Overview
The Tenterfield Terrier descends from the small fox terriers that British settlers took to Australia in the nineteenth century, where they kept farms, stables and ships clear of rats. It was standardised in the 1990s and named after the town of Tenterfield in New South Wales. It is a compact, square little dog with a short, mostly white coat and a tail that may be naturally short.
This is a terrier through and through: confident, lively, affectionate with its family and ready to take on anything regardless of size. It is also bright, trainable and usually good with people, which makes it an easy dog to walk once the chase instinct is managed.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour a day in two walks keeps an adult happy, and it enjoys a mix of brisk lead walking, free running in a secure spot and a bit of play. It is quick and agile and will outpace you on any sprint.
Mental work goes a long way. A few minutes of tricks or a search game on the walk uses up energy that would otherwise come out as barking at the window.
On the walk
- Chase: Squirrels, rats, birds and the neighbour's cat are all targets. Expect a lunge and keep the lead on a harness rather than a collar.
- Other dogs: Fearless to a fault and will square up to much larger dogs. Introduce it carefully and step in before it gets itself hurt.
- Recall: Good in calm surroundings, less so once something is running. Reward every return and keep off-lead time in safe spaces.
- Cold: The smooth coat does nothing in a British winter. Most will need a jacket on frosty mornings.
Tips for professional walkers
- Keep a coat in the van for cold or wet days; a shivering terrier walks badly.
- Pair it with other small, confident dogs rather than big, rough players.
- Carry treats and run a short training session on each walk to keep the brain busy.
- Check the dog over for scratches after it has pushed through brambles after a rabbit.
What to ask the owner
- Does the dog react to bigger dogs, and how do you want greetings handled?
- What does recall look like when there is a squirrel in sight, and where are you happy for it to run free?
- Does the dog wear a coat, and at what temperature do you put it on?