK), NZKC, and UKC.


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Terrier dog 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.

Show terriers - Rarely used for their original working purpose but are bred for the show ring or as companion dogs. Many of these breeds are excellent family pets and also perform in dog agility trials.

Toy terrier - Bred "down" from larger terriers, these terriers are shown in the Toy or Companion group. Included among

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.

Fell terriers - breeds developed in northern England to assist in the killing of foxes.

Hunt terriers - breeds developed in southern England to locate and kill or bolt foxes during a traditional mounted fox hunt.

In general, terriers make engaging pets, but require owners with the determination to match their dogs' lively characters. While usually small, these dogs are brave and tough with a lively, energetic, and almost hyperactive personality.




Terrier Dog Breed Explained

Listed below are the breeds in the terrier group.

A

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Affenpinscher
Airedale Terrier
American Pit Bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Australian Silky Terrier
Australian Terrier

B

Bedlington Terrier
Black Russian Terrier
Brazilian Terrier
Border Terrier
Boston Terrier
Bull Terrier
Bull Terrier (Miniature)

C

Cairn Terrier
Cesky Terrier

D

Dandie Dinmont Terrier

F

Fox Terrier (Smooth)
Fox Terrier (Wire)
Glen of Imaal Terrier

I

American Stafford Terrier Dog Breed Picture

Indian Bull Terrier
Irish Terrier

J

Jack Russell Terrier
Jagdterrier

K

Kerry Blue Terrier
Kromfohrlander

L

Terrier dog explained. Border terrier dog picture

Lakeland Terrier
Lucas Terrier

M

Manchester Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer

N

Norfolk Terrier
Norwich Terrier

Terrier dog breeds explained. Fox terrier dog picture

P

Parson Russell Terrier
Pit Bull Terrier
Plummer Terrier

R

Rat Terrier
Russian Toy Terrier

Terrier dog breeds. Jack russell dog picture

S

Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Silky Terrier
Skye Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier

T

Taco Terrier
Tenterfield Terrier
Tibetan Terrier

Terrier dog breed explained. Yorkshire terier dog picture

W

Welsh Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Wheaten Terriers

Y

Yorkshire Terrier Dog Breed





Terrier Dog Breed Trivia

  • A working terrier is a terrier that goes to ground in a natural earth against formidable quarry.
  • Terriers that rat or bush rabbits or work wild game in brush piles or barns are not working terriers, but "sporting terriers", a term that encompasses a wide variety of work not done underground.
  • In the world of working terriers, there are but two roots – colored dogs from the north (Scotland and Wales), and white dogs from the south (England). From these two roots spring a variety of Kennel Club dogs and every type of working terrier commonly found in the field today.


Terrier Dog Breed Links

Terrier dog breed explained. American staffordshire terrier picture

Yorkshire Terriers - The Most Complete Guide For Yorkshire Terriers - Displaying our love for Yorkshire Terriers we are confident that we can provide you with all the information you will need to be a successful owner! Featured Terrier Website

Campaign against terrier dog breed work -League Against Cruel Sports - Fox hunting also takes place below ground, using terriers instead of hounds. This activity has been referred to as 'terrier work' or as 'fox baiting'. The League believes that this activity is inherently cruel and should be illegal under all circumstances.

AKC Breeds by Group Terrier Group - People familiar with this Group invariably comment on the distinctive terrier personality. These are feisty, energetic dogs whose sizes range from fairly small, as in the Norfolk, Cairn or West Highland White Terrier, to the grand Airedale Terrier. Terriers typically have little tolerance for other animals, including other dogs.


Other Related Terrier Dog Breed Articles

Border Terrier Dogs
Boston Terrier Rescue
Cairn Terrier Dog as Pets
Caring for your Soft Coated Wheatens
Finding Boston Terrier Dogs For Sale
Jack Russell Terriers
Terrier Dog Profiles
Training Your Silky Terrier
Types of Terrier Dogs




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