Terrier

A Scottish Terrier and a West Highland White Terrier
A Scottish Terrier and a West Highland White 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, and have a lively, energetic, and almost hyperactive personality.

Most terrier breeds were developed in the British Isles. They were used to hunt fox, otter, badger, and rat both over and under the ground. In fact, the word terrier comes from the Middle French terrier and before that the Latin ' terra', meaning earth.

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. Bear in mind that not all terriers are in the terrier group, and not all dogs in the terrier groups are terriers.

See:

  • AKC, ANKC, CKC KC(UK), NZKC and UKC Terrier Group
  • FCI Terrier Group

Terrier types and groups

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

  • Hunting Terriers - used to find, track, or trail quarry, and then bolt from a den or tree the quarry.
  • Show Terriers - bred for the show ring or as small pets.
  • Working Terriers - used to work denning quarry.
  • Toy Terriers - bred "down" from larger terriers, these terriers are shown in the Toy or Companion group. Included among these breeds are the Toy Fox Terrier, the Silky Terrier, the Manchester and the Yorkshire Terrier.
    • Fell Terriers - breeds developed in northern England for predator eradication.
    • Hunt Terriers - breeds developed in southern England to bolt foxes during a traditional fox hunt.

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 1800's, they were refined into separate breeds that combined terrier and bulldog qualities. Except for Boston Terriers, they are generally shown as terriers.

Terrier breeds

This tricoloured dog of Terrier type, possibly of mixed ancestry, exhibits several traits characteristic of Terriers, including an inherited instinct for digging.
This tricoloured dog of Terrier type, possibly of mixed ancestry, exhibits several traits characteristic of Terriers, including an inherited instinct for digging.
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
  • Airedale Terrier
  • American Hairless Terrier
  • American Pit Bull Terrier
  • American Staffordshire Terrier
  • Australian Silky Terrier
  • Australian Terrier
  • Bedlington Terrier
  • Black Russian Terrier
  • Border Terrier
  • Boston Terrier
  • Brazilian Terrier
  • Bull Terrier
  • Bull Terrier (Miniature)
  • Cairn Terrier
  • Cesky Terrier
  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier
  • English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan)
  • Fox Terrier ( Smooth & Wire)
  • Glen of Imaal Terrier
  • Irish Bull Terrier
  • Irish Terrier
  • Jack Russell Terrier
  • Jagdterrier
  • Japanese Terrier
  • Kerry Blue Terrier
  • Lakeland Terrier
  • Manchester Terrier
  • Miniature Fox Terrier
  • Norfolk Terrier
  • Norwich Terrier
  • Parson Russell Terrier
  • Patterdale Terrier
  • Rat Terrier
  • Russell Terrier
  • Scottish Terrier
  • Sealyham Terrier
  • Silky Terrier
  • Skye Terrier
  • Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • Tenterfield Terrier
  • Toy Fox Terrier
  • Welsh Terrier
  • West Highland White Terrier
  • Yorkshire Terrier

Note 1: Some breeds are called terriers or resemble terriers but are not, in fact, terriers:

  • Tibetan Terrier

Note 2: Some breeds are considered terriers by some all-breed registries:

  • Miniature Schnauzer - grouped as a terrier by the AKC, CKC and UKC, but in the Utility Group in other registries.