What Is A Terrier?

[Boronia]

I was reading the Caucasian Ovcharka thread and on post #50 a Russian Black Terrier was mentioned....my question is..what denotes a "terrier" as a type of dog? I know it is not the size! as Airedales are a pretty big/tall dog.

[Kirislin]

bred to drive game from their burrows or go in and throttle it I think. Not sure what burrow an Airdale would get down though

[Kirty]

A quick google says that Airedales were bred to hunt Otters.

[Boronia]

Westies were used to hunt down otters as well...perhaps they dug them out of their burrows? if terriers are a dog that is used for killing vermin in borrows I would wonder what sort of vermin lives in a burrow that a Black Russian Terrier could get down...a bear perhaps? I mean they are pretty BIG... http://www.google.com.au/images?client=ope...ved=0CCoQsAQwAA

so...what denotes a terrier?

[Muttaburra]

I was thinking along the lines of "earth" dog, and terra meaning earth.

ter·ri·er (tr-r)

n.

Any of several typically small, active breeds of hunting dog originally developed for driving game from burrows.

[Middle English, from Old French (chien) terrier, ground (dog), terrier, from Medieval Latin terrrius, of the earth, from Latin terra; see ters- in Indo-European roots.]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/terrier

[Boronia]

Thanks for that link Muttaburra, that looks to be why terriers are called terriers, it's interesting to note that the description for the Australian terrier says "small greyish wire-haired breed of terrier", I alway thought they were that beautiful rusty red colour.

The description does say terriers are usually small, active, and short-bodied breeds of dog, originally trained to hunt animals living underground, obviously the Airedale and the Black Russian Terrier are unusual terriers. :rolleyes:

[Rysup]

Many breeds carry "terrier" names that are not true terriers - Tibetan Terrier is another. The Black Russian Terrier is in the Utility group, so in essence he cannot be a true terrier? I often wonder why the Amstaff is in the terrier group :rolleyes:

[Sayly]

Many breeds carry "terrier" names that are not true terriers - Tibetan Terrier is another. The Black Russian Terrier is in the Utility group, so in essence he cannot be a true terrier? I often wonder why the Amstaff is in the terrier group

Exactly. Black Russians were bred as guard dogs but are said to have Airedale in them.

Irish, Kerries, Wheatens are all larger, leggier terriers too that don't go underground.

To me a terrier is a fearless hunter of small game or vermin with a wiry and alert appearance and personality.

[Greytmate]

Terrorists.

[Muttaburra]

Terrorists.

Yup!

But these dogs have intelligence, character, liveliness, loyalty, and sensitivity, beyond all others.

"Best dogs in the world" if you want to talk to their owners.

[Baileys mum]

Thanks for that link Muttaburra, that looks to be why terriers are called terriers, it's interesting to note that the description for the Australian terrier says "small greyish wire-haired breed of terrier", I alway thought they were that beautiful rusty red colour.

The description does say terriers are usually small, active, and short-bodied breeds of dog, originally trained to hunt animals living underground, obviously the Airedale and the Black Russian Terrier are unusual terriers.

Hi Boronia, I'm interested to know where you got your information about the Australian terrier description, because while yes they are a small rough-coated terrier, they are definately not greyish. They actually come in the colours blue & tan, steel blue & tan & grey blue & tan, solid red & sandy red.

Ok I can now see you got the info from Muttaburra's link.

Not exactly how you would describe an Aussie, maybe they are confusing the greyish colour with the grey blue shade.

Edited January 22, 2011 by Baileys mum

[Baileys mum]

Terrorists.

Yup!

But these dogs have intelligence, character, liveliness, loyalty, and sensitivity, beyond all others.

"Best dogs in the world" if you want to talk to their owners.

Totally agree with everything you said.

I could never be without a terrier now. Big dog in little dogs bodies, with personality plus!!

[Baileys mum]

One question I would like to ask is why do Maltese dogs get called Maltese terriers? How & when did this name for them start when they are not a terrier at all? Is there anything in their history that links them with terriers?

I get so sick of tired of correcting Maltese owners that they are just "Maltese" & not a terrier, & I just looked at like I don't know what I'm talking about. Even the media & celebrity tv vets refer to them as Maltese terriers, it is really frustrating.

Sorry for hijacking your thread Boronia, but this is just somthing that really annoys me.

[oakway]

One question I would like to ask is why do Maltese dogs get called Maltese terriers? How & when did this name for them start when they are not a terrier at all? Is there anything in their history that links them with terriers?

