You can bore your friends in the pub with the fact that word terrier comes from the same route as terrestrial, meaning earth. In the case of the smaller terriers “earth” can be taken quite literately. His job was to go underground, not so much to kill as to chase the prey out of its home or hold it at bay until it was dug out. The larger terriers rarely ventured underground but performed similar jobs in dealing with prey in heavy cover. In many ways the key difference between hounds and terriers is that terriers worked in confined spaces where as hounds generally operated in open ground.

From early history people have organised contests to determine who had best dog. With the terriers these contests were often brutal; killing rats in the confines of the rat pit, badger baiting and goading the dogs fight each other. Over time these “sports” became popular entrainment, often held in taverns and usually associated with gambling. As the industrial revolution developed dogs and dubious dog sports followed joined the exodus from the country to the towns and cities.

Some breeds were developed specifically for these bloody events. Breeds like the Manchester Terrier were developed for the rat pit. Terriers were crossed with bulldogs, then a much more athletic breed, to create the Bull Terrier fighting breeds.

The moneyed classes began taking an interest in terrier breeds while they were plying their trade in the blood spattered taverns. Aristocrats and wealthy businessmen would gain kudos from competing in that brutal world. The “dog fancy” were originally made up of the gentry involved in this world. Modern dog shows developed as these sports were banned. Many of those whose dogs competed in pit moved on to have dogs compete in the show ring.

Modern Terriers have retained a definite feisty character and independent nature but they are also amongst the most loyal and affectionate of all dogs. The first half of the twentieth century saw them become hugely popular pet dogs with their small size making them ideal for compact houses. In more recent years, however, terriers as a group have suffered a worrying decline in popularity.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, West Highland White and the Border remain in the top ten most popular pedigree breeds but most terrier breeds have slipped well down the popularity rankings. So much so that half of the breeds in the Kennel Club terrier group, thirteen of twenty six, are classed as endangered British Heritage Dog Breeds. Some, like the Glen of Imaal, were never common but the once popular Sealyham is now amongst the most vulnerable of all breeds.

Why have terriers fallen out of fashion? It could be a rejection of the more dubious aspects of their past. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is extremely popular but could it be that the macho reputation of the Staffy and other Bull Terriers is putting some potential owners off terriers as a whole? I’m certainly inclined to think that other breeds have become seen as better family dogs. Terriers seem to have just lost their connection with the ordinary families who have always owned them.

Can we turn it around? There are genuine concerns about the genetic viability of breeds with tiny populations. Leaving that aside for another article I do believe we can pull back from the brink. Terriers have a unique character that few who spend time with them can resist. It is up to us to get potential puppy buyers to at least consider our native terriers as an alternative to the popular spaniels, oriental breeds and European types like the Miniature Schnauzer.

All images strictly copyright © British Heritage Dog Breeds, Paul Keevil, Hilary Cheyne & Tony Powell