Terrier
Terrier (from Latin terra, 'earth') is a type of dog originally bred
to hunt vermin.[1][2][3] A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds
or landraces of the terrier type, which are typically small, wiry,
game, and fearless.[4] There are five different groups of terrier,
with each group having different shapes and sizes.
History
Some terrier breeds. The book of
Most terrier breeds were refined from the older purpose-bred dogs. dogs; an intimate study of mankind's
best friend, 1919.
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 the 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".[5]
Some of the crosses with fighting dogs, bull and terrier 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 (FCI) under Bull type terriers.[6]
Today, most terriers are kept as companion dogs and family pets. A painting of an English toy terrier
They are generally loyal and affectionate to their owners. by Frederick August Wenderoth in
1865
Terrier types and groups
In the 18th century in Britain, only two types of terriers were recognized, long- and short-legged.[7]
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 Jagdterrier, the Rat Terrier, and the
Patterdale Terrier. There are also the short-legged terriers such as the Cairn Terrier, 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 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, they are generally included in kennel clubs' Terrier Group. Breeders have
bred modern bull-type terrier breeds, such as the Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, into suitable
family dogs and show terriers.
Toy terriers 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 dogs".
Other descendants of the bull and terrier 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 2.7 kg (6 lb), to the very large rough-coated
Airedale Terriers, which can be up to 25 kg (56 lb) or more. As of 2004, the United Kennel Club
recognized a new hairless breed of terrier derived from the Rat Terrier called the American Hairless
Terrier.
Kennel club classification
When competing in conformation shows, most kennel clubs including the Fédération Cynologique
Internationale group pedigree terrier breeds together in their own terrier group.[8] The Fédération
Cynologique Internationale grouped Terriers in Group 3.[9]
See also
Bull-type terriers
Working terriers
References
1. "Terrier Dog Breeds – Types of Terriers – Breed Info & Pictures" (https://bowwowinsurance.c
om.au/dogs/dogs-breeds/terrier-dog-breeds/). BWM. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
2. "Terrier Dog Breeds : Dog Breed Selector" (http://animal.discovery.com/breed-selector/dog-b
reeds/terrier-dogs.html). Animal Planet. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
3. "Terrier Group" (https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/terrier/). American Kennel Club. Retrieved
2019-06-09.
4. Roeder, Oliver (2016-02-16). "Terriers Were Once The Greatest Dogs In The World" (https://
fivethirtyeight.com/features/terriers-were-once-the-greatest-dogs-in-the-world-westminster-d
og-show/). FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
5. Marvin, John T. (1982). "2. Background and Heritage of the Terrier Family" (https://archive.or
g/details/newcompletescott00marv/page/20). The New Complete Scottish Terriers
(Second ed.). New York: Howell Book House Inc. pp. 20 (https://archive.org/details/newcom
pletescott00marv/page/20). ISBN 978-0-87605-306-5.
6. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale. "FCI Breeds nomenclature" (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20121126232457/http://www.fci.be/nomenclatures_detail.asp?lang=en&file=grou
p3). www.fci.be. Archived from the original (http://www.fci.be/nomenclatures_detail.asp?lang
=en&file=group3) on 2012-11-26. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
7. Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club of America. "History of the Dandie Dinmont" (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20080412230506/http://clubs.akc.org/ddtca/about/history.htm). DDTCA. Archived
from the original (http://clubs.akc.org/ddtca/about/history.htm) on 2008-04-12. Retrieved
2008-03-28.
8. "Group 3: Terriers" (http://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/3-Terriers.html). Fédération
Cynologique Internationale. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
9. FCI breeds nomenclature (https://www.fci.be/en/Nomenclature/), FCI
External links
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