what defines a working terrier?

[VOON 1,313]

Id like your opinions on what the title 'working terrier' means..... i know im going to take a bit of stick from those that dont agree with me, but im going to be controversial and stick my neck out: in my opinion a dog is not deserving of the title terrier if he or she is not commited to earthwork, ie going to ground and either bolting what is infront of it or staying until it is dug to. A dog that doesnt have the inciling to go to ground but instead chooses to bush, hunt rat or rabbit or whatever it chooses to persue it can certainly be decribed as working, but is it a terrier? As the name terrier (earthdog) suggests surely a terrier is only a terrier if he is dug to??

 

A working terrier is a terrier that does the work you require of it, you define the type of work it does, and they perform it, horses for courses.................

[hack 301]

for me personally a working terrier is an earthdog that stay,s with it,s quarry till dug

[johnny 777 53]

I think your contradicting yourself digger. On post PLUMMER V PATTS you said. I would say they both MASTERS OF DIFFERENT TRADES.... My preference though black uns but I prefer earth work. EACH TO THEY OWN !

[the durham digger 127]

I knew this topic would be hottly debated and thats good, luckily for us the little fellas are versatile little chaps! My dogs love to be out shooting tree rats for instance, standing on hind legs til i knock them out the branches but i personally wouldnt give kennel space to a dog that isnt an earthdog. You have to take your hat off to a little mite of a dog that crawls down a dark, damp hole to be bitten on the nose often from a foe striking down from a ledge or from amongst the roots. Because i handle my foxes iv felt first hand how punishing charlies ivorys can be. Rat dogs are rat dogs and they are great little dogs at their job and that has to be admired but lets face it a poodl given the chance will kill rats with a degree of competence

[the durham digger 127]

Ment to say poodle!

[the durham digger 127]

How am i contradicting myself? I asked the question and gave my opinion, they are both masters of different trades- theres terriers and then theres the rest, the dogs that shouldnt be bred from!!

[nothernlite 18,028]

mines would be a plummer with a boiler suit on

[keith j 1,088]

fk me a terrier's a terrier,a collie's a collie weather it works sheep or not,i own plummer terriers,my pall owns lakelands,yes granted terriers that go to ground may have there metal tested more than terriers that work above ground,but there all terriers,since the ban not every one has acses to earth work,doesn't mean there dogs arn't capable of the job.as stated in another post terrier[terra]means earth or earth dog,but terriers have been worked as versitile dogs for a hell of a long time,bull terriers have had to go jaw to jaw in bloody combat fore god knows how long,should they not be called terriers because they dont go to ground,its up to the individual how they work there dogs,weather there earth dogs,bushing dogs ,ratting dogs or all rounders.all the same happy hunting to all you terruer men out there.

[johnny 777 53]

I think your contradicting yourself digger. On post PLUMMER V PATTS you said. I would say they both MASTERS OF DIFFERENT TRADES.... My preference though black uns but I prefer earth work. EACH TO THEY OWN !

[the durham digger 127]

Hows that contradicting myself? All that proves is that my opinion hasnt changed, i prefur blacks coz of their abilitys under the lawn? Can u read? Why try and start an argument over a simple question? You look a bitter man over your dogs lack of bottle my friend

[Billy Warren 43]

Ok then so what wood you call a dog that wood do the job but in the rong hands it's not the dog tout lol.

I can see where you're coming from but think you're going to far with it there's working terriers and just terriers the same as colleys and working colleys

[johnny 777 53]

Like You said MASTERS OF DIFFERENT TRADES, EVERYONE TO THEY OWN. This doesnt mean dogs are NOT TERRIERS cos they owners don't have access or choose not to put dogs to ground in my opinion.

[man o kent 269]

I cant see why a dog that gives its all in the job you have given it, makes it less of a terrier because its above ground? Ive seen some mean looking poodles, with a great nose! (very black and shiny)

[keith j 1,088]

I cant see why a dog that gives its all in the job you have given it, makes it less of a terrier because its above ground? Ive seen some mean looking poodles, with a great nose! (very black and shiny)

yes heard the same,thinking about getting a poodle as an all rounder'that way i won't have to justify why my terrier's called a terrier,heard it all now ,i'm out of here.

[the durham digger 127]

Fair enough u entitled to it. But like i say a true working terrier is an earth dog. A dog that goes to ground, finds and stays for hours until dug to is tested to the maximum both mentally and physically and it is disillusional to say that a rat dog or bushing dog is tested as fully and therfore its slightly unfair to categorise them all as working terriers. Fact of the matter is a proper terrierman wouldnt consider breeding from a ratting dog or bushing dog....... its earthdog to earthbitch. And thats my opinion