what defines a working terrier?

[BS40liam 203]

In my oppinion it is classed as work if the terrier/dog does what ever is available and put to, wether it be bushing for rabbits, hunting rat or under the turf. Ok so terrier may mean earthdog from old but times has changed and so has dogs attitudes so like said work imo is what is put in front of it, at the end of the day it has a job to do

Nothing has changed.The stuff is still below ground and if you want it out then you will need a dog who can first of all physically gain access and at the same time have heart and desire to stay there until he is removed. That dog is still known has a terrier or earth dog.

fair enough but just because a terrier dosnt go to ground it still dosnt mean it isn't a working terrier. If its got a job to do and does it ok imo its working.

[coldweld 65]

When I was growing up & as a young man my dad always said to me that a terriers not a real dog unless it works to ground .

when i was growing up my momma always said lifes like a box of chocolates

 

Did the local priest come and **** her ? The post was tounge in cheek , Not botherd what sort of terrier she is she's good at the job i ask of her. i've no axe to grind ATB to the lads that like to dig.

[ELLE 7]

" horses for courses"

[hard grafter 277]

When I was growing up & as a young man my dad always said to me that a terriers not a real dog unless it works to ground .

when i was growing up my momma always said lifes like a box of chocolates

 

Did the local priest come and **** her ? The post was tounge in cheek , Not botherd what sort of terrier she is she's good at the job i ask of her. i've no axe to grind ATB to the lads that like to dig.

no but a reckon you were interfered with as a young un !!! dislexic f**k

[coldweld 65]

[wirral countryman 2,110]

There are many levels of "Working Terrier" as said before,ratting dog,rabbit dog,busher,ferreting dog but I have to agree the first words out my mouth when looking at a potential stud is, "is it a fox dog" ,those of us lucky enough to have kept terriers for over 40yrs were raised only ever seeing earthwork and so are very old fashioned in our views and I have to agree that a basic requirement for any terrier is its ability to go to ground,and I do not mean rabbit.There is a splitting of views probably brought about by lads that have never seen earthwork,maybe the ban is bearing fruit as many lads have altered the manner in which they work their terriers but there are lots of young lads that have no idea of what is required from a terrier to pursue quarry to ground,comments like" I may not want to work my dog to ground" or "I could work my dog to ground if I wanted", " how do I get my dog to go to ground" are quite amusing and only serve to show your inexperience on working terriers,let me tell you that a dog of good breeding and correct size,temperament ,etc will most likely self enter even whilst out just bushing or ratting,ferreting or even on a country walk with the family,if that terrier has what it takes then you will have no choice in the matter,there are many terriers that look the part but I only have true respect for a terrier that can be dug to,the first breed standard of most working terriers society or club is that it must go to ground,there is no comparison to a dog that can only work above on rats or rabbit,if you think you have respect for your little dog that does rats,etc then watch it up close when you break through and tell me that a ratter has the same bottle,as I said earlier different levels of working terrier but never think that because your dogs called a terrier that you can just switch it on and go digging,your choice of pup and its breeding will ultimately tell which quarry that pup will work in its lifetime barring the odd throwback.WM

[jawn 449]

There are many levels of "Working Terrier" as said before,ratting dog,rabbit dog,busher,ferreting dog but I have to agree the first words out my mouth when looking at a potential stud is, "is it a fox dog" ,those of us lucky enough to have kept terriers for over 40yrs were raised only ever seeing earthwork and so are very old fashioned in our views and I have to agree that a basic requirement for any terrier is its ability to go to ground,and I do not mean rabbit.There is a splitting of views probably brought about by lads that have never seen earthwork,maybe the ban is bearing fruit as many lads have altered the manner in which they work their terriers but there are lots of young lads that have no idea of what is required from a terrier to pursue quarry to ground,comments like" I may not want to work my dog to ground" or "I could work my dog to ground if I wanted", " how do I get my dog to go to ground" are quite amusing and only serve to show your inexperience on working terriers,let me tell you that a dog of good breeding and correct size,temperament ,etc will most likely self enter even whilst out just bushing or ratting,ferreting or even on a country walk with the family,if that terrier has what it takes then you will have no choice in the matter,there are many terriers that look the part but I only have true respect for a terrier that can be dug to,the first breed standard of most working terriers society or club is that it must go to ground,there is no comparison to a dog that can only work above on rats or rabbit,if you think you have respect for your little dog that does rats,etc then watch it up close when you break through and tell me that a ratter has the same bottle,as I said earlier different levels of working terrier but never think that because your dogs called a terrier that you can just switch it on and go digging,your choice of pup and its breeding will ultimately tell which quarry that pup will work in its lifetime barring the odd throwback.WM

Good post Mister!!!

