Page 286 - ShowSight - September 2019
P. 286

                Terriers
BY CELESTE M. GONZALEZ
HOW THEY LOOK, HOW THEY ACT, HOW THEY ARE
exhibited in the Terrier Group in the United States and Canada. In Australia and the UK, it is shown within Group 6 (Utility). Within the FCI countries, the Miniature Schnauzer is presented in FCI Group 2, comprised of the Pinschers and Schnauzers, Molossian types, and Swiss Mountain—Cattle Dogs. The Cesky originated in the Bohemian region of the Czech Republic.
The Australian Terrier is named after its country of origin and development, Australia. Three breeds in the Terrier Group were developed in the United States, the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Rat Terrier, and the American Hairless Terrier.
WORK
The majority of Terrier breeds were developed to take advan- tage of their high prey drive and to perform multiple tasks for their masters, whether in and around the farmstead, home, or the hunt.
Some of the Terrier breeds were developed to be all-around farm dogs, dispatching any type of vermin, as well as helping the farmer with livestock chores, guarding and alerting the family to visitors or intruders. These include the Kerry Blue Terrier, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, Irish Terrier, Airedale Terrier, and Miniature Schnauzer. The Irish, Airedale, and Cesky also served as hunting companions, capable of finding and sometimes retrieving game, whether furred or feathered.
   Celeste Gonzalez and the editor watching Terriers at the Garden, 2019 Photo by Jacquelyn Fogel/Tom Rich
T
erriers: They are tall, short, long, or compact. They are wire, smooth, broken and soft-coated. Some are pack workers, and some are solitary workers. All have a strong prey drive that has been channeled into spe-
Others were specifically developed to go to ground, into rocky crags and farm yards, dispatching, bolting, or catching predators harmful to humans and their livestock. Among the Terrier breeds that were developed to serve these purposes were the Australian, American Hairless, Rat Terrier, Dandie Dinmont, Glen of Imaal, Lakeland, Miniature Schnauzer, Russell and Parson Russell, Scot- tish, Sealyham, Skye, Welsh, and West Highland White. The Glen of Imaal gained another job as a turnspit or treadmill dog, powering kitchen equipment to turn roasting or cooking foods in the fireplace.
Still others served to move the vermin or predator from their earthen den so that larger dogs or the hunter could catch or dispatch the prey. These include the Border, Cairn, Fox Terriers (Smooth and Wire), Norwich and Norfolk.
The unique Bedlington, developed in the northern English mining areas, is very fast on its legs and is a remarkable ratter. It’s body style and speed surely come from the influence of the miners’ Whippets which were used for straight racing and on which sums of money were gambled.
Others including the Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier were developed to bait ornery bulls as sport, while some of those, including the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and American Stafford- shire Terrier, went on to further development as canine pugilists on which sums of money were wagered. One breed in particular, the Manchester, gained notoriety in the gaming rat pits as a rat- dispatching phenomenon. Specialized Terrier breed development continues to this day on several continents in order to meet the varied needs of the terrain, area, or intended work.
SIZE
As mentioned earlier, the Terriers come in a variety of sizes and shapes, each developed with a specific purpose or region within which to work. Each of the purposes and regions of development lent to the evolution of particular coat, size, and temperament char- acteristics. These characteristics functioned harmoniously in the particular breed to enable it to work alone, or in the company of other terriers and/or hounds.
cific tasks. Make no mistake however, each of the Terrier breeds has a certain degree of feistiness that goes with its prey drive. Terrier character is generally revealed by the expression of the eyes, carriage of the ears and tail. Once each breed’s correct characteristic expres- sion is seen, it is not to be forgotten.
ORIGINS
Approximately 24 of the 30 AKC-recognized Terrier breeds (including varieties of a breed) originated in various parts of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Those developed in Ireland include the Glen of Imaal Terrier, Irish Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, and the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier which is thought to be the progenitor of the Irish terrier breeds.
Various countries within the United Kingdom developed Terrier breeds specific to certain areas within their own country or areas bordering districts within the countries. The precursor of many of the British Terriers, was the Black and Tan Terrier, now extinct, but living on through many of the Terrier breeds.
Scotland is credited with developing four Terrier breeds which emerged from a common ancestor and includes today’s Cairn Terri- er, Scottish Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, and Skye Terrier. The border area between England and Scotland saw the emergence of the Dandie Dinmont, Bedlington and Border Terriers.
Wales is responsible for the development of its namesake, the Welsh Terrier as well as the Sealyham Terrier. England is credited with creating the Airedale Terrier, Bull Terrier (White and Col- ored), Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Fox Terriers (Smooth and Wire), Parson Russell and Russell Terriers, Manchester Terrier (Standard and Toy), Miniature Bull Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Norfolk and Norwich Terriers.
Terriers that had their origin on the Continent were the Cesky Terrier and the Miniature Schnauzer. The Miniature Schnauzer is
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