Explore the unique roles of Terrier breeds, from the Airedale king to the mischievous Norfolk, celebrating their charm and character,
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Photo by Margaret Foxmoore
In every large family, each member gets to play a specific character. (Or at least everyone is given a unique role by the other members of the family.) There’s the first-born favorite and the troublemaker (often the second-born). There’s the social bon vivant, the introspective worrywart, and the meandering misanthrope. There’s also the oh-so misunderstood middle child and “the baby” who, according to everyone else in the family, generally gets away with murder. Each role is assigned during childhood and lasts a lifetime, no matter how far the favorite has fallen or how old the baby gets.
The same system of classification is present within the family of purebred dogs. Each breed is categorized within a Group and defined by its very own Breed Standard. Every recognized purebred is expected to fill a role within the family, carrying out its assigned duties with characteristic eagerness—or indifferent nonchalance. In either case, the performance is expected to be breed-specific, and it’s the predictability of each role that unites the family as a whole.
Take, for example, the Terrier Group in which each breed plays a uniquely important role. The Airedale Terrier has been cast as the king, with a court comprised of a gladiator (Bull Terrier), a Cavalier (White Bull Terrier), a Daredevil (Irish Terrier), a Demon (Norfolk Terrier), and a Clown (Glen of Imaal Terrier). Other family members include the courageous Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the colorful Kerry Blue Terrier, the single-minded Parson Russell Terrier, the varminty Scottish Terrier, and the always confident West Highland White Terrier. There’s even the curious American Hairless Terrier who dares to tell the king he has no clothes—as only a true terrier (or the baby of the family) can. Who needs a family of Shakespearean proportions when there’s a production of the Terrier Group in town?
Through the articles and interviews assembled in this edition, SHOWSIGHT has endeavored to celebrate the insistent (and occasionally insolent) characters of the Terrier Group through the words of the breeders, judges, and exhibitors who best understand their extraordinary appeal. We hope you enjoy!
Meet the Judges
Polly Smith reflects on judging the Terrier Group at Westminster 2026, discussing entry quality, key placements, and her Group winner.
