Fell Terrier
Encyclopedia
Fell Terrier refers to a regional type
of long legged working terrier
, not a specific breed of dog
.
s developed in the Fell
(hilly) country of northern England
and used as hunting dog
s. They may be crossbred or purebred. Fell terrier types are typically small, usually under 15 lbs/6.5 kg, and with a narrow chest, so as to fit into the underground tunnels of the animals they hunt. Fell terriers are long legged, with a rough textured coat, often red or black in color. The tail traditionally is docked. Crossbreeding with other hunting dogs causes their appearance to vary.
Fell terriers are bred for hunting ability and gameness rather than to a standard of appearance (breed type). They hunt in packs so must get along well with other dogs. The Fell Terrier was originally developed to hunt the large Fell fox that was believed to cause serious losses for sheep stockmen. The dog needed long legs to follow hunters through heavy snow, and a narrow chest to follow the fox in a stony underground den. In the hunt, a terrier follows the red fox
underground into its den, where it either kills the fox, bolts it or holds it until the hunter (terrierman) digs the dog and fox up.
, Patterdale Terrier
, Border Terrier
, Scorrier terrier and other locally developed breeds. All are sometimes called "Fell Terrier" interchangeably with their breed name. The "National Terriers Club LLC", has published a Fell Terrier standard. In Germany, the Jagdterrier
was developed out of Fell terrier stock in the 1920s. Fell terriers may be descended from a very old type of long legged terrier referred to as the rough-coated Black and Tan, similar to today's Welsh Terrier
.
Dog type
Dog types are broad categories of dogs based on function, with dogs identified primarily by specific function or style of work rather than by lineage or appearance....
of long legged working terrier
Working terrier
A working terrier is a small type of dog which pursues its quarry into the earth. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the name dates back to at least 1440, derived from early modern French terrier - from the medieval Latin terrarius from the Latin terra .With the growth of popularity of...
, not a specific breed of dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
.
Description and purpose
Fell terriers are types of small working terrierWorking terrier
A working terrier is a small type of dog which pursues its quarry into the earth. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the name dates back to at least 1440, derived from early modern French terrier - from the medieval Latin terrarius from the Latin terra .With the growth of popularity of...
s developed in the Fell
Fell
“Fell” is a word used to refer to mountains, or certain types of mountainous landscape, in Scandinavia, the Isle of Man, and parts of northern England.- Etymology :...
(hilly) country of northern England
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
and used as hunting dog
Hunting dog
A hunting dog refers to any dog who assists humans in hunting. There are several types of hunting dogs developed for various tasks. The major categories of hunting dogs include hounds, terriers, dachshunds, cur type dogs, and gun dogs...
s. They may be crossbred or purebred. Fell terrier types are typically small, usually under 15 lbs/6.5 kg, and with a narrow chest, so as to fit into the underground tunnels of the animals they hunt. Fell terriers are long legged, with a rough textured coat, often red or black in color. The tail traditionally is docked. Crossbreeding with other hunting dogs causes their appearance to vary.
Fell terriers are bred for hunting ability and gameness rather than to a standard of appearance (breed type). They hunt in packs so must get along well with other dogs. The Fell Terrier was originally developed to hunt the large Fell fox that was believed to cause serious losses for sheep stockmen. The dog needed long legs to follow hunters through heavy snow, and a narrow chest to follow the fox in a stony underground den. In the hunt, a terrier follows the red fox
Red Fox
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
underground into its den, where it either kills the fox, bolts it or holds it until the hunter (terrierman) digs the dog and fox up.
Breeds
Several named breeds have been developed from the Fell terrier type, such as the Lakeland TerrierLakeland Terrier
The Lakeland Terrier is a dog breed, which takes its name from its home of origin, the Lake District in England. The dog is a small to mid-size member of the Terrier family. While independent in personality, it interacts well with owners and all family members, and is mostly hypo-allergenic...
, Patterdale Terrier
Patterdale Terrier
The Patterdale Terrier is a breed of working dog that originated in the Lake District of Cumbria in Northwest England. The name Patterdale refers to a small village a little south of Ullswater and a few miles east of Helvellyn....
, Border Terrier
Border Terrier
The Border Terrier is a small, rough-coated breed of dog of the terrier group. Originally bred as fox and vermin hunters, Border Terriers share ancestry with Dandie Dinmont Terriers and Bedlington Terriers....
, Scorrier terrier and other locally developed breeds. All are sometimes called "Fell Terrier" interchangeably with their breed name. The "National Terriers Club LLC", has published a Fell Terrier standard. In Germany, the Jagdterrier
Jagdterrier
The Jagdterrier is a type of working terrier, originating in Germany, that is used for hunting quarry both above and underground. This breed of terrier is also called the German Hunt Terrier.-Appearance:...
was developed out of Fell terrier stock in the 1920s. Fell terriers may be descended from a very old type of long legged terrier referred to as the rough-coated Black and Tan, similar to today's Welsh Terrier
Welsh Terrier
The Welsh Terrier is a British breed of dog. It was originally bred for hunting fox, rodents and badger , but during the last century it has mainly been bred for showing. Despite this, it has retained its terrier strength of character and therefore requires firm, non-aggressive handling...
.
Further reading
- "Sport with Terriers", by Patricia Adams Lent, Arner Publications, Rome NY 1973
- "Hunt and Working Terriers", by Captain Jocelyn Lucas, Tideline Books 1995
- "The Fell Terrier", by David Brian Plummer, Tideline Books, North Wales 2006
- "American Working Terriers", by Patrick Burns, lulu.com publisher, 2005 ISBN 978-1-4116-6082-3