Terrier Breeds and Their Very Different Personalities

Terriers share a job description, not a personality. Every breed here was made to go after vermin or quarry, which is why most of them dig, chase and answer back, yet a Bedlington and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier are about as different to live with as two dogs can be. The list runs roughly from small to large: the little earth dogs first, then the short-legged Scottish breeds and their relatives, the long-legged working terriers, the bull types, and finally the big Irish breeds and the Airedale. Each entry covers temperament, prey drive, the coat work involved and how the breed shares a home with other pets, plus the health checks worth raising with a breeder. A note on coats: wire-coated breeds keep their harsh texture and colour when hand-stripped. Clipping is quicker and cheaper but leaves the coat softer and paler. The Miniature Schnauzer is included because the American Kennel Club places it in the Terrier Group, although British shows class it as Utility. The Yorkshire, Boston and Tibetan Terriers are left out: despite the names, kennel clubs show them in other groups.