Editing Terrier (section)

== History ==
[[File:Frederick August Wenderoth 1875, Little Terrier.jpg|thumb|A painting of an English toy terrier by [[Frederick August Wenderoth]] in 1865 ]]

Most terrier breeds were refined from the older purpose-bred dogs.

The [[gameness]] of the early hunting terriers was exploited by using them in sporting contests.  Initially, terriers competed in events such as clearing a pit of rats.  The dog that was the fastest in killing all the rats won. In the eighteenth century some terriers were crossed with [[hound]]s to improve their hunting, and some with fighting dog breeds to "intensify tenacity and increase courage".<ref>{{cite book
|last= Marvin
|first= John T.
|title= The New Complete Scottish Terriers
|edition= Second
|year= 1982
|publisher= Howell Book House Inc.
|location= New York
|isbn= 978-0-87605-306-5
|pages= [https://archive.org/details/newcompletescott00marv/page/20 20]
|chapter= 2. Background and Heritage of the Terrier Family
|chapter-url-access= registration
|chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/newcompletescott00marv/page/20
}}</ref> Some of the crosses with fighting dogs, [[bull and terrier]] crosses, were used in the [[blood sport]] of dog-fighting.  Modern pet breeds such as the [[Bull Terrier (Miniature)|Miniature Bull Terrier]] are listed by the [[Fédération Cynologique Internationale]] (FCI) under Bull type terriers.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.fci.be/nomenclatures_detail.asp?lang=en&file=group3
 |title       = FCI Breeds nomenclature
 |access-date  = 2008-03-28
 |author      = The Fédération Cynologique Internationale
 |work        = www.fci.be
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121126232457/http://www.fci.be/nomenclatures_detail.asp?lang=en&file=group3
 |archive-date = 2012-11-26
}}</ref>

Today, most terriers are kept as companion dogs and family pets. They are generally loyal and affectionate to their owners.