AKA: Feist, American Rat Terrier, Ratting Terrier, Decker Giant

Description: The Rat Terrier is a dog of a compact and well-muscled body, with a deep chest, strong shoulders, and well-boned legs. Its ears can be tipped or carried erect, and its tail can either be short or full length.

Dynamics: The Rat Terrier is a lively and alert dog. It is also an intelligent one. It is affectionate and loving and has a lot of energy everyday. This breed gets along well with children, and makes a very good companion for a big family. It can also get along with strangers although it is reserved at first. The Rat Terrier is the kind that is eager to please and is well-rounded. It is quick to learn and can always be seen to be excited to learn new things. The Rat Terrier is used for hunting aside from its terrier work. It also makes a good watchdog and farm dog. It is also a very good swimmer.

Breed Group: Terrier

Weight: standard 12-35 pounds (5½-16 kg), mid-sized 6-8 pounds (3-3½ kg), toy 4-6 pounds (2-3 kg)

Height: standard 14-23 inches (35½-58½ cm), mid-sized 8-14 inches (20-35½ cm), toy 8 inches (20 cm)

Color: The colors of the Rat Terrier’s coat can be pearl, sable, chocolate, red and white, tricolor, solid red, black and tan, blue and white or red brindle.

Country of Origin: The Rat Terrier originated in Great Britain, developed from Smooth Fox Terriers and Manchester Terriers in 1820. After the breed was introduced to America, they were crossed again with the Smooth Fox Terrier, the Beagle, and the Whippet. The breed was named by President Teddy Roosevelt.

Activities: The Rat Terrier has a lot of energy, and so it needs a good amount of exercise everyday. A long daily walk and play sessions is also needed. This breed especially likes games and outdoor romps.

Grooming: The coat of the Rat Terrier is short so grooming is easy. An occasional combing or brushing is enough. Bathe only when necessary.

Other Info: The Rat Terrier has a life expectancy of 15 to 18 years. It will be all right living in an apartment as long as it is sufficiently exercised. The Rat Terrier loves to dig around so there should at least be a small yard around where it can play and romp around.

Photo: Elf

Description: The Norwich Terrier is one of the smallest breeds among the working terriers, alongside the Norfolk Terrier. Its short body is strong and sturdy, however, and it is accompanied with strong-boned legs. Its face has jaunty whiskers and eyebrows, and its muzzle is fox-like with large solid teeth. Its eyes are dark and expressive. Its ears stand upright. Its coat is wiry and straight, and the body ends with a tail docked by half.

Dynamics: The Norwich Terrier is an affectionate and assertive dog. It loves without any nervousness or trouble. It is also intelligent and is very easy to train. Training this breed has to be consistent and firm to be taught, however. Unstable discipline from its owner will only cause the dog to be confused. This is dog that loves everyone and is eager to please. It is good with children and can also get along well with other pets.

The Norwich Terrier is very active and courageous, and these traits may be the reason that it can be difficult to housebreak. Owning this dog means letting it know that you are the leader of the pack else the Norwich Terrier may develop the Small Dog Syndrome and think that he is the leader. This can potentially lead to behavior problems.

Breed Group: Terrier

Weight: 10-12 pounds (4.5-5.5kg)

Height: 10 inches (25cm)

Color: The Norwich Terrier’s coat can be in red, wheaten, tan, black and tan, and grizzle. It can occasionally have white markings, too.

Country of Origin: The Norwich Terrier came from England. It was once grouped with the Norfolk Terrier as one breed but they were officially separated in 1964 due to physical differences. For one, the Norwich Terrier has prick ears while the Norfolk Terrier has its ears dropped. The Norwich Terrier is also more round in body while the Norfolk Terrier is more angular.

Activities: The Norwich Terrier was bred to work. It has a lot of energy and is usually active. It needs to be taken out on a walk daily and should also be allowed some exercise or play sessions.

Grooming: The Norwich Terrier has a shaggy average coat that is waterproof and easy to take care of. Daily combing and brushing is enough. Bathe and dry shampoo only when necessary.

Other Info: The Norwich Terrier has a life expectancy of about 12-15 years. This is a hardy breed but can also suffer from back and eye problems. The Norwich Terrier will be all right living in an apartment as long as it is sufficiently exercised.

Photo: DavidBarak

Description: The Norfolk Terrier is among the smallest of the working terrier breed group. Its body is short but strong and sturdy. It has well-boned legs that make up for its small stature. It has solid teeth and a fox-like muzzle. Its eyes are dark, and the ears are hanging. It has jaunty whiskers and eyebrows shaping its face. Its tail is docked by half, and its coat is wiry and straight.

Dynamics: The Norfolk Terrier is a very affectionate and active dog. It is courageous and easy to train as long as the training is consistent. It is very friendly and can get along with children. Attention should be given to this dog because it will dig around or bark as much as it wants if it has nothing to keep it occupied. The Norfolk Terrier is also good with other pets, and it loves to play especially with toys and balls. Like most dogs, the Norfolk Terrier has to see its owner as the leader of the pack to avoid behavior problems. For example, when jogging together, make sure that the Norfolk Terrier is jogging on the side or behind and not in front. This will make it think it is the leader and will be hard to train.

