10 Tenacious Terrier Breeds You Should Know About
The canine world is full of wonders and you’ll find several breed types and hundreds of pure and hybrid breeds. Terrier-type dogs are among some of the most popular breeds around the world.
Wondering what is a Terrier dog? A Terrier is a small, long-legged dog of the type that was traditionally used in fox hunting. During the time of the hunt, they would enter the den and kill or drive out their prey. They can be distinguished from other breeds by their robust size, swiftness, and courage.
The word ‘Terrier’ actually comes from the word ‘terre’ meaning ground or earth in French, indicating them to be underground hunters. These days working Terriers are based on farms and used for ratting (rat and vermin catching).
Overall, Terriers are very friendly and loyal to their owners and they make fantastic home pets. In this article, you’ll find some of the most popular Terrier dog breeds that you should know about.
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Table of Contents
10 Tenacious Terrier Dog Breeds
Jack Russell Terrier
Jack Russel Terrier is a very energetic breed that is considered one of the most active dogs that are great in speed and agility. It will always be ready to go out and will not wait for another moment to be healthy.
Well-trained Jack Russells are very friendly with people, so you will have a lot of fun playing games with them. Also, they are excellent climbers and love to jump from one place to another. The classic coloring of Jack Russell Terriers is tri-color- a white terrier with white and black patches on the head, tail, and body.
Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier or Yorkie in short is known for its beautiful long silky hair, but expect to do a lot of grooming if you choose this breed. They are very playful and have a lot of energy. They love playing games with children and show great interest in toys and balls.
This breed is highly intelligent, so you will have a lot of fun training them and grooming them as well. In 2021, the Yorkshire Terrier was the 13th most popular dog breed in the US.
Border Terrier
The Border Terrier was bred in Great Britain and its original purpose was to kill foxes. These dogs love water and are always ready for a swim in the lake or river.
They come in different colors, ranging from sable, black and tan to white with different shades of brown or black. Like the Patterdale and Jack Russell Terrier, these dogs need a great deal of exercise and so you should only take them in if you can provide at least 2 X 45-minute walks a day.
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Patterdale Terrier
The Patterdale Terrier is a very small and compact dog. It is a terrier type that has been bred for fox hunting and ratting on farms. The Patterdale Terrier was originally bred in the Lake District (a village called Patterdale!).
It needs plenty of exercise like various other Terrier type dogs. They may dig up the lawn or garden and can’t always be trusted around small children. Give your Patterdale terrier plenty to do including licking food out of KONGs and using interactive dog toys such as the ones by Nina Ottosson.
Bedlington Terrier
One of the best terriers with a curled tail and unique looks is the Bedlington Terrier. This dog breed is very small, and it can weigh around 11 to 13 pounds.
They are gentle dogs and do not usually react aggressively towards people or other animals. They also have an excellent sense of smell which makes hunting easier for them and makes them an excellent hunter.
Interestingly, they have also been used for dog racing in the past. Bedlington Terriers are recognizable by their dome-shaped nose and they often are clipped in a style with tufts left on the ear tips!
Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier is a great dog breed that you should not miss out on. It gained popularity after being featured as ‘Toto’ in the Wizard of Oz. This dog is very small and compact, but it can be considered one of the most energetic dogs.
These dogs love to walk and they really do not mind going on long walks. This makes them great as pet dogs for people who work on farms or outdoors a lot since they can accompany you all the time. Cairn Terriers are usually black or dark brown in color.
This dog is also popular for its unusual front paws that are well-padded and powerful enough to destroy your lawn or garden.
Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier is a dog breed that has been around for over several hundred years. Its owners should make sure that they have enough space in their homes because this dog breed likes to bark a lot. They are very playful as well, but they can become aggressive when they are annoyed. Also, this dog breed is very intelligent and will always be able to find something interesting to do around your house.
The Boston Terrier has also been named the state dog of Massachusettes.
Bull Terrier
The Bull Terrier is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. The most famous Bull Terrier is ‘Bullseye’ from Oliver Twist. This dog breed was bred in England, and its original purpose was to hunt and kill vermin.
Nowadays, this dog breed is a great family pet that has a lot of energy. It can be very stubborn at times so it needs an owner that will not give up easily when training his pup.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier or Staffy was originally bred for working with bulls. They are however very different from the American Pitbull. American Pitbulls were originally bred to fight and kill other dogs, while the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is bred for working with cattle.
These dogs make great family pets as well because they are loyal and can be very friendly with children. They were ranked the 75th most popular dog breed in the US as per the AKC ranking in 2021.
West Highland Terrier
West Highland terriers or ‘Westies’ as they are more commonly known, are the cute white long-haired terriers that you often see advertising Cesar’s dog food! These fun-loving and friendly dogs were bred in Scotland.
They have a distinctive white harsh coat with a softer undercoat and will need a lot of grooming because of this. The advantage is that their coat is hypoallergenic and so they are a good option for anyone wanting a terrier but is allergic to dogs with short coats.
Bottom line:
Overall, Terriers make fantastic pets as long as you can spend enough time with them and give them the attention and exercise that they need.
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