Terrier.

Terrier. Terrier, any of several breeds of small to medium-size pet dogs, originally employed for hunting small animals. Terriers hunt by digging into burrows (hence their name, derived from French terre, "earth") and dislodging the game. The American Kennel Club recognizes 25 breeds of terrier: Airedale, American Staffordshire, Australian, Bedlington, Border, bull, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, Irish, Kerry blue