Working terriers.

[TonyT 1,530]

29 minutes ago, Samson 2021 said:

I need to read the full comments section before commenting on future I think

Shouldnt worry about that Sam… nobody else does

[eastcoast 4,297]

I do like THL. In the real world most lads that I have known tend not too be interested in how the dogs that we love came about other than the immediate ancestry. Some are not even bothered too much about that, if it works that is all that matters. If it doesn't, get rid and try another :-). I get that but do find the history behind what we now have interesting. Relevant pedigree and ancient history being very different things of course. But I have always been a nerd when it comes to working dogs.

When it comes to the history part I have a theory, and I know how much working dog lads love a theory  That is that the development and time period of working terrier development is more akin to the pastoral types than conventional hunting dogs. Hounds, sight or scent, have been in existence for millennia. To provide meat and sport. But only for those of a certain social standing. 

The more dependency on agriculture found a need for dogs to protect and manage the product being produced. Guard dogs and herding types. There was also a need for small dogs to control animals classed as vermin that eat the product. Rats, rabbits, fox, badger, wild cats, otters. In the 18th and 19th century these little vermin controllers became more selectively bred and valued as true sporting dogs in some locations.

Odd thing is though, those locations appear to have only been in the British Isles. 

Edited April 3 by eastcoast
forgot about otters

[steve t 1,096]

Probably produced in 6 months as a mere scientific experiment

[eastcoast 4,297]

27 minutes ago, steve t said:

Probably produced in 6 months as a mere scientific experiment

A skilled breeder can recreate the phenotype in the most basic definition of phenotype in a few generations. The phenotype of most British breeds was never lost, so no reason to recreate them. 

[fireman 11,095]

1 hour ago, eastcoast said:

I do like THL. In the real world most lads that I have known tend not too be interested in how the dogs that we love came about other than the immediate ancestry. Some are not even bothered too much about that, if it works that is all that matters. If it doesn't, get rid and try another :-). I get that but do find the history behind what we now have interesting. Relevant pedigree and ancient history being very different things of course. But I have always been a nerd when it comes to working dogs.

When it comes to the history part I have a theory, and I know how much working dog lads love a theory  That is that the development and time period of working terrier development is more akin to the pastoral types than conventional hunting dogs. Hounds, sight or scent, have been in existence for millennia. To provide meat and sport. But only for those of a certain social standing. 

The more dependency on agriculture found a need for dogs to protect and manage the product being produced. Guard dogs and herding types. There was also a need for small dogs to control animals classed as vermin that eat the product. Rats, rabbits, fox, badger, wild cats, otters. In the 18th and 19th century these little vermin controllers became more selectively bred and valued as true sporting dogs in some locations.

Odd thing is though, those locations appear to have only been in the British Isles. 

I'll add that transport and the money to travel has played it's part as the old days were as far as a man could walk or his horse could so localized breeding was all there was and only when tribes met either in peace or conflict would the different cur types of dogs were mixed and bred into maybe what we have today as such. Totaly with you on what you've written and myself was mixed up and wrong about the time latin was used as a written log of the world..

Edited April 3 by fireman

[Aussie Whip 4,216]

2 hours ago, eastcoast said:

A skilled breeder can recreate the phenotype in the most basic definition of phenotype in a few generations. The phenotype of most British breeds was never lost, so no reason to recreate them. 

And I think they could bring back the working ability in terrier breeds that have been forgotten, instead of just writing them off forever as show dogs.