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The terrier includes a wide variety of dog breeds that were originally developed to hunt vermin. The name comes from the French word terrier, meaning “den,” a necessary activity if Terriers are to successfully hunt and kill their vermin prey.
terriers can range in weight from 2 to over 70 pounds. Popular small breeds include the Yorkshire Terrier, the English Toy Terrier, and other “toy” varieties. Medium-sized terriers are often used as farming or hunting dogs and include the Jack Russell Terrier, the Rat Terrier and the Doberman.
Larger Terrier Breeds include the Black Russian Terrier, the Airedale, and the Standard Bull Terrier. Today we will explore these hefty Terrier breeds in depth while also exploring the largest Terrier ever.
The biggest terrier ever
The largest terrier ever was the “King Oorang Airedale” who could reach over 100 pounds!
The Airedale is sometimes referred to as the “King of the Terriers” as they are generally recognized as the largest Terrier breed. In the 1920s, Walter Lingo was frustrated with the selection of Airedale dogs at the time and started breeding bigger, better vision. His result was the “King Oorang Airedale”, a breed believed to have been the largest terrier ever. While no exact numbers exist for their weight, they can reach over 100 pounds. The dogs made Walter Lingo a rich man.
To get the publicity for his new dog breed, Walter Lingo promoted a small NFL franchise. The Oorang Indians were an NFL football team in the 1920s, known as the smallest hometown of any team in history (LaRue, Ohio). The team is named after the Oorang Airedale dogs bred by Walter Lingo. The Oorang Indians are believed to have produced the very first halftime shows, parading Airedale dogs across the field in hopes of selling them.
Due to health issues from selective breeding, the King Oorang Airedale dogs no longer exist. The standard Airedale can still grow to immense dimensions with proper maintenance.
Large Terrier Breeds
Black Russian Terrier
The Black Russian Terrier is a large breed of dog with an average weight of between 80 and 130 pounds. These terriers were bred in Russia for use in the military and as working dogs. They have glossy black fur and a shoulder height of about 30 inches. The breed is not considered a “true” Terrier as it has heritage from over a dozen other breeds including the Caucasian sheepdog, the Schnauzer and the Newfoundland.
Airedale
Airedales have been featured in popular media such as Dennis the Menace, 101 Dalmatiansand The Great Gatsby. The Airedale was developed to hunt alone, but it can also make a great family dog if both the dog and children are properly trained. The average Airedale weighs about 50 pounds and has a shoulder height of about 24 inches.
Standard Bull Terrier
The bull terrier is a unique breed with a distinctive egg-shaped head that sets it apart from most other dogs. The average weight for Bull Terriers is between 50 and 70 pounds, while they usually have a shoulder height of about 22 inches. Both Theodore Roosevelt and George S. Patton owned pet Bull Terriers, Pete and Willie, respectively.
In the movie: Famous Terrier dogs
Terriers have appeared in a number of iconic TV shows and media. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous terriers over time.
Terry, the Cairn Terrier from Wizard of Oz
Terry was a Cairn Terrier which is one of the most recognizable dogs in popular media, who played Toto in the 1939 film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz.
Bullseye, the target mascot
Bullseye, a Bull Terrier, is the mascot of Target Corporation and often appears in commercials and other promotional media. The original Bullseye was “Smudgie”, an American Kennel Club champion. Since then, other dogs have had to take on the role – Bullseye is currently played by Nikki, a Bull Terrier trained and cared for by Worldwide Movie Animals.
moose by Frasier
Moose was a long-lived Jack Russel Terrier who had a recurring role on the TV sitcom Frasier. He had comedic chops and was often a source of comedy on the show, portraying the lead character’s dog, Eddie. Moose lived to be over 15 years old and died of natural causes after a long, comfortable retirement in Los Angeles.
The types of terriers
Terriers are sometimes classified into several groups depending on their purpose or size. All Terriers are united by a spirited, energetic and playful personality.
The hunting terriers were originally bred to track animals and aid in hunting – these breeds include the Jack Russell Terrier, the Doberman and the Rat Terrier.
The vermin hunting Terriers are smaller but still have “hunting” in their blood. The Scottish Terrier, Cairn Terrier and the West Highland White Terrier were all originally bred for their ability to keep the home free of nuisance pests. The word cairn actually refers to a pile of rocks, from which these little hunters could find prey for vermin.
toy terriersAlso known as Companion Terriers, they are smaller and more suitable as a family dog, although th
ey
are known to retain the energetic qualities that all Terriers exhibit. Toy Terrier breeds include the Japanese Terrier, the English Toy Terrier, and the Yorkshire Terrier.
Unfortunately, the history of some terrier breeds is associated with dogfights, bullfights, and other blood sports. Standard Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers were used for these vicious purposes and are rightly referred to as: Bull type terrier, although they also performed with pest control. Through decades of positive breeding programs, these dogs that were historically aggressive are now safe and suitable to keep as pets.
AN Working Terrier is any dog that does its job underground, digging in holes and burrows to flush out vermin. This can sometimes lead to underground fights between the dog and its prey, leading some people to label this type of work as animal cruelty. This has led to terrier training programs that promote barking and alerting a master, rather than attacking and killing the prey itself.
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