Terrier 176426 225811870 2008-07-15T14:53:46Z Bob98133 4392768 rvt mispelled, unsourced edit {{otheruses4|1=the [[Dog breed|breed]] of [[dog]]}} A '''terrier''' is a [[dog]] of any one of many [[Dog breed|breed]]s or [[landrace]]s of terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, very active and fearless dogs. Most terrier breeds were developed in [[Great Britain]] and [[Ireland]]. They were used to control [[rat]]s, [[rabbit]]s, and [[fox]]es both over and under the ground. Some larger terriers were also used to hunt [[badger]]s. In fact, the word terrier comes from the Middle French ''terrier'', derived from the [[Latin]] ''terra'', meaning earth. The [[Kerry Blue Terrier]] and [[Airedale_Terrier|Airedale]], however, are particularly noted for tackling river rats and [[otters]] in deep water. The [[game (dog)|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 fastest in killing all the rats won. In the 1700s some terriers were crossed with hounds to improve their hunting, and some with fighting dog breeds to "intensify tenacity and increase courage".<ref>{{cite book |last= Marvin |first= John T. |title= The New Complete Scottish Terrier |edition= Second Edition |date= 1982 |publisher= Howell Book House Inc. |location= New York, N.Y. |isbn= 0-87605-306-1 |pages= pg 20 |chapter= 2. Background and Heritage of the Terrier Family }}</ref> Some of the crosses with fighting dogs, [[Bull and Terrier]] crosses, were used in the [[Blood sport|blood sport]] of dog fighting. Modern pet breeds developed from the Bull and Terrier, such as the [[Bull Terrier (Miniature)|Miniature Bull Terrier]], are listed by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) under Bull type terriers.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fci.be/nomenclatures_detail.asp?lang=en&file=group3 |title= FCI Breeds nomenclature |accessdaymonth= 03/28 |accessyear= 2008 |author=The Fédération Cynologique Internationale |work= www.fci.be }}</ref> Today, most terriers are kept as companion dogs and make great family pets. They are generally loyal and affectionate to their owners but can be "big characters" requiring a firm hand. ==Terrier types and groups== [[Image:Foxterrier sh klaas.jpg|thumb|This tricolored dog of Terrier [[Dog type|type]], possibly of mixed ancestry, exhibits several traits characteristic of Terriers, including an inherited instinct for digging]] Most major dog registries today group all terriers in one [[Terrier Group|Group]]; only the Fédération Cynologique Internationale subdivides the terrier group, into what the FCI calls Sections: Large and medium-sized Terriers, Small-sized Terriers, Bull type Terriers, and Toy Terriers. [[Genetic analysis]] shows that most terriers are in the "modern/hunting" genetic cluster of [[dog breeds]] developed from the same pool of ancestors in Europe in the 1800s. A few terriers are found in the "mastiff" genetic cluster with [[Pomeranian (dog)|Pomeranians]], [[Labrador Retrievers]], and other large-headed dogs, and the [[Tibetan Terrier]] is found in the older grouping of Asian and African dogs.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.americanscientist.org/template/AssetDetail/assetid/55869/page/2 |title= Genetics and the Shape of Dogs; Studying the new sequence of the canine genome shows how tiny genetic changes can create enormous variation within a single species |accessmonthday= 03/31 |accessyear= 2008 |last= Ostrander |first= Elaine A. |date= September-October 2007 |work= American Scientist (online) |publisher= www.americanscientist.org |pages= page 2, chart page 4 }}</ref> In the 1700s in Britain, only two [[Dog type|types]] of terriers were recognized, long- and short-legged.