Terrier Breeds C - G

Small “EARTH DOGS,” or terriers, as we now know them, have existed in the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland for close to 500 years. It is recorded that every Scottish chieftain had his pack of hounds and his pack of terriers which were used to control small fur-bearing vermin such as fox, otter, weasels, and rodents. And while these “earth dogs” may have differed in appearance from the modern Cairn, it is assumed that it was from these short-legged, game, and tenacious little dogs that the breed was developed. Fanciers claim that the Cairn is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, breed of pure British terrier.

Stronghold of the breed was the Isle of Skye, where it is reported that the purest strains were developed and had been known as working terriers since 1810. Thus it seemed appropriate that when the breed made its show debut at Inverness in 1909, the dogs should be classified as “Shorthaired Skyes.” This name did not sit well with Skye Terrier adherents, who had laid claim to the “Skye” appellation many years before. A lengthy dispute followed, the issue finally being resolved when one of the breed’s strongest supporters suggested that to persist in using “Skye” could lead to confusion. Or, even worse, it might give the impression this should be a long-bodied dog. In 1910 the committee charged with defining breed characteristics was persuaded to rename the breed the Cairn Terrier. Two years later the Cairn was granted official breed status by The Kennel Club (England). Since that time the breed has grown in popularity not only in Great Britain but throughout the world. Fanciers fondly call the Cairn “the best little pal in the world.”

The first Cairn Terrier was imported into the United States by a Mrs. Price in 1913, and was registered with the American Kennel Club. First Canadian registrations were recorded in The Canadian Kennel Club Stud Book of 1920.

The Cesky Terrier is the result of appropriate crossbreeding of short legged terriers including the Sealyham Terrier and Scotch Terrier, with the aim to develop a light, short legged, well pigmented and biddable hunting Terrier. Mr. Frantisek Horak a Czech geneticist started to improve the breed by standardizing the breed characteristics in 1940. In 1959 these dogs were shown for the first time in Prague, and the breed was officially recognized by the FCI in 1963.

Unique to the breed is the soft, waved, non-shedding coat which does not require traditional stripping. Originally known as the Bohemian Terrier due to the geographic area in which he was developed, the Cesky Terrier is a good family pet that enjoys a versatile life style including hiking and swimming. The Cesky Terrier was officially recognized with the Canadian Kennel in 2000 and enjoys a loyal and dedicated following throughout Canada.

It is generally concluded that the first origin of the Dandie Dinmont is unknown. But this has not stopped the theorists who, over the years, have proposed some rather bizarre combinations as the breed’s ancestors. The most plausible explanation of the Dandie’s origin is that it was developed from the numerous native terrier breeds that abounded in the hill country along the border between Scotland and England, particularly in Coquetdale, an area of Northumberland famous for its terriers.

What is known is that as far back as the 17th century these dogs were owned by several families who lived near Coquetdale and were used to kill badger, fox, and otter. One family in particular, the Allans, is closely associated with the breed. Willy “Piper” Allan, the family head who died in 1704, kept a pack of terriers which, despite handsome offers to buy, he refused to sell. After Piper’s death, two generations of Allans kept the strain alive, parting with the occasional dog in exchange for favours received. Presumably a tenant farmer by the name of James Davidson obtained a pair of the Allan dogs, bred them and named each according to its colour: “Mustard” or “Pepper,” varying these names with such adjectives as old, young, big, little and so on.

Outside of their local area the terriers were unknown until 1814, when Sir Walter Scott published his novel Guy Mannering. In it, one of the characters was patterned after Davidson. Scott called him “Dandie Dinmont” and, like Davidson, he kept a pack of pepper and mustard terriers. Soon the breed, then called the “Pepper and Mustard,” was very much in demand. By the time of Davidson’s death in 1820 the breed had been renamed the Dandie Dinmont and they were being extensively bred in farms along the border as well as in other parts of England.

So much confusion prevailed as to correct breed points that in 1876 the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club was formed and a breed standard draughted that, with minor weight changes, remains the same today.

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier was first registered in Canada in the years 1888- 1889.

