#i will never own one but i respect them
Anyway, I know we all roast some of the terrier group for looking ridiculous, but realistically, their looks are entirely beneficial to them. The true ‘Form Follows Function’ dogs. The Skye and Dandie Dinmont may be low and long, but this allows them superior ability to wiggle their way into tight spaces. The Sealyham and Wheaten may look funny with the falls of hair over their eyes, but these are protective in the face of gnashing teeth, sticks, and dirt. Beards are the same. Torn lips are gnarly and hard to heal; cover them with hair to help prevent this. Wire coats to protect, dense, double coats to protect, long, thick coats to protect. Terriers of all types have strong muscular shoulders, thick necks, and especially muscular jaws; grab that vermin and do not let it go. They largely have small, compact ears to avoid being torn. You need to be able to span a Parson’s ribs with both hands because he will crawl into a space where you cannot reach him. A Fox Terrier needs to be long legged to run with the Foxhounds many times it’s size. The Cairn is a solid, beefy little dog because it must be this way to hunt things many times it’s size. They are white and cream to be easy to see. They are brown and grey to be easy to hide. They are man’s oldest working partner, and their designs are always intentional.
I’ve also noticed that terriers tails almost always stand straight up, is this so you can see where the dog is?
I can honestly say that I don’t know, however, yes. Because that’s the only way I can ever find mine in tall grass.
