Terrier is the name of a group of breeds of dogs. The name comes from the Latin terra, meaning earth, because terriers were once used to drive game out of holes, or burrows. Most terriers originated in England. The American Kennel Club recognizes 31 terrier breeds: Airedale terrier, American hairless terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Australian terrier, Bedlington terrier, border terrier, bull terrier, cairn terrier, Cesky terrier, Dandie Dinmont terrier, Glen of Imaal terrier, Irish terrier, Kerry blue terrier, lakeland terrier, Manchester terrier, miniature bull terrier, miniature schnauzer, Norfolk terrier, Norwich terrier, Parson Russell terrier, rat terrier, Russell terrier, Scottish terrier, Sealyham terrier, Skye terrier, smooth fox terrier, soft-coated wheaten terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, Welsh terrier, West Highland white terrier, and wire fox terrier.
Seven other breeds are called terriers. But they are not members of the terrier group. The Boston terrier and Tibetan terrier are classed as nonsporting dogs. The Silky terrier, toy fox terrier, and Yorkshire terrier are toy dogs. Manchester terriers under 12 pounds (5.4 kilograms) are also toy dogs. And the black Russian terrier is a member of the working group.