Since the fifteenth century terriers have been known in Britain, homeland of the Fox Terriers. These have been described as small, sturdy, and game, noted for going to earth for their quarry. With the introduction of fox-hunting in the 18th century, these terriers found their place as useful members of the hunt whose job it was to kill the fox. Thus it was that most of the terriers were bred in hunt kennels and were developed according to the hunt master’s preference. A dash of this and a bit of that blood would be added to basic terrier stock. Breeding records were not kept until after the introduction of the championship dog show in the 1860s, so it is impossible to sort out the various breeds that form the ancestry of the Fox Terriers. Educated guesses have it that the white English Terrier, Bulldog, smooth-coated Black and Tan, Greyhound, and Beagle were used to develop the smooth variety, the first fox terrier. This breed was then crossed with the rough-coated Black and Tan Terrier to create the wire-haired variety.

Paintings dating from the mid- 18th century depict dogs resembling the fox terrier in both coat types, but it was not until 1860 that any attempt was made to standardize the breed. Smooth fox terriers were introduced to the public at the Birmingham show in 1862 and they quickly won popularity as the working man’s favourite. Later the wire-haired made its debut, but until 1878 the two were classified as separate breeds. The smooth was known simply as the Fox Terrier, a sporting breed. The wire haired was called the Wire-Haired Terrier and classified as a Non-Sporting breed. After the first breed standard was written, both were granted separate terrier classification.

Shortly after its recognition the fox terrier came to America. Most notable import was Ch. Nornay Saddler, a smooth, brought over by James Austin. Saddler was a dominant force in the breed who produced at least one champion in every litter he sired. Among the first breeds to be recognized by The Canadian Kennel Club, the comparative popularity of the two varieties is evident in registration figures. In the years 1888-1889 there were 180 smooths registered in contrast to fourteen wires. Today those positions are reversed.

Since the Fifteenth century terriers have been known in Britain, homeland of the Fox Terriers. These have been described as small, sturdy, and game, noted for going to earth for their quarry. With the introduction of fox-hunting in the 18th century, these terriers found their place as useful members of the hunt whose job it was to kill the fox. Thus it was that most of the terriers were bred in hunt kennels and were developed according to the hunt master’s preference. A dash of this and a bit of that blood would be added to basic terrier stock. Breeding records were not kept until after the introduction of the championship dog show in the 1860s, so it is impossible to sort out the various breeds that form the ancestry of the Fox Terriers. Educated guesses have it that the white English Terrier, Bulldog, smooth-coated Black and Tan, Greyhound, and Beagle were used to develop the smooth variety, the first fox terrier. This breed was then crossed with the rough-coated Black and Tan Terrier to create the wire-haired variety.

Paintings dating from the mid- 18th century depict dogs resembling the fox terrier in both coat types, but it was not until 1860 that any attempt was made to standardize the breed. Smooth fox terriers were introduced to the public at the Birmingham show in 1862 and they quickly won popularity as the working man’s favourite. Later the wire-haired made its debut, but until 1878 the two were classified as separate breeds. The smooth was known simply as the Fox Terrier, a sporting breed. The wire haired was called the Wire-Haired Terrier and classified as a Non-Sporting breed. After the first breed standard was written, both were granted separate terrier classification.

Shortly after its recognition the fox terrier came to America. Most notable import was Ch. Nornay Saddler, a smooth, brought over by James Austin. Saddler was a dominant force in the breed who produced at least one champion in every litter he sired. Among the first breeds to be recognized by The Canadian Kennel Club, the comparative popularity of the two varieties is evident in registration figures. In the years 1888-1889 there were 180 smooths registered in contrast to fourteen wires. Today those positions are reversed.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier is a rough-and-ready working terrier that is the least known of the four terrier breeds native to Ireland. Longer than tall and sporting a harsh coat of medium length, the Glen is very much a big dog on short legs. The Glen is the only terrier breed of Ireland not defined by a single colour. Acceptable colours for the breed are various shades of wheaten, blue and brindle.

Initially bred to rid the home and farm of vermin, and hunt badger and fox, these rugged dogs also had a unique task for which they were expressly designed to perform – they were turnspit dogs. The turnspit was a large wheel which, when paddled by the dog, would turn a spit over the hearth — a canine propelled rotisserie. Today’s Glens are very much the same as the Glens that worked the lowlands of County Wicklow 100 years ago, with very little refinement or influence by fashion.