Terriers Reference Libraries
The Sealyham Terrier is a Welsh terrier created by crossing the Basset Hound, Bull Terrier, Fox Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. It was developed in Sealyham, Harverfordwest, Wales by Captain John Edwards to quarry small game. The breed was officially recognized in the early 1900s and can still be found today in South Africa and the UK. At one time, the...
The Scottish Terrier, often called the Scottie, is one of five types of terrier that originated in Scotland. It is thought to be one of the oldest of the Highland terriers, although its origin is undocumented. The breed may have originated as early as the 1400s, but did not gain popularity until the reign of King James VI, who gave a Scottish Terrier to the French monarch as a gift. The breed...
The Rat Terrier is an American vermin-killing breed which served its purpose as a general farm dog. The breed was common throughout America during the 1920s and 1930s; it is somewhat rare today as chemical pesticides and commercial farming have forced the decline of the breed. It was brought to the US by migrants from Britain, and it gained its popularity not only by helping on the farm, but...
The Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz, or the Aldalusian Wine Cellars' Ratting Dog is a Spanish Terrier which hunts rats in wine cellars. Its ancestors may have included the Fox Terrier and other small breeds. It was most likely bread during the 19th century by British businessmen dealing with problems between their barrels of Sherry. The breed is medium sized with a short predominantly white...
The Patterdale Terrier is an English breed developed to guard flocks. It is a type of fell terrier which was first popularized in the mid 20th century. The breed was used as predator control in the hills of north England where sheep farming dominates. Its quarry ranges from fox to groundhogs to raccoons and badgers. The Patterdale Terrier stands 10 to 15 inches tall and weighs 10 to 24...
The Parson Russell Terrier is a breed which descended from fox-working terriers used for hunting. It was recognized by the UK Kennel Club in 1990. It has a larger chest and longer head than the Jack Russell Terrier, its close relative. They are rarely found working in fields today, but are rather kept as companion pets. The Parson Russell Terrier is a compact breed, standing 12 to 14 inches...
The Old English Terrier, or the black terrier was developed as a working and sporting breed in England. It was established during the 17th and 18th centuries. The breed can have one of two types of coat: smooth or rough. The breed was developed based on the type of work it was needed for, leading to such variations. The breed had spread throughout the world by the earlier part of the 19th...
The Norwich Terrier is a breed of dog which was first bred in the United Kingdom during the 1800s for hunting vermin. The breed, a descendant of the Irish Terrier, is a hardy dog useful for chasing fox, ridding farms of rodents, and as a family companion. The breed was involved in a long-standing controversy over its ear type, and during the 1930s, two separate breeds were formed from one. The...
The Norfolk Terrier is the smallest of the working Terriers, bred originally to rid barns of vermin. It was developed in the 1880s in England by British sportsmen by crossing Cairn Terriers, Irish Terriers, and small red terriers used by Gypsy ratters in Norfolk. The breed may have also helped with hunting when it involved prey of a similar size. The breed has been known by several names: first...
The Miniature Fox Terrier is a lightweight Australian breed developed for hunting rats, rabbits, and other vermin. The breed was most likely a cross between smaller Fox Terriers and Manchester Terriers. This cross was later mixed with other toy breeds such as the Whippet and the English Toy Terrier in order to make it smaller and quicker. The breed was identifiable in the late 1800s and began...
