The Terrier can be either a '"terrier breed" or a "bully breed",
and both are Terriers!
Terrier dog breeds are generally small, high energy dogs. Bold and lively, these dogs love to exercise and play. They can be quite tenacious but they make delightful pets.
A Terrier can make an excellent pet, and these are a favorite type of dog. Terrier breeds range in size with most being small dog breeds, but there are also some large dog breeds. They are quite intelligent and need to keep busy. If not provided with activities, they will often find their own, which true to their nature is often digging up the flowerbed. Terriers require owners that can match their determined characters and high energy.
Terrier dog breeds include the Traditional Terriers that were originally developed to hunt and kill vermin, dig out prey or burrow into dens. These terriers are noted for peppiness and tenacity. But they are not known to have a lot of tolerance for other animals, including other dogs.
Other types of Terriers include the Bully Breeds, known as the Bulldog and Terriers, These are from terrier breeds that were crossed with bull-baiting dogs, and used as fighting dogs. Despite a fierce reputation, these breeds are generally extremely friendly with people, often more so than the traditional breeds.
Terrier Breeds Backgrounds
The terrier breeds were mostly developed in Great Britain and Ireland. They were especially favored by the working class and used on farms and underground in the coal mines. These bold and aggressive dogs helped to control vermin and partook in hunting. Rats, rabbits, foxes were common quarry. Some of the larger terriers were used to hunt badgers and to guard and protect the family property.
Terriers like the Kerry Blue Terrier and The Airedale Terrier, were used in water to hunt river rats and otters.These water bred terriers are not the dog called the Rat Terrier. The Rat Terrier is an American bred dog and is currently considered more of a 'type' rather than a breed.
The name terrier, is derived from the Latin word terra, meaning earth. Much of the terriers traditional work was to enter tunnels or dens in order to chase out small animals. Some were bred to bolt the prey while others were were bred to catch and kill. Digging and burrowing is still a primary characteristic of the Terrier today.
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