The terrier breeds were originally developed to hunt small rodents and other pests.  Their athletic build and strong limbs make these breeds well suited for digging after small burrowing animals. The hard hair around their mouths, and tight facial skin, act as protection from being bitten by their prey.

Terriers have either short or long-legged body types, and have either wire, smooth, or soft fur. The short-legged terriers were trained to go into dens and burrows after small animals.  The long-legged terriers were originally bred to dig for burrowing animals.

The wire-haired terriers have special grooming needs. Dead hairs must be removed by hand-plucking or clipping  so their coats can maintain color and texture.  The soft-coated terriers include the Kerry Blue Terrier and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. Smooth-coated terriers include the Bull Terrier and the Manchester Terrier.

Terriers have spunky personalities. Even the smallest breeds have no fear of taking on larger animals. Although their fiery temperaments are useful when hunting, it can make them prone to snap, especially when overexcited children are near. Early socialization and obedience training are important.

Terriers prefer lots of exercise, but fit in well to city life. Most are not particularly fond of sharing their homes with other pets, but make loyal companions for their owners. Their unique characters and appearance have made them very popular as pets and as winning show dogs.