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://clubs.akc.org/ddtca/about/history.htm |title= History of the Dandie Dinmont |accessdaymonth= 03/28 |accessyear= 2008 |author= Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club of America |work= DDTCA }}</ref> Different localities raised terriers suited to their hunting or vermin control needs. Terriers were crossed with hunting dogs, fighting dogs, and other terriers. In the mid 1800s, with the advent of [[Conformation show|dog shows]], various breeds were refined from the older purpose-bred dogs. All of today's terrier breeds are bred primarily as pets. A way of categorizing terriers: <!--categorization scheme needs to be documented--> *Hunting or [[working terriers]] - Still used to find, track, or trail quarry, especially underground, and sometimes to bolt the quarry. These dogs are usually of mixed breeding or of breeds not recognized as pure breeds. These include **[[Fell terrier]]s - breeds developed in northern England to assist in the killing of foxes and **[[Hunt terrier]]s - breeds developed in southern England to locate and kill or bolt foxes during a traditional mounted fox hunt. *[[Toy terrier]] - Bred "down" from larger terriers, these terriers 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 "lap dogs". * Bull type Terriers - The [[Bull and Terrier]] types were originally combinations of [[bulldog]]s and terriers as general mixed breed [[dog fighting|pit dogs]]. In the late 1800s, they were refined into separate breeds that combined terrier and bulldog qualities. Except for [[Boston Terrier]]s, they are generally shown as terriers. Responsible breeders have made modern Bull type terrier breeds, such as the [[Bull terrier]], suitable as family dogs and show terriers. A descendent of the Bull and Terrier types, the [[American_Pit_Bull_Terrier|American Pit Bull Terriers]], are among the dog breeds still raised for illegal dog fighting. Listed at the bottom of the article are all Terrier breeds. ===Variation in categorization among Kennel Clubs=== {{dablink|For more details on this topic, see the [[FCI Terrier Group]] and the [[Terrier Group|NTC, AKC, ANKC, CKC KC(UK), NZKC and UKC Terrier Group]].}} What is considered a terrier varies in the many of the major kennel clubs, including the [[Fédération Cynologique Internationale]], [[American Kennel Club|AKC]], [[Australian National Kennel Council]], [[Canadian Kennel Club]], [[The Kennel Club|The Kennel Club (UK)]], [[New Zealand Kennel Club]], and [[United Kennel Club|UKC]] as well as the myriad hunting and pet registries. For example, the [[Miniature Schnauzer]] is in the Terrier group in the American Kennel Club but not a Terrier according to the United Kingdom Kennel Club. [[Boston Terrier]]s are true terriers although not put in the terrier group, while the [[Tibetan Terrier]] and [[Black Russian Terrier]] are terriers in name only and not true terriers at all. <gallery> Image:Border-terrier-bitch.jpg|A one-year-old pedigree grizzle border terrier Image:Yorkshire teriery 522.jpg|Two Yorkshire Terriers with typical show-length coats Image:BedaleTerrier2005.jpg|A terrier used for hunting, February 2005 Image:Terriers.jpg|A [[Scottish Terrier]] and a [[West Highland White Terrier]]. </gallery> == References == {{reflist}} ==See also== *[[Terriers of Scotland]] *[[Working terriers]] *[[Dog type]] *[[List of dog types]] ==External links== * [http://www.terrierman.com/historypics.htm A Pictorial History of Terriers] * [http://www.terrierman.com/hunting.htm Hunting with Terriers: The Basics] * [http://www.terrierman.com/tunneltips.htm Tips for Tunnel Training Terriers] {{Terriers}} [[Category:Dog types]] [[bg:Териер]] [[da:Terrier]] [[de:Terrier]] [[es:Terrier]] [[eo:Terhundoj]] [[gd:Abhag]] [[he:טריירים]] [[it:Terrier]] [[la:Terrarius]] [[ja:テリア]] [[nl:Terriër (hond)]] [[no:Terriere]] [[nn:Terrier]] [[pl:Terier]] [[pt:Terrier]] [[ro:Terrier]] [[ru:Терьер]] [[sk:Teriér]] [[sl:Terier]] [[fi:Terrierit]] [[sv:Terrier]] [[tr: Teriyer]] [[zh:梗犬]]