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The Terrier Group - Feisty and Fun-Loving Additions to the Family
Border Terrier
The Terrier Group is made up mainly of dogs who were bred to accomplish animal pest control tasks for their people. They learned how to burrow into holes and tunnels and either flush out or kill small animals, such as rats, otters and foxes. A few members of the Terrier Group descended from breeds who had a darker history, though - dogs who were bred to bait bulls and to fight each other, many times for betting purposes. Unfortunately, this puts a cloud over some of the wonderful dogs in this group, especially when considering them as dogs for your family. We will try to shed some light on some of the confusion over breeds shown to be less stable, and therefore not always safe, and how they differ from others that might look similar but are proven to be stable with children over the centuries. (This primarily deals with the differences between a dog we recommend from this group- the Staffordshire Bull Terrier from England - and dogs we do not recommend for families with children, primarily the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier.) We will provide what we believe, through our research to be the facts, and let you decide how you wish to go forward with your family dog search, but please remember that our goal at Dog Paw Print is to to provide you with balanced information, backed up with research. Safety is a main concern here since we aim to help families with children find good breeds to investigate as family dog choices. Luckily, there are a great number of dogs from the Terrier Group that do make perfectly wonderful family members, and who love and react well with most children. If you haven't read our Choosing a Dog page, we suggest that you do so now, to learn more about the reasons that we recommend certain dogs over others on this site. Reading the information there, as well as taking our Selection Quiz for Choosing a Dog will help you learn more about your own needs and what our site goals are to see if they align well together. If you are looking for a great family dog, we think you have come to the right place for good information on how to find the best dog for you! 
Terriers are scruffy, fun-loving, energetic, curious and feisty. Many can make great playmates for kids, especially if they are socialized early with them. Watch out if you have other dogs, because some members of the Terrier Group do not "play well with others." Several breeds in the Terrier Group can be socialized well with other dogs, but many times, because of their ancestry, they don't get along with other dogs- especially males with other male dogs in the household. Members of the Terrier Group were mainly bred to go after small animals, so if you have cats or other small animals, read about the particular terrier breed you like first to see if this is usually a problem, and socialize them with your animals early if at all possible. Dogs from the Terrier Group also require obedience training because they are headstrong, but generally take very well to it if you are consistent. They also should only be let free to roam in fenced or confined areas or they will run off in search of prey or something fun. Leashes and collars are a must for all Terrier Group breeds, as well as frequent trips to the dog park, so that they can have that necessary time to run free! Let's first look at the total group of dogs considered by the American Kennel Club to be "the Terrier Group," and we'll then get into our recommendations. The Terrier Group currently consists of twenty-seven breeds, as follows: The Airedale, American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian, Bedlington, and Border Terriers, Bull, Cairn, and Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Glen of Imaal, Irish, Kerry Blue, Lakeland and Manchester Terriers, Miniature Bull Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Norfolk, Norwich and Parson Russell Terriers, Scottish and Sealyham Terriers, Skye, Smooth Fox, and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Welsh, West Highland White and Wire Fox Terriers. From this group of twenty-seven dogs that make up the Terrier Group, we have selected ten breeds that we feel make good family dog types. They are, listed from small to large in size: Norfolk Terrier
Cooper, Our Favorite Norfolk Terrier! Norfolk and Norwich Terriers are the smallest of the Terrier Group that we are recommending for families with children. Usually under ten pounds, they are small but rugged little dogs, and they seem to really enjoy gentle and respectful children. They share the same lineage and have few differences, but Norwich Terriers have ears that stick up and Norfolks have ears that fold down. (Remember it like this: Norwich ears are like witches' hats- they are pointy and stand straight and tall - Norwich/witch hat!). These little guys can be wonderful with kids, other pets in the household and even cats, if they are socialized well with them from an early age. They are active and playful, and need a good romp every day to keep them happy and out of trouble. They are also alert and make good little watchdogs. If you direct their energy and stick with obedience classes, they truly have very few faults as family dog choice winners!
Watch a Clip From "Best in Show" -the "God Loves a Terrier" song!
Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy, as Cookie and Gerry Fleck, sing one of their terrier songs at a bon voyage party, just before they take Winky (their Norwich Terrier) to compete in the Mayflower Dog Show. This clip is from the hilarious Christopher Guest movie, Best in Show (2000).
To continue on with our Terrier Group favorites, next on the list is the Cairn Terrier. The most well-known and well-loved Cairn by far is "Toto," Dorothy's lovable companion from the movie The Wizard of Oz. Like the little dog in the movie, Cairn Terriers are devoted, loyal and mischievous (remember how Toto pulled back the curtain to reveal the real "wizard?") In real life, they are bold and clever, and are sometimes aggressive with other dogs, but are sweet with calmer children when socialized together. These high-energy dogs should be raised with other cats and dogs from an early age to ensure harmony in the household. If you can meet these criteria, Cairn Terriers might just send you "over the rainbow" and you'll end up with a great family dog as your pot of gold.
Dorothy with Her Cairn Terrier, Toto
Miniature Schnauzer
The Next Recommendation Needs Some Explanation
Staffordshire Bull Terrier - An English Breed As mentioned earlier, a few members of the Terrier Group descend from fighting stock, and two of these often get mistaken for one another. I will explain more about this in a future section, but for now, I can try and help you understand the basics of the confusion and the concerns that they provoke. Although a descendant of dogs bred for fighting, the English breed of Staffordshire Bull Terrier is recommended here with some caveats. Because of its ancestry, Staffords do not generally get along well with other dogs, but since the 1800's, they have been bred to be friendly toward people, even when they were still participating in dogfighting. England made dogfighting illegal in about 1835, and ever since then, Staffords have been bred to possess more desirable qualities for companion dogs. In 1935, The English Kennel Club added the breed to their roster, and later, in 1974, the American Kennel Club also decided that they would be included as a recognized breed. Staffordshire Bull Terriers are smaller than their American counterparts, and should not be confused with the breed called the American Staffordshire Terrier, or AmStaff. The English version is only fourteen to sixteen inches tall, and weighs between twenty-four to thirty-eight pounds, whereas the AmStaff is between seventeen and nineteen inches tall and between fifty-seven to sixty-seven pounds in weight. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a high energy and playful breed, but they can quickly destroy toys due to their strong chewing tendencies. They are affectionate and gentle, and are especially drawn to children, which earns them the nickname of "nanny dog"in England. Please do your research on the history of these dogs and obtain from a reputable breeder who breeds for exceptional temperament, and you should be on your way to finding a wonderful family companion in the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
A Few Other Recommendations
Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers Can Be Winning Family Members The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has a lot going for it in in the family dog search! They love children and are calmer than some of the more high-strung members of the Terrier Group. They are low-shedding but have a very high maintenance coat, so be prepared to spend time brushing it three to four times a week to prevent matting. Like other terriers, obedience classes are an absolute necessity with Soft Coated Wheatens, but you will love their happy, playful outlook on life, and their ability to get along well with other animals. We will finish up our recommendations from the Terrier Group with the Airedale Terrier. We recommend this breed, only if you have had other dogs in the past, because to have a harmonious family match with an Airedale, some experience with dogs is needed. They require a lot of work because they are a high energy breed, so be prepared to be able to provide ample opportunities to exercise with you. They are also a bit headstrong, and will need obedience training. Airedales really like to be with their people, and are patient, affectionate and playful with children. They are alert and make good watchdogs, too. Airedale Terriers have a somewhat wiry coat that needs tending. It should be brushed at least two times a week, but does not shed much. From Terrier Group to the Home Page
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