Breed Group: Terrier

Weight: 10-12 pounds (4½-5½kg)

Height: 10 inches (25cm)

Color: The coat of the Norfolk Terrier can either be red, wheaten, tan, black and tan, or grizzle. It can also have white markings.

Country of Origin: The Norfolk Terrier was once considered as one breed with the Norwich Terrier. They were separated in 1964, in England, due to differences like the Norfolk having hanging ears while the Norwich has prick ears.

Activities: The Norfolk Terrier was bred to become a working dog. It is very active and has a lot of energy. It should be taken out for a walk and sufficient exercise daily.

Grooming: The Norfolk Terrier’s coat is medium in length and waterproof. All it needs is regular combing and brushing. Bathe and dry shampoo only when necessary.

Other Info: The Norfolk Terrier has a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. This is generally a healthy and hardy breed. It will do all right living in an apartment as long as it is sufficiently exercised.

Photo: Tangenes

Description: The Lurcher is a crossbreed, and so there is no set standard for its appearance. This breed is mainly derived from sighthound crosses, and so most often it has the built of a sighthound — long and straight legs, deep chest that provides lung capacity for endurance, high set ears that are usually wire-haired, scissors bite jaws, and other characteristics of its sighthound ancestors.

The most common combinations of this crossbreed are the Greyhound/Collie mix and the Greyhound/Terrier mix. Its coat is most often short with a smooth undercoat which thickens in the winter. But depending on its ancestor, a Lurcher can also have a long coat. Some may even have rough coat like that of a terrier.

Dynamics: Even the Lurcher’s temperament varies according to how it was raised and from which breed it is descended from. But generally, the Lurcher is an affectionate and lovable dog, and has the temperament similar to that of a purebred sighthound. The Lurcher also has the strong hunting instincts of the sighthounds, as well as their physical abilities. The Lurcher is also endowed with great energy and can move smart and fast.

The Lurcher is also an intelligent and obedient dog, able to grasp commands fast. It is a very good companion dog, and loves to move and play around. Socialization is important, as it is with most dogs, and you should not ignore this dog so that the Lurcher will not develop destructive behavior.

Breed Group: Sighthound

Weight: 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg)

Height: 27-30 inches (69-76 cm)

Color: The color of the Lurcher’s coat varies as it is a crossbreed. Its color will depend on its parents.

Country of Origin: The Lurcher was bred in Ireland and Great Britain to hunt rabbits, hare, and other small animals in the 1600s. It was mostly the Irish gypsies and tinkers who raise Lurchers, and they made pups as young as six months old work in hunting. Today a more systematic manner is carried out in breeding Lurchers.

Activities: The Lurcher has a lot of energy to spare that there is a need to tae it for a walk everyday. It should also be set free once in a while to play and run around in an open area. It likes to give chase to small game so the area should be free of passing cars and other dangers for the Lurcher to build upon its hunting instincts.

Grooming: Combing and brushing the coat regularly is enough in grooming the Lurcher. This is for both the short-coated and long-coated. Some Lurchers are constant shedders, and some are average shedders.

Other Info: The Lurcher has a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years, and is not suitable to live in the city or in a small apartment. It is a high-energy dog and needs to have a lot of room for play and exercise.

Photo: Oliver Low

AKA: English Setter, Lawerack, Laverack, Llewellyn Setter

Description: The Llewellin Setter is better known as the English Setter. This breed can be distinguished by its long, flowing coat that is speckled. The coat of the Llewellin Setter are generally referred to as belton, and it depends upon the color of the flecks on which to call the combination of its coat. For example, having a coat with orange flecks will describe the Llewellin Setter as having orange belton colors.

There are two types of Llewellin Setter s: the field setter and the show dog. The Field Setter is smaller than the Show Setter, and is also more active. Show Setters are larger, and it also tends to have longer hair than the Field Setter.

Dynamics: The Llewellin Setter is considered as a “gentleman by nature.” It has a soft temperament, and it is sensitive and is very eager to please its owners. It is people-oriented, and loves to play and cuddle with their family. This breed gets along very well with children and other animals not smaller than it is.

The Llewellin Setter is an intelligent breed that it can perform any task when trained (except herding). In training it, however, patience is needed and positive reinforcement is the recommended method. This dog is sensitive to harsh criticisms, after all.

Breed Group: Gundog

Weight: 45-80 lbs

Height: 22-27 inches

Color: The base coat of the Llewellin Setter is white, and then there are flecks surrounding its body. The color of the flecks can be a combination of black, blue, orange, lemon, liver, or tan.

Country of Origin: The Llewellin Setter was originally bred as bird dogs in England. Throughout the many years of continuous breeding, we now attribute the modern Llewellin Setter to the efforts of Mr. Edward Laverack and Mr. R. Purcell Llewellin.

Activities: The Llewellin Setter has an abundant source of energy and is very active. It has to be taken out on long walks everyday so that it will not become destructive and restless inside your home. This breed enjoys running around in an open area.

Grooming: The Llewellin Setter’s long coat has to be regularly brushed and combed. Check for burrs and tangles. Bathe or dry shampoo only when necessary.

Other Info: The Lllewellin Setter has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. This breed is not suitable for families living in apartments.

Photo: Elf