September 12, 2008
What characteristics define a "terrier"? ?
I've always associated terriers as "working-type" dogs, ie; the ones I am familiar with typically do well when they have some kind of job to do, even if that job is just patrolling the backyard for cats. Being that the Silky Terrier and Yorkshire terrier are in the toy category, I am curious as to what makes them "terriers." I know that Yorkies were once used to catch rats in clothing mills, but then the breed became popular in the upper crust of society and the working aspect of the breed was "retired" so to speak. http://www.akc.org/breeds/yorkshire_terrier/index.cfm
So if a dog has been accepted by a certain group and that group no longer uses the dog for the original task it was bred to do, does the prey drive go away over time? Since many other dogs are likely not doing the job they were initially bred to do, what separates them from the Yorkshire terrier?
This is not a question of whether or not you like the breed, but rather, what separates the "toy" terriers from the "real" terriers. And are the toy group terriers still capable of performing the tasks they were initially bred to do or has the prey drive been bred out of them?
Boss has a good answer and I'll add my two cents.
Several Yorkies I've met still seem to have the working drive despite their small size. They are tenacious and have prey drive - even if the prey is just a bug. Their personalities are characteristically terrier even if they are tiny. One of the problems with the "purse dog" trend is Yorkies really aren't all that suited to it. Well bred ones are busy little guys and turn into the notorious "ankle biters" when not trained properly and not given an outlet for their terrier-like characteristics.
Where the change is most prevalent I think is in spaniel breeds, English toy spaniels and Cavalier King Charles spaniels were bred-down centuries ago to be companion dogs and few have any working characteristics at all. Cocker spaniels until the last century were used to hunt woodcock but are now largely companion dogs. The difference in passage of time is obvious - most Cockers to me are frustrated dogs - high energy and no outlet for it anymore while the Cavs and toy spaniels have been breed as companions so long they are no longer truly spaniels in the working sense - and it is reflected in their temperament. They seem much more content in their companion role than Cockers.
Filed under Toy Yorkshire Terriers by admin
Comments on What characteristics define a "terrier"? ? »
To answer your closing question, Yes; terriers do still possess the traits that were originally bred into them. I think it's just harder to identify their traits as true terriers because of the lifestyle the toy terrier enthusiasts have adopted for these dogs.
I have a Papillon, which is also a toy breed. However, they were created from Spaniels and I frequently observe obvious Spaniel traits in him.
I think a lot of it comes down to poor breeding too. Since the Yorkies and Silkies are so popular as accessories and sources of profit, their breeding has been bastardized. Now the stereotypical temperament of toy dogs is rampant; yappy, nippy, ill mannered ankle biters.
References :
Boss has a good answer and I'll add my two cents.
Several Yorkies I've met still seem to have the working drive despite their small size. They are tenacious and have prey drive - even if the prey is just a bug. Their personalities are characteristically terrier even if they are tiny. One of the problems with the "purse dog" trend is Yorkies really aren't all that suited to it. Well bred ones are busy little guys and turn into the notorious "ankle biters" when not trained properly and not given an outlet for their terrier-like characteristics.
Where the change is most prevalent I think is in spaniel breeds, English toy spaniels and Cavalier King Charles spaniels were bred-down centuries ago to be companion dogs and few have any working characteristics at all. Cocker spaniels until the last century were used to hunt woodcock but are now largely companion dogs. The difference in passage of time is obvious - most Cockers to me are frustrated dogs - high energy and no outlet for it anymore while the Cavs and toy spaniels have been breed as companions so long they are no longer truly spaniels in the working sense - and it is reflected in their temperament. They seem much more content in their companion role than Cockers.
References :
"So if a dog has been accepted by a certain group and that group no longer uses the dog for the original task it was bred to do, does the prey drive go away over time?"
Absolutely. Once they become popular as companions, the working drive can be bred out of any dog. Look at the Doberman. Some would argue that the work ethic has been bred right out of them in favor of more docile, companion-friendly temperament.
In the case of the Toy breeds you mention, some would argue that the feisty, "terrier" temperament is still evident in the Yorkie/Silky, even if they don't have the desire to hunt and kill vermin. But is that true terrier temperament, or just the Napoleon Complex common to Toy breeds?
References :
Yes - the prey drive can and has been bred out of them. Most terriers are not doing the job they were bred to, and in many cases, in my opinion, prey drive is, if not being bred out, then not being bred *for*. The exception is any terrier breeder who also gets field titles on their dogs, such as earthdog.
Add: what I really want to know? WTF is the Boston terrier doing in the Non-sporting group?????
References :
Usually small dogs that have historically been hunters of other animals, e.g. cairn terriers hunted vermin that lived in Scottish graves (cairns)
People above me say that the hunting base of logic and thinking has been detiriorated over the years, but I believe that is not entirely true. My dog really would kill a squirrel if given the opportunity (and speed). He may not be physically able to though.
References :
My little mutt is 1/2 Silky and 1/2 Dachshund. She has ALL the working terrier qualities intact. For petes sake she took on a cougar!
She is has a strong prey-drive,and is an excellent tracker, a job she uses when we are hiking far in the backwoods.
I gave her the Volhard temperament test for K9 work. She passed with flying colors, a perfect score for police work..at 20 pounds..lol
On the other hand, the Boston Terrier is no longer in the terrier group, as he has lost his terrier characteristics, and is in the non-sporting group.
I've known both Yorkie types, real terrier, and only a lap dog.
References :
btdt