Today, March 27th is Terrier Day! This breed has many variations, which have been popularised with their distinct characteristics and quirks. There are around 60 different types of terriers! Let’s take a moment to explore some of the nuances and differences which make Terriers so delightful!

The UK is the home of the Terrier

Out of the 60 terrier breeds, around 24 originate from the United Kingdom. England has a particular fondness for the breeds, with 18 from this region. However, that’s not to discredit Scotland and Wales, who contribute some of the most interesting types, like the West Highland Terrier and the Sealyham Terrier.

It’s no coincidence that the first historical mentions of any terrier are from the UK, with the Manchester Terrier and the Scottish Terrier referenced in the 1500s. As such, adding yet another strand of history that the English and Scottish populaces quarrel over!

Australia and the United States, with their rich history with the UK, have also given the world a few terrier types, such as the miniature fox and the Boston Terrier. Surprising entries like Japan, the Czech Republic, and even Brazil all claim to have originated with at least one terrier!

Multiple shapes and sizes

The Terrier celebrates a rich diversity in shape and size. On average, the tallest Terrier is the Black Russian Terrier (also known as the Chornyi Terrier), which can stand over 70cm! That breed is also considered the heaviest, with some weighing up to 60kg! The Black Russian Terrier can sometimes be regarded as a faithful terrier, as its origins are not easily traced back to Terrier ancestry, except only the Airedale Terrier.

By contrast, the Yorkshire Terrier is the most diminutive terrier, with some weighing as little as 3.2kg! They aren’t much bigger vertically, with some reaching as high as 20cm. Despite their diminutive stature, Yorkshire Terriers are easily one of the most recognisable dogs in the world, ranking in the top 15 of all dogs by global ownership.

The Japanese Terrier bucks the height-weight correlation trend. This medium-sized breed is surprisingly light, at an average of 33 cm and often weighing less than 4.5kg!

Do Terriers prefer warmer climates?

Terrier breeds from Spain and Australia, like the Andalusian Terrier and the Miniature Fox Terrier, typically have longer lifespans—up to 16-18 years! On average, Terriers only tend to live between 13-14 years. Given that the breeds above are local to warmer climates, Terriers prefer to be in hotter conditions, at least from a lifespan standpoint.

Activity levels can vary wildly between Terrier breeds

Given how broad the Terrier is in its overall character, it should come as no surprise that there is a variance in the needed exercise. The Kerry Blue Terrier and the Russell Terrier ideally want about 2 hours of exercise daily! Other breeds, like the American Hairless and Japanese Terrier, will be fine in 30 minutes! Although the average for most terriers is 60 minutes per day.

Yorkshire Terriers take the crown for Terrier intelligence

Terriers aren’t considered the most intelligent dogs overall. They are certainly not as bright as Border Collies, Poodles, and German Shepherds, which are consistently ranked as the cleverest dogs on the planet.

Yorkshire Terriers are just about seen in the top 30 breeds of dogs for intelligence, with the Airedale Terrier and Border Terrier just making the cut-off. Statistically, Bull Terriers are considered the least intelligent - taking the most time to learn new commands.

Most popular Terriers

It's the Yorkshire Terrier again! Not only are they the most intelligent of all the Terrier types, but they are also the most popular - ranking 11th most popular (of all dog breeds) by the American Kennel Club for global popularity in 2024. The Boston Terrier is the next on the list, followed by the West Highland.

The Cesky Terrier is at the bottom of the list, which doesn't have much of a following outside its native Czech Republic.