Terrier Dogs - Understanding The Terrier Breed

Most people find terrier dogs to be great companions for their homes and with a bit of regular grooming and extra care, they are prime candidates for the bachelor or the family man both. This is because the terrier comes in many varieties and proves to be a real pal for the solitary pet-lover who may want more than just someone to talk to; the terrier is a small but incredibly cute doggy that loves to frolic and play and is comfortable in apartment housing as much as it loves playing outdoors.

Its history reveals the terrier to be a breed that was mainly raised for the purpose of being a hunting dog that killed vermin too; however, over the years, its features and characteristics have altered due to cross-breeding, training and climate factors and so, the modern day terriers are not quite everybody's idea of cuddly dogs, but still very adorable.

There are some terrier varieties that may qualify for some amount of lap-dog tendencies but mostly they are far from the overly cutesy kinds; being of average intelligence like other breeds of medium dogs, they have grown to be less aggressive than their ancestors but are far from being timid.

One of the famous terrier varieties includes the soft-coated Wheatens that are alert, energetic and confident making for very intelligence and obedient watch dogs that respond quickly to obedience training. Besides this variety, there is the Parson Russell Terrier, which is a bold, rather clever type with a lively disposition and makes for a great playmate in a household full of children. It is also a very independent kind of pet dog that is filled with inherent mischievousness and a nose for the undiscovered, so potential owners are warned to expect a certain level of activity with these dogs around!

Yet another terrier variety is the Norwich brand of small pet dogs that are smaller than the other small breeds like the Yorkshire Terriers and require very little in terms of upkeep and space, staying quite contented in the most modest housing quarters. Known to have an energetic nature, these are loving and fearless pets to have around you that are both stocky and generally happy by nature too; thus they make for great companions.

Another variety of the terrier pack is the Norfolk Terrier, also a spirited, brave and sporting sub-species of the terrier pack that has a lot in common with the Norwich variety, though they can be distinguished by the manner in which their ears fold up.

The Kerry Blue variety of terrier dogs, on the other hand, is more of a workman-like dog that makes for a great watchdog as well as a good choice for farm-owners; they got their name from the unusual color of their coat which is a blue-black changeover from their young days.

The last variety of terriers we cover here for your interest is the Wire Fox Terrier; these dogs are powerfully built, have great capacity for endurance in any weather condition and are quick to move, thus highly regarded for their alertness and swiftness of action.

Choose your kind of terrier depending on the amount of energy and time you are willing to spend with your pet – all the best in getting the most exercise yourself – when you're living with the feisty kind!