Terrier (from Latin ''terra'', 'earth') is a
type of dog originally bred to hunt
vermin
Vermin ( colloquially varmint(s) or varmit(s)) are pests or nuisance animals that spread diseases or destroy crops or livestock. Since the term is defined in relation to human activities, which species are included vary by region and enterp ...
. A terrier is a
dog of any one of many
breed
A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...
s or
landraces of the terrier
type, which are typically small, wiry,
game
A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or games) or art (suc ...
, and fearless. Terrier breeds vary greatly in size from just to over 60 kg (132 lb, e.g. Black Russian Terrier) and are usually categorized by size or function. There are five different groups of terrier, with each group having different shapes and sizes.
History
Most terrier breeds were refined from the older purpose-bred dogs.
The
gameness of the early hunting terriers was exploited by using them in 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. In the eighteenth century some terriers were crossed with
hounds to improve their hunting, and some with fighting dog breeds to "intensify tenacity and increase courage". Some of the crosses with fighting dogs,
bull and terrier
Bull and terrier was a common name for bulldog and terrier crossbreeds of the early 1800s. Other names included half-and-halfs and half-breds. It was a time in history when, for thousands of years, dogs were classified by use or function, un ...
crosses, were used in the
blood sport of dog-fighting. Modern pet breeds such as the
Miniature Bull Terrier are listed by the
Fédération Cynologique Internationale
The Fédération cynologique internationale (FCI) (English: International Canine Federation) is the largest international federation of national kennel clubs. It is based in Thuin, Belgium.
History
The FCI was founded in 1911 under the auspices ...
(FCI) under Bull type terriers.
Today, most terriers are kept as companion dogs and family pets. They are generally loyal and affectionate to their owners.
Terrier types and groups
In the 18th century in Britain, only two
types of terriers were recognized, long- and short-legged. Today, terriers are often informally categorized by size or by function.
Hunting-types are still used to find, track, or trail quarry, especially underground, and sometimes to bolt the quarry. Modern examples include the
Jack Russell Terrier
The Jack Russell Terrier is a small terrier that has its origins in fox hunting in England. It is principally white-bodied and smooth, rough or broken-coated and can be any colour.
Small tan and white terriers that technically belong to ot ...
, the
Jagdterrier, the
Rat Terrier
The Rat Terrier is an American dog breed with a background as a farm dog and hunting companion. They share much ancestry with the small hunting dogs known as feists. Common throughout family farms in the 1920s and 1930s, they are now recogniz ...
, and the
Patterdale Terrier. There are also the short-legged terriers such as the
Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier is a terrier breed originating in the Scottish Highlands and recognized as one of Scotland's earliest working dogs. The breed was given the name Cairn because the breed's function was to hunt and chase quarry between the cai ...
, the
Scottish Terrier, and the
West Highland White Terrier, which were also used to kill small vermin.
The original hunting terriers include the
Fell Terrier (developed in northern England to assist in the killing of foxes) and the
Hunt Terrier (developed in southern England to locate, kill or bolt foxes during a traditional mounted fox hunt).
The various combinations of
bulldog and terrier that were used for
bull-baiting
Bull-baiting is a blood sport involving pitting a bull against dogs.
History England
Crowds in London during the Royal Entry of James VI and I in March 1604 were entertained by bull-baiting. During the time of Queen Anne, bull-baiting w ...
and
dog-fighting in the late 19th century were later refined into separate breeds that combined both terrier and bulldog qualities. Except for the
Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier is a breed of dog originating in the United States of America. This "American Gentleman" was accepted in 1893 by the American Kennel Club as a non-sporting breed. Color and markings are important when distinguishing this breed f ...
, they are generally included in kennel clubs' Terrier Group. Breeders have bred modern bull-type terrier breeds, such as the
Bull Terrier
The Bull Terrier is a breed of dog in the terrier family. There is also a miniature version of this breed which is officially known as the Miniature Bull Terrier.
Appearance
The Bull Terrier's most recognizable feature is its head, descri ...
and
Staffordshire Bull Terrier, into suitable family dogs and show terriers.
Toy terrier {{Short description, none
Toy Terriers are a group of toy breeds of dog. Breeds within this group include:
* English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan)
* Japanese Terrier
*Miniature Bull Terrier
* Miniature Fox Terrier
*Rat Terrier
* Russian Toy
* Silky T ...
s have been bred from larger terriers and 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 submissive "
lap dog
A lap dog or lapdog is a dog that is both small enough to be held in the arms or lie comfortably on a person's lap and temperamentally predisposed to doing so. ''Lapdog'' is not a specific breed, but a generic term for a type of dog that is sm ...
s".
Other descendants of the
bull and terrier
Bull and terrier was a common name for bulldog and terrier crossbreeds of the early 1800s. Other names included half-and-halfs and half-breds. It was a time in history when, for thousands of years, dogs were classified by use or function, un ...
types, such as the Asian
Gull Terrier, are among the dogs still raised for dog-fighting.
Appearance
Terriers range greatly in appearance from very small, light bodied, smooth
coated dogs such as the
English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan), which weighs as little as , to the very large rough-coated
Airedale Terrier
The Airedale Terrier (often shortened to "Airedale"), also called Bingley Terrier and Waterside Terrier, is a dog breed of the terrier type that originated in the valley (''dale'') of the River Aire, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. I ...
s, which can be up to or more. As of 2004, the United Kennel Club recognized a new hairless breed of terrier derived from the
Rat Terrier
The Rat Terrier is an American dog breed with a background as a farm dog and hunting companion. They share much ancestry with the small hunting dogs known as feists. Common throughout family farms in the 1920s and 1930s, they are now recogniz ...
called the
American Hairless Terrier.
Kennel club classification
When competing in
conformation show
A dog show is an event where dogs are exhibited. A conformation show, also referred to as a '' breed show'', is a kind of dog show in which a judge, familiar with a specific dog breed, evaluates individual purebred dogs for how well the dogs ...
s, most
kennel clubs including the
Fédération Cynologique Internationale
The Fédération cynologique internationale (FCI) (English: International Canine Federation) is the largest international federation of national kennel clubs. It is based in Thuin, Belgium.
History
The FCI was founded in 1911 under the auspices ...
group pedigree terrier breeds together in their own terrier group.
See also
*
Bull-type terriers
Bull and terrier was a common name for bulldog and terrier crossbreeds of the early 1800s. Other names included half-and-halfs and half-breds. It was a time in history when, for thousands of years, dogs were classified by use or function, unli ...
*
Working terriers
*
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan and ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and Humber Region of England. It is an inland and upland county having eastward-draining valleys while taking in the moors of the Pennines. West Yorkshire came into exi ...
-based
Huddersfield Town football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly ...
club, which adopted the nickname "The Terriers" in 1969.
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Dog types
Hunting dogs