Terriers are said to be determined or stubborn, depending on perspective. They’re often smart, feisty, active people dogs that do best with discipline and training mixed with positive attention. Is your home an ideal terrier home? This needs an honest evaluation not just “these are cute I want one” – even more so with terriers. Terriers are, by nature, in most cases bred and developed to kill vermin and other small animals. They can be a challenge in a multiple dog home as will rise to a fight quicker than many other dogs. The adage of it’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of fight in the dog was surely about terriers. This shouldn’t be represented to endorse dog fighting which is too often attached, unfortunately, to some members of the group. However, it is a major factor if you also have cats or other small animals, especially rodents. A long history of hunting and exterminating pests leaves instincts that can be fatal for smaller furred members of the household. Terriers should not ever be human aggressive and many can be kept in homes with other pets *if* owners make proper provisions for it. Make no mistake – a 15 pound terrier can kill a cat. Protect your other animals as well as your terrier.
1. Fox terrier – In smooth or wire haired varieties the fox terrier is a bundle of personality and energy. They are athletic and smart. The smooth takes less grooming but both are ver similar. They will be about 18 pounds at maturity and come in several colors . Originally bred to go to ground they can be diggers and barkers – their job was to harass a fox out of the hole – snapping, growling and lunging until the fox bolted. Recognized as a breed as far back as 1876 they can be traced to the middle of the 19th century. President Herbert Hoover had two fox terriers.
2. Airedale – One of the larger terriers at about 23 inches the tan or red with black Airedale is distinctive. These were once much more famous than today, being popular not only with Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge but also by John Wayne and author John Steinbeck. They were one of the first breeds used for police duty in Germany and Great Britain and have been used as wartime guards, messengers, rodent control and bird/game hunting.
3. American Staffordshire – Often grouped in as “pit bulls” this breed is generally 17-19 inches and may be any color, solid, parti or patched except that from a show standpoint all white or more than 80% black, white, tan or liver is discouraged. These can be wonderful family dogs and are stocky, loyal dogs. In World War I an American Staffordshire terrier, Stubby, earned the rank of Sergeant and is the most decorated dog of the war. Tracing to bulldogs used for bull baiting, they have been kept as a breed and registered by the AKC since 1936, long before the wave of “pit bull” hatred of modern society.
4. – Bull Terrier – White or colored are different varieties of the same dog made famous by “Spuds” as well as many Target ads. The Bull terrier has a distinctive head and looked, and a miniature bull terrier is a separate breed but also available and make good dogs for the home. They are not normally barkers, an important note to those with close neighbors, and love to play.
5. Irish Terrier – An active, wiry breed the Irish is about 18 inches and roughly 25-27 inches is a good tempered dog developed as a family pet, guard dog and hunter. Like many terriers, he will guard his home and people from danger with little care to danger, injury or giving his live to protect them. This is the oldest of the terrier breeds, being recognized as a breed in 1875 in Glasgow Scotland and is the only all red terrier. Used in WWI as a messenger and war dog, they are couragous and leggier than other terriers.
6. Miniature Schnauzer – These small schnauzers are effective mousers and eagerly go after small critters in barns and outbuildings. Roughly 12-14 inches they may be salt and pepper, black and silver or black and sport a hard, wiry coat. They were bred to go to ground on farms as rodent control.
7. Scottish terrier – Once known as a presidential dog Fala, the Scottie is a distinctive black is best recognized but they can be brindle or wheaton in color – he’s a big dog in a small package and by the standard “should convey both fire and control.” They can be difficult with other dogs in the home.
8. Welsh terrier – An Airedale coloring in a 15″ size with a square, spirited appearance the Welsh terrier is friendly and outgoing to people and other dogs. In their development they were used as a sporting dog and especially game on badger, fox and otter.
9. Norfolk terrier – A 9-10 inch high 11-12 pound dog with expression this breed may be red, black, tan or grizzled. They are alert, fearless but not aggressive and bred to “go to ground” – meaning they would go in the burrows and bring game out. Beware this natural tendency also means they may go into areas that perhaps they shouldn’t!
10. Cairn terrier – Another smallish 13-14 pound dog these little dogs have a double coat with a harsh, profuse outer coat and under it a short, soft coat. They’re tough little dogs depicted most famously in “The Wizard of Oz”. They were bred to be a farm pest control digging out and killing rats, mice, moles and other burrowing pests in the Islands of Scotland.
Terriers are not pushover dogs and need boundaries and discipline to be their best. They’re wonderful dogs for the right home. Consider carefully if yours is one.