I get so sick of tired of correcting Maltese owners that they are just "Maltese" & not a terrier, & I just looked at like I don't know what I'm talking about. Even the media & celebrity tv vets refer to them as Maltese terriers, it is really frustrating.

Sorry for hijacking your thread Boronia, but this is just somthing that really annoys me.

The word terrier has been dropped from the Maltese.

This was dropped quite a while ago.

[Greytmate]

Terrorists.

Yup!

But these dogs have intelligence, character, liveliness, loyalty, and sensitivity, beyond all others.

"Best dogs in the world" if you want to talk to their owners.

Totally agree with everything you said.

I could never be without a terrier now. Big dog in little dogs bodies, with personality plus!!

That is a good way to sum up a terrier, except some of them are big dogs.

But whichever size terrier you get, you are going to get a lot of dog.

I am not a terrier person at all, they are way too much dog for me. The four greyhounds I have here in the house right now are less dog than one young JRT.

[Baileys mum]

One question I would like to ask is why do Maltese dogs get called Maltese terriers? How & when did this name for them start when they are not a terrier at all? Is there anything in their history that links them with terriers?

I get so sick of tired of correcting Maltese owners that they are just "Maltese" & not a terrier, & I just looked at like I don't know what I'm talking about. Even the media & celebrity tv vets refer to them as Maltese terriers, it is really frustrating.

Sorry for hijacking your thread Boronia, but this is just somthing that really annoys me.

The word terrier has been dropped from the Maltese.

This was dropped quite a while ago.

Yes I know the word terrier has been officially dropped, but that doesn't stop people from still calling them terriers, I just want to know where it originally came from, how did it first start?

There is still so many Maltese owners that are adamant they have a terrier, & will argue with you if you try to tell them any differently.

[Baileys mum]

Terrorists.

Yup!

But these dogs have intelligence, character, liveliness, loyalty, and sensitivity, beyond all others.

"Best dogs in the world" if you want to talk to their owners.

Totally agree with everything you said.

I could never be without a terrier now. Big dog in little dogs bodies, with personality plus!!

That is a good way to sum up a terrier, except some of them are big dogs.

But whichever size terrier you get, you are going to get a lot of dog.

I am not a terrier person at all, they are way too much dog for me. The four greyhounds I have here in the house right now are less dog than one young JRT.

Yep your right Greytmate, I'm so used to describing my own breed this way, that I sometimes forget that there are in fact larger breeds of terriers too.

Yes you do get alot of dog when you get a terrier, & maybe some of them are not for the faint hearted, there is never a dull moment in my household & sometimes it can get a little crazy, but I wouldn't want it any other way.

Having said that my particular breed are real people pleasers & can be trained quite easily, so most of the time they are a joy to live with.

[raz]

I am not a terrier person at all, they are way too much dog for me. The four greyhounds I have here in the house right now are less dog than one young JRT.

Well that's not hard - greyhounds are big couch potatoes The music from the Rainier utube just popped into my head. Dont get a pug, greytmate - my pug makes my JRTs look like they're on xanax

[Cat]

Westies were used to hunt down otters as well...perhaps they dug them out of their burrows? if terriers are a dog that is used for killing vermin in borrows I would wonder what sort of vermin lives in a burrow that a Black Russian Terrier could get down...a bear perhaps? I mean they are pretty BIG... http://www.google.com.au/images?client=ope...ved=0CCoQsAQwAA

so...what denotes a terrier?

I have a book that agrees with the "terra" description, but says that the larger terriers were used to hunt above ground to chase and capture.

Airedales were used to hunt foxes, otters, rats and badgers, and have since been also used to hunt much larger animals. Apparently, being bred from the Otterhound also gave them the ability to track.

probably doesnt answer your question though.

[Sheridan]

Many breeds carry "terrier" names that are not true terriers - Tibetan Terrier is another. The Black Russian Terrier is in the Utility group, so in essence he cannot be a true terrier? I often wonder why the Amstaff is in the terrier group

Exactly. Black Russians were bred as guard dogs but are said to have Airedale in them.

Irish, Kerries, Wheatens are all larger, leggier terriers too that don't go underground.

To me a terrier is a fearless hunter of small game or vermin with a wiry and alert appearance and personality.

The irish, wheaten and kerry do go underground. They flushed out badgers in Ireland (those badgers had big holes, problems for farmers), as well as being general farm dogs. Have you seen this video? Rabbits and badgers, featuring kerry blues. It's obviously for the camera but that's what they did.