Tenterfield Terriers 

  History 

The Tenterfield Terrier was developed by crossing the Standard Fox Terriers (Smooth) with the Manchester Black and Tan or English Toy Terriers (Black & Tan). At a later stage the Whippet was introduced. At one stage Chihuahua was used but any outcrossing to other breeds is now quite forbidden. Though the Tenterfield Terrier originated in England in the 1800's, it was developed into the type it is today in Australia, making it one of only a few truly Australian bred dogs. It is found nowhere else in the world. The breed is sometimes confused with the Jack Russell, However they are some quite different.  The Tenterfield Terrier originated in England. The Foxhunters of the day used Fox Terriers and Fox Terrier types, but found they needed a smaller dog to send down the Foxhole and to be used generally for hunting vermin. The early settlers to Australia brought out the smaller progeny of Fox Terriers as a working dog for vermin. The breed was widely used throughout England and Australia for ratting and rabbiting. It is believed they outcrossed it to other breeds to bring the dog down in size,and to add speed, the Manchester Black and Tan and the whippet being two such breeds that have been used. The dog has commonly been referred to as the "Miniature Fox Terrier" in the past. Over the next hundred or so years the breed became quite established in Australia as a working terrier and family companion. There was hardly a farm in Australia that didn't have at least one of these terriers. There was never a reason for any of these people to develop a breed registry for their beloved breed - they were just loved. In the early 1990's a group of interested owners, who wanted to secure the future of this terrier, advertised for interested persons to attend their first meeting. This meeting led to the formation of the Miniature Fox Terrier Club of SA. A similar club had been running in New South Wales for some time prior to this. A club was then formed in WA and the breed registry was established soon after, with the first entries being January 1991. In 1992 it became quite apparent that if we were to eventually have this wonderful little dog recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council, the name of "Miniature Fox Terrier" was extremely inappropriate, as the terrier was not a miniaturisation of the Fox Terrier. We, as a club, could understand this valid point. The link to the Fox Terrier is long since removed. After consultation with all club members a name change for the breed came about. Numerous ideas were put forward. It is believed these terriers were bred quite extensively in and around northern New South Wales. A known large breeder of this terrier was George Woolnough, the Tenterfield Saddler (Peter Allen's grandfather). We have letters written from elderly Tenterfield residents telling us of how George loved his little terriers and owned "an awful lot". Tenterfield, as a place, is also known as the “Birthplace of the Australian Nation” – Hence, because of the renown of The Tenterfield Saddler and “the birthplace of a Nation” our little dogs became “The Tenterfield Terrier” -the birth of a brand new Australian developed and bred dog. The establishment of the Tenterfield Terrier Club of Australia Inc took place in January 1993, and its main purpose (for the present time) is to register all dogs and bitches below 4th Generation, animals having gained 4th generation TTC Australia Inc .listed papers are to be registered with their respective State Canine Control bodies. The Tenterfield Terrier is a true terrier. He is a strong, active, agile working terrier of great versatility and of pleasing proportion. He has proven himself without question as a hunter (of various forms of vermin, including foxes and snakes) and of being an extremely loving family pet. He loves being curled up on a loving knee in front of a fire. The Tenterfield is an ideal companion for both children and the elderly. The Tenterfield Terrier is shown 100% naturally with only minimal grooming required to remove loose hair during the seasonal change of coats. At the A.N.K.C Perth Conference held in October 2001 it was resolved that the Tenterfield Terrier be accepted as a recognised breed and accepted onto the Main Register as from 1st January 2002. There have been very few breeds of dogs developed here in Australia, so we are excited that we have a new Australian dog breed for the new millennium!!

         

GENERAL APPEARANCE The Tenterfield Terrier is a strong, active, agile working terrier of great versatility and of pleasing proportion. The measurement of wither to ground and wither to rear point of buttock should be of equal proportions. The length of the head and neck should always be in balance to the whole of the dog. The tail is preferably docked and the coat is always smooth.

CHARACTERISTICS  * A keen, intelligent and alert expression which is denoted by the carriage of the ears and erect tail.

TEMPERAMENT * Confident, with an eagerness to learn, showing great loyalty to its owner and although fearless and bold at work, he is an ideal companion dog in the home.

EYES Not large, protruding or round, but slightly oval in shape. As dark as possible with a keen expression and pigmented eye rims. Light eyes and wall eyes are to be discouraged.

EARS * V shaped with slightly rounded tips, set high on the outer edge of the skull, erect or semi-erect. If semi-erect the top third of the ear tips forward. Not wide or large at the base, rather medium in size. The length of the ear to be roughly equal to the width between the ears. The ears are of a thin texture (not thick).

MOUTH * Strong jaws with full dentition and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth. Lips to be tight fitting and pigmented. A wry mouth should be heavily penalised.

NECK * Strong and clean of moderate length, allowing head to be carried proudly.

HINDQUARTERS Not too heavily muscled. The rump is well rounded with only a slight slope to the croup. Long and powerful thighs. The stifle is well bent and the hocks well let down. The pastern should be parallel when viewed from the rear, and vertical when viewed from the side.

FEET * Compact, round shaped, toes moderately arched.

TAIL * Either docked or natural.

If docked, docked at the 3rd joint. Sometimes a natural bob tail occurs. High set and erect when alert, but not carried over the back. Carried gaily, showing bold temperament.

If natural of moderate length, to give balance to dog. High set and erect when alert, but not carried over the back. Carried gaily, showing bold temperament.

GAIT/MOVEMENT * Fore and hind legs carried straight forward and parallel. The elbows to move perpendicular to the body, working clear of the sides, stifles neither turning in nor out and the hocks not close, with good rear drive coming from the well flexing hindquarters.

COAT * To be short and of smooth texture. The Tenterfield Terrier is a single coated dog

COLOUR Predominantly white with black, liver and/or tan markings in its various tones. Tri colouring is common (i.e. white with black markings and tan cheeks and/or tan above eyes and/or tan breeches). Brindle markings acceptable but not preferred. Full colour coats are not acceptable. Skin should always be pigmented.

SIZE * The height to be 25.5 to 30.5cm (10 to 12 ins) with ideal being 28cm (11 ins) but not exceeding 30.5cm (12 ins). The weight to be in proportion to the size of the dog.

FAULTS * Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree. Any weakness in the following should be particularly penalised.

1. Lack of Tenterfield Terrier type

Faults   Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousnes with which the fault should be regarded should be exact proportion to its degree.

Note * Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully decended into the scrotum.