DOG BREEDS

Terrier Dogs Group | Seven Types of Dogs

Do you own a Pitbull or Schnauzer? These breeds belong to the terrier breeds group, bred to hunt vermin & for sport. Read to learn more.
The Terrier Breeds Group consists of breeds that are energetic, supremely confident & can be considered the greatest sporting champions of all dog time. They were originally bred to hunt foxes, rats & other vermin. The term 'terrier' is derived from the Latin 'Terra' meaning ground – referencing their work, which included chasing its prey on land & burrowing deep, if required, in order to hunt them.
They were originally bigger, but with industrialization & the need for pest control in urban settings, smaller dogs were favoured, making the terrier breeds smaller. Even today, terrier breeds vary greatly in size. The largest is the Airedale Terrier (King of Terriers) at 55-60 cm tall & 25-28 kg in weight, while the smallest is the Norfolk Terrier at just 20-25 cm & 5 kilograms in weight.

True to the purpose they were bred for, Terrier breeds possess a powerful prey drive. Their motivation to chase small prey comes instinctively & can be triggered by any quick, darting motion across their line of vision. More important in their armoury is an innate fearlessness. A weak-willed or timid terrier would have been of no use to anyone wishing to rid their farm or home of vermin.

Their courage & instinct was so extraordinary that when breeders wanted to give the older bullfighting breeds (like English bulldogs) more courage & gameness, they bred them with terriers, & hence the bull terriers were born. Their fearlessness makes the terrier breeds supremely confident in any setting & a vital reason why Terriers have won the most sporting accolades of any dog breed group.

Today, terriers are a lot more mellow than their ancestors & make for a popular pet. They are favoured by parents who are looking for a confident dog with attitude & high energy. The highest number of Best in Show wins at Westminster has surely helped their cause too

Common Terriers: American Staffordshire Terrier, Border Terrier, Bull Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Jack Russell Terrier & Wire Fox Terrier

The types of dogs we see today were bred with a particular set of character traits that traditionally helped in performing certain functions. These traits can be observed in them, to this day. If your dog belongs to the terrier dogs’ group, we hope this article has helped you get to know them a little better and helped explain some innate behaviours they might be presenting.

Happy Pet Parenting!
About the author
Get Daily Pet Parenting Tips
Get daily pet parenting tips to your Whatsapp
thePack Logo
thePack.in
Happier together with dogs
Copyright Interspecies Caretech Private Limited 2023