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{{Short description|Dog type}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
[[File:The book of dogs; an intimate study of mankind's best friend (1919) (20370594066).jpg|thumb|Some terrier breeds, from ''The book of dogs; an intimate study of mankind's best friend'', 1919]]
'''Terrier''' ({{etymology|la|{{wikt-lang|la|terra}}|earth}}) is a [[Dog type|type of dog]] originally bred to hunt [[vermin]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bowwowinsurance.com.au/dogs/dogs-breeds/terrier-dog-breeds/|title=Terrier Dog Breeds – Types of Terriers – Breed Info & Pictures|website=BWM|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://animal.discovery.com/breed-selector/dog-breeds/terrier-dogs.html|title=Terrier Dog Breeds : Dog Breed Selector|website=Animal Planet|language=en|access-date=2019-06-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/terrier/|title=Terrier Group|website=American Kennel Club|language=en|access-date=2019-06-09}}</ref> A terrier is a [[dog]] of any one of many [[Dog breed|breed]]s or [[landrace]]s of the terrier [[Dog type|type]], which are typically small, wiry, [[Gameness|game]], and fearless.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/terriers-were-once-the-greatest-dogs-in-the-world-westminster-dog-show/|title=Terriers Were Once The Greatest Dogs In The World|last=Roeder|first=Oliver|date=2016-02-16|website=FiveThirtyEight|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-09}}</ref>  There are five different groups of terrier, with each group having different shapes and sizes.

==History==
[[File:Frederick August Wenderoth 1875, Little Terrier.jpg|thumb|A painting of an English toy terrier by [[Frederick August Wenderoth]] in 1865]]

Most terrier breeds were refined from the older purpose-bred dogs. The name originated from [[Old French]] ''chien terrier'', literally "earth dog".<ref>{{OEtymD|terrier|access-date=2025-11-13}}</ref>

The [[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 the fastest in killing all the rats won. In the eighteenth century some terriers were crossed with [[hound]]s 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 Terriers
|edition= Second
|year= 1982
|publisher= Howell Book House Inc.
|location= New York
|isbn= 978-0-87605-306-5
|pages= [https://archive.org/details/newcompletescott00marv/page/20 20]
|chapter= 2. Background and Heritage of the Terrier Family
|chapter-url-access= registration
|chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/newcompletescott00marv/page/20
}}</ref> Some of the crosses with fighting dogs, [[bull and terrier]] crosses, were used in the [[blood sport]] of dog-fighting.  Modern pet breeds 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
 |access-date  = 2008-03-28
 |author      = The Fédération Cynologique Internationale
 |work        = www.fci.be
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121126232457/http://www.fci.be/nomenclatures_detail.asp?lang=en&file=group3
 |archive-date = 2012-11-26
}}</ref>

Today, most terriers are kept as companion dogs and family pets. They are generally loyal and affectionate to their owners.

==Types and groups==
In the 18th century in Britain, only two [[Dog type|types]] of terriers were recognized, long-legged and short-legged.<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://clubs.akc.org/ddtca/about/history.htm
|title= History of the Dandie Dinmont
|access-date= 2008-03-28
|author= Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club of America
|work= DDTCA
|archive-date= 2008-04-12
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080412230506/http://clubs.akc.org/ddtca/about/history.htm
|url-status= dead
}}</ref>  Today, terriers are often informally categorized by size or by function.<!--categorization scheme needs to be documented-->

[[Working terrier|Hunting-types]] are still used to find, track, or trail quarry, especially underground, and sometimes to bolt the quarry.  Modern examples include the [[Jack Russell Terrier]], the [[Jagdterrier]], the [[Rat Terrier]], and the [[Patterdale Terrier]].  There are also the short-legged terriers such as the [[Cairn Terrier]], the [[Scottish Terrier]], and the [[West Highland White Terrier]], which were also used to kill small vermin.

The original hunting terriers include the [[Fell Terrier]] (developed in northern England to assist in the killing of foxes) and the [[Hunt terrier|Hunt Terrier]] (developed in southern England to locate, kill or bolt foxes during a traditional mounted fox hunt).

The various combinations of [[Bulldog breeds|bulldog]] and terrier that were used for [[bull-baiting]] and [[dog-fighting]] in the late 19th century were later refined into separate breeds that combined both terrier and bulldog qualities. Except for the [[Boston Terrier]], they are generally included in kennel clubs' Terrier Group. Breeders have bred modern bull-type terrier breeds, such as the [[Bull Terrier]] and [[Staffordshire Bull Terrier]], into suitable family dogs and show terriers.

[[Toy terrier]]s have been bred from larger terriers and are shown in the Toy or Companion group. Included among these breeds are the [[English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan)|English Toy Terrier]], [[Toy Fox Terrier]] and the [[Yorkshire Terrier]]. While small, they retain true terrier character and are not submissive "[[lap dog]]s".

Other descendants of the [[bull and terrier]] types, such as the Asian [[Gull Terrier]], are among the dogs still raised for dog-fighting.

===Appearance===
Terriers range greatly in appearance from very small, light bodied, smooth [[Coat (dog)|coated]] dogs such as the [[English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan)]], which weighs as little as {{convert|6|lb|kg|abbr=on|order=flip}}, to the very large rough-coated [[Airedale Terrier]]s, which can be up to {{convert|56|lb|kg|abbr=on|order=flip}} or more.  As of 2004, the United Kennel Club recognized a new hairless breed of terrier derived from the [[Rat Terrier]] called the [[American Hairless Terrier]].

==Kennel club classification==
When competing in [[conformation show]]s, most [[kennel club]]s including the [[Fédération Cynologique Internationale]] group pedigree terrier breeds together in their own terrier group.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/3-Terriers.html |title=Group 3: Terriers |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Fédération Cynologique Internationale |access-date=17 December 2019 }}</ref> The [[Fédération Cynologique Internationale]] grouped Terriers in Group 3.<ref>[https://www.fci.be/en/Nomenclature/ FCI breeds nomenclature], FCI</ref>

==See also==
*[[Bull-type terriers]]
*[[Working terriers]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Terriers}}

{{Terriers}}
{{Domestic dog}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Terriers| ]]
[[Category:Hunting dogs]]