The Terrier Dog Breed

Perhaps no other dog group has quite the personality and confidence as the terrier. These proud dogs range in size, from the toy Yorkshire Terrier to the XL Pitbull Terrier. Most terriers were all developed in Great Britain, and originally all of them had particular duties. Small terriers, such as the Jack Russel, had to be agile, independent thinkers, and able to hunt rats and keep away pests. While the larger terriers such as Airedales were excellent diggers, and runners, and could chase down larger vermin as well. Bull-type terriers, such as the Staffordshire Terrier, were originally bred to fight, but are now used as guard dogs and personal protection dogs. Terriers may have a wide range in size, but they are all energetic and full of personality.

Breed Hierarchy
Dog Breed Groups
Terrier Breed Sub-Groups
  • Bull Terrier|
  • Toy Terrier|
  • Schnauzer
Most common questions

What are the different types of terrier?

Terriers for the most part come in two size buckets: small and medium-large. Small terriers such as the Australian Terrier, Cairn Terrier, and Cesky Terrier have similar pedigree roots and are typically between 7 and 20 pounds. These small terriers are a good fit for apartment living, and someone who may be allergic as they are partially hypoallergenic, and shed very little. The larger terriers such as the Airedale and Bull Terrier are very attentive and can serve as good guard dogs. Because of their fierceness, energy, and confidence, it is important that they are exercised daily and led by a strong owner.

What are common terrier traits?

Terriers are proud and energetic! The Jack Russel is the embodiment of this confidence, and they have been widely regarded as the "bravest small dog in the world." The upside to the confidence is that terriers can easily adapt to people and other dogs, as long as they are socialized at a young age. They are also a bit less attached (although not always the case) with their owners, which can mean less anxiety, and a better fit with a family that may need to work from the office or occasionally travel.

What dogs are considered terriers?

Additional common questions

Do terriers shed a lot?

Out of all the dog groups, terriers shed the least. Yorkies, Tibetan Terriers, and West Highland White Terriers shed very little to not at all, while on the other side of the spectrum are bull terriers who are moderate shedders. Even the moderate shedders of the terrier group are manageable because their hair is quite short. With that said, the tradeoff is that the hair on small terriers, such as the Yorkie, will continually grow, so you will need to spend extra time grooming.

What are the long haired terrier breeds?

The Skye Terrier, Yorkshire, Soft Coated Wheaten, and Scottish Terrier are all examples of long-haired terriers. They shed very little and tend to keep a very clean coat, but do need quite a bit of grooming as their hair continues to grow, just like humans.

How do you groom a long haired terrier?

There are two main aspects when grooming a terrier: passing a brush through their hair not allowing it to knot up, and clipping the hair to keep it neat. Trimming the hair is not only for looks, but has a practical use as it keeps hair out of the eyes, and allows the dog to run and relieve themselves without the hair getting in the way. The brushing also cleans the hair by removing particles stuck underneath the first layer of hair. We recommend that owners do their own brushing at home, and occasionally take their terrier to a professional groomer for the actual hair trimming.

Are there different types of Yorkie?

The Yorkshire Terrier is the most common of all terriers and is consistently in the world's top 10 most popular dog breeds. Mainly due to their popularity, there are now several variations of the Yorkie. When it comes to size there is the standard Yorkie which is from 6 - 10 pounds, and the Teacup Yorkie which is anywhere from 3 - 5 pounds. There is also the less common Black and Tan Yorkie which can have a completely black silky coat. There is also the Biewer Yorkie which is much less common and has a largely white and spotted coat. Because of all the positive qualities of the Yorkie, there are many mixes: Yorkipoo, Chorkie, Corkie, and the Yorkinese.

Dog World Dogopedia

The dogopedia is an encyclopedia of dog breeds. You can filter dog breeds by size, breed group, personality traits, and more. Take the best dog breed quiz to receive your "pup scores", which show you the best dog breeds for you.