The Terriers include dog breeds like the Fox Terrier, Airedale, Yorkshire , Schnauzer and Jack Russell. Terriers are undoubtedly the ‘tough guys' they have attitude and tenacity. (I believe anyone who has owned a terrier is now smiling remembering when their little one tried to take on a dog three times his size with NO hesitation!) The Terriers are small to medium dogs developed to hunt vermin, often underground. The terriers were useful in farms, pastures and cities ridding them of rats and the like and due to their ‘tough-guy' nature they were also great watch dogs. Many of the terrier breeds were downsized and are now companion animals yet they still have the ‘terrier' attitude! Terriers are not nasty or quarrelsome but they always are on there toes as if saying “if you want to start something, I'm ready!” The terrier coat can be from hairless to shaggy depending on where the breed originated, one thing that you can always rely on is the attitude!

The Southern Hounds include the dog breeds Dingo, Basenji, Saluki, Whippet, Afghan Hound, and Greyhound. Due to the semi-arid environment that the dogs originated in they were lighter boned and smaller with strong group co-operation and family ties because food was scarce and they had to share to survive. These dogs were created with the nomads spreading far and wide. They are the largest group of dogs in the world but have the fewest known established breeds. Dogs were selected for sight hunting and speed with light bone and deep chest for greater lung capacity these dogs became the racers of today. Sight hounds rose to become the dogs of nobility and many legends about them can be found. They group also has the hairless gene which was not favoured but today is kept as well loved pets. These dogs are fast and graceful with long narrow heads, they can be aloof and reserved but do enjoy company.

For information on specific breeds please go to the individual dog breed information. The information provided is a guide only, and I must mention that having two boys I tend to refer to all dogs as boys rather than he/she, this is not meant to offend any girl dog owners.