[hard grafter 277]

There are many levels of "Working Terrier" as said before,ratting dog,rabbit dog,busher,ferreting dog but I have to agree the first words out my mouth when looking at a potential stud is, "is it a fox dog" ,those of us lucky enough to have kept terriers for over 40yrs were raised only ever seeing earthwork and so are very old fashioned in our views and I have to agree that a basic requirement for any terrier is its ability to go to ground,and I do not mean rabbit.There is a splitting of views probably brought about by lads that have never seen earthwork,maybe the ban is bearing fruit as many lads have altered the manner in which they work their terriers but there are lots of young lads that have no idea of what is required from a terrier to pursue quarry to ground,comments like" I may not want to work my dog to ground" or "I could work my dog to ground if I wanted", " how do I get my dog to go to ground" are quite amusing and only serve to show your inexperience on working terriers,let me tell you that a dog of good breeding and correct size,temperament ,etc will most likely self enter even whilst out just bushing or ratting,ferreting or even on a country walk with the family,if that terrier has what it takes then you will have no choice in the matter,there are many terriers that look the part but I only have true respect for a terrier that can be dug to,the first breed standard of most working terriers society or club is that it must go to ground,there is no comparison to a dog that can only work above on rats or rabbit,if you think you have respect for your little dog that does rats,etc then watch it up close when you break through and tell me that a ratter has the same bottle,as I said earlier different levels of working terrier but never think that because your dogs called a terrier that you can just switch it on and go digging,your choice of pup and its breeding will ultimately tell which quarry that pup will work in its lifetime barring the odd throwback.WM

A well educated post , by the sounds of it a well educated man nice1 wc

[fellman 116]

terrier = digging dog

ratter /busher =sporting terriers

bigger terriers = bigger terriers

 

 

as for digging dogs refusing to face cover........they are digging dogs for a reason to dig to!

 

 

also there are one other type of terrier noone has mentioned ....the show terrier never seen a field or faced quarry or anything these terriers are usually called ..........borders!!!!!!!!!

little joke there ..but many a true word spoken in jest..

 

 

My son's Lakie bitch is used as a Deer Dog ! I have to prize her off Deer,Do you think a 12lb dog on a 70lb Fallow is a dog with heart.

 

I have no interest in digging to her as its not my thing( too much effort, with no food value], but she is the great sized dog for the job i want her to do,

 

So i know she an't an earth dog but her sometimes wounded quarry is a lot bigger than fox or rat and puts her life in danger with every wounded fallow or Muntjack, so is she a SUPER sporting terrier ?

id simply call it a "dog" as most dogs would do that!!!!!!!!!!!

what are you saying?

[aaron01 737]

There are many levels of "Working Terrier" as said before,ratting dog,rabbit dog,busher,ferreting dog but I have to agree the first words out my mouth when looking at a potential stud is, "is it a fox dog" ,those of us lucky enough to have kept terriers for over 40yrs were raised only ever seeing earthwork and so are very old fashioned in our views and I have to agree that a basic requirement for any terrier is its ability to go to ground,and I do not mean rabbit.There is a splitting of views probably brought about by lads that have never seen earthwork,maybe the ban is bearing fruit as many lads have altered the manner in which they work their terriers but there are lots of young lads that have no idea of what is required from a terrier to pursue quarry to ground,comments like" I may not want to work my dog to ground" or "I could work my dog to ground if I wanted", " how do I get my dog to go to ground" are quite amusing and only serve to show your inexperience on working terriers,let me tell you that a dog of good breeding and correct size,temperament ,etc will most likely self enter even whilst out just bushing or ratting,ferreting or even on a country walk with the family,if that terrier has what it takes then you will have no choice in the matter,there are many terriers that look the part but I only have true respect for a terrier that can be dug to,the first breed standard of most working terriers society or club is that it must go to ground,there is no comparison to a dog that can only work above on rats or rabbit,if you think you have respect for your little dog that does rats,etc then watch it up close when you break through and tell me that a ratter has the same bottle,as I said earlier different levels of working terrier but never think that because your dogs called a terrier that you can just switch it on and go digging,your choice of pup and its breeding will ultimately tell which quarry that pup will work in its lifetime barring the odd throwback.WM

Nice to see an educated reply

 

[gonetoearth 5,144]

A terrier that does what you want or need it to do !!!!!!!!

[johnny 777 53]

spot on gonetoearth

[jawn 449]

Just doesn't seem to make much sense to try and convince a man who's dog is working out for him that his dog is in-fact no good. Especially when you'll likely never lay eyes on it, let alone breed to or get a pup off of it. People who work dogs either have them or know where to get them. It makes zero sense in my mind to degrade ANYONE actually responsibly using a dog. Far too many people take a "working dog" in as a pet because they like the idea of having one. I doubt anyone except the most inexperienced are going to go looking for a dog that will stay until dug too from a guy who's dogs are three generations deep in brushing dogs.

 

Whether or not I can hunt a dog like someone else in another part of the world... I can appreciate a dog that is getting a job done. I have a terrier that is doing cold tripple blind retrieves out over two hundred meters... Yes he hunts too. He's not a retriever. Never will be. But he will retrieve fur or foul to hand in fine fashion. BOTH of his parents were earth dogs. His mother is still working fox at eight years old. This particular dog self entered at a young age. He has a lot to prove... but he working on it. He might never live up to another mans expectations. He might never live up to mine. But the only way I can find out is WORKING the terrier on the game that I have available.

[Alli 923]

ive kept quite long enough, a terrier is a terrier whether you use it on rat, rabbit, mink, bushing whatever, the name WORKER has to be earned in the way of earth work, pre ban, the dog had to work badger, find stay until dug to on a regular bases, a seasoned 3 year old terrier would respectfully have earned its title and rightly so. A WORKING TERRIER. unforunatley it is now illegal to dig badgers in GB. now the term working terrier is used for a seasoned fox dog. Whether you hunt rat, rabbit, mink, cover. etc. it is not a true working terrier. end of. regardless of what some very nieve people mite think. yis ALLI

[coonboy 160]

how many digs on 1st second and third season alli till hes earnd the title worker from your self i no the number will will differ on its working style but what numbers do you look at? cheers