Plummer Terrier
Encyclopedia
The Plummer Terrier is a working terrier, and like all working terriers, it is a composite animal.
, with a strong dash of Beagle
(added for nose, voice and coat color), and Bull Terrier
(added for toughness and head size). A red Fell Terrier
was mixed in to improve the overall appearance.
After a long period of inbreeding and culling, obvious genetic problems were worked out of the breed (they are as healthy as any today), but a new problem worked its way in—today's dogs are sometimes too big for truly tight underground work. Perhaps that is not a problem if you are developing a dog just for ratting, which was Brian Plummer
's passion, whom the terrier was named after That said, early dogs were smaller than today's dogs—a common problem in the world of working terriers.
While the Plummer Terrier generally breeds true in appearance, the standard is a working terrier standard, and the most common serious fault in this breed is cleft palates.
If salvation is to be had (at least for underground work), it is in the hands of genuine diggers and dedicated ratters that are trying to size down the breed and keep it working on a regular basis. However, care has to be taken in order to ensure the welfare of the breed is the main priority when breeding.
Though it is a bit early to say for certain, the Plummer Terrier appears to be a breed that has caught on in popularity among a segment of the working terrier set, and with increased restrictions on fox hunting in the UK, its popularity as a ratting dog is likely to increase.
Origins
The Plummer Terrier is mostly made out of Jack Russell TerrierJack Russell Terrier
The Jack Russell terrier is a small terrier that has its origins in fox hunting. It is principally white-bodied smooth, rough or broken-coated which is commonly confused with the Parson Russell terrier and the Russell terrier with the term "Jack Russell" commonly misapplied to other small white...
, with a strong dash of Beagle
Beagle
The Beagle is a breed of small to medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound, but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game...
(added for nose, voice and coat color), and Bull Terrier
Bull Terrier
The Bull Terrier or English Bull Terrier is a breed of dog in the terrier family. They are known for their large, egg-shaped head, small triangular eyes, and "jaunty gait." Their temperament has been described as generally fun-loving, active and clownish...
(added for toughness and head size). A red Fell Terrier
Fell Terrier
Fell Terrier refers to a regional type of long legged working terrier, not a specific breed of dog.- Description and purpose :Fell terriers are types of small working terriers developed in the Fell country of northern England and used as hunting dogs. They may be crossbred or purebred...
was mixed in to improve the overall appearance.
After a long period of inbreeding and culling, obvious genetic problems were worked out of the breed (they are as healthy as any today), but a new problem worked its way in—today's dogs are sometimes too big for truly tight underground work. Perhaps that is not a problem if you are developing a dog just for ratting, which was Brian Plummer
Brian Plummer
Brian Plummer was a Welsh writer. He became famous after an appearance in 1977 on Richard Whiteley's Calendar regional news programme, in which a ferret became 'latched' onto Whiteley's fingers.Growing up in the austere years around World War II, Plummer based some of his biographical stories in...
's passion, whom the terrier was named after That said, early dogs were smaller than today's dogs—a common problem in the world of working terriers.
Appearance
The Plummer Terrier is a very attractive smooth-coated dog with a fiery red and white coat and head, a white collar at the neckline, or a full cape. The ears fold over like most terriers, and the nose and eye are typically black, and the jaw has a good scissors bite.Future
A generally game working dog, the Plummer Terrier is not a Kennel Club breed, and most Plummer Terrier owners who work their dogs would prefer that this dog was not part of the Kennel Club.While the Plummer Terrier generally breeds true in appearance, the standard is a working terrier standard, and the most common serious fault in this breed is cleft palates.
If salvation is to be had (at least for underground work), it is in the hands of genuine diggers and dedicated ratters that are trying to size down the breed and keep it working on a regular basis. However, care has to be taken in order to ensure the welfare of the breed is the main priority when breeding.
Though it is a bit early to say for certain, the Plummer Terrier appears to be a breed that has caught on in popularity among a segment of the working terrier set, and with increased restrictions on fox hunting in the UK, its popularity as a ratting dog is likely to increase.
External links
- Plummer Terrier Association http://www.plummerterrierassociation.co.uk/
- European Plummer Terrier Society http://www.european-plummerterrier-society.com/
- European Plummer Terrier Register http://www.european-plummerterrier-register.com
- Working Plummer Terrier Network http://www.workingplummerterrier.org.uk/index.html
- Working Plummer Terrier Registry http://www.plummerterrier.org
- EPTS Forum http://plummerterrier.forumup.co.uk
- WPTN Forum http://www.workingplummerterrier.org.uk/plummer/forum/index.php
- Oakfield Plummer Terriers - Working Plummer Terrier Kennels http://www.oakfieldplummerterriers.com/