People often ask whether terriers make good family dogs?
Well, of course, I would say yes. However, there are many people that would say no.
That’s because terrier breeds were originally bred for hunting (and killing) vermin and then in the 19th century crossed with bulldogs which were intended for, now illegal, sports of bull-baiting and dog-fighting.
However, terriers are clever, friendly, loving and make wonderful companions. They are happy to be out with you all day or snooze and chill on the sofa too. Many terrier breeds are trained as therapy dogs because they are good with children, are gentle and love to be included in what’s going on, actually, they will always make themselves included (haha).
Terriers do need to be trained and socialised, well in fairness all dogs need this. However, terriers are known to have an independent streak in them, and I did read in a book about border terriers (before Barney came to us) that they should never be let off-lead because their recall cannot be guaranteed, especially if they are very prey driven. To be fair, when Barney was a puppy his recall was awful, you would often see us chasing him across the park as he went running off to say hello to a dog he’d spotted in the distance! (It’s much better now, thank goodness!).
So I’d say yes, they terriers do make good family pets, as with anything in life, you get back what you put in.
Kennel Club Top 10 Breeds in 2019
Back in 2019, I noticed a social media post by the Kennel Club, announcing the Top 10 Breeds in the UK and I couldn’t believe it, there were NO terriers included on the list! How can that be, I thought?
So, I decided to do a poll on my Facebook page, asking my followers to create the Top 10 Terrier breeds.
The poll results were:
Irish Terrier
The Irish terrier is a bit of a daredevil. This bold, curious, and adventurous species is always ready to play, explore, and chase.
Border Terrier Dog Breed: Temperament, Lifespan & Facts | Petplan
Looking to find out more about the terrier dog breeds? Our essential guide to the top 10 UK terrier breeds (as voted by my social media followers), will help you decide which terrier breed may be suitable for you, whether it is a small terrier breed or a terrier breed that is good for families with children, or you just love terriers but don’t know which terrier dog breed to choose.
The tips and information in this blog will help you gain a better understanding of terriers and give you a brief outline of each of the top 10 terriers in the UK.
Most people, when thinking about getting a dog, know what breed/type they want. Usually, this goes back to a dog they had in their life as a child or one they saw frequently; their first heart dog.
My Dad had an alsatian type dog (I think it was a mix) when he was a young boy and he adored that dog, you could just tell by the way he spoke about him. So, after our family dog died (chosen by my Mum), a westie, my Dad rescued Dusty Dog, the softest, gentlest, furriest alsatian you could ever wish to meet. For me, Minty, our westie started my love of terriers. She was a beautiful dog, all white, feisty and funny, such a character.
I think my husband wasn’t really that bothered about getting a dog, it was always me saying that when we stop working I would love a dog in our lives. I did lots of research but I always knew that our dog had to be a scruffy little terrier.
When people meet Barney, they just fall in love with him. He’s so easy going, a very calm dog, whilst being a typical terrier. He’s cute, persistent (wilful? haha), full of character, vocal, funny and sometimes just bloody annoying (hahaha). He is, in my eyes, the most perfect scruffy little terrier.
Sandy is our pretty rescue girl, who is so nervous but everyone that meets her wants her to love them.
Terriers are not lap-dogs, they aren’t dogs you carry around in a bag (unless they want to be carried), they are working dogs and full of character. Every day they will make you laugh, will surprise you with their ingenuity, will mock you with their ability to ignore you but once you’ve had a terrier you won’t want any other breed of dog. There’s so many to choose from to suit all types of homes, families and energy levels. Let’s find out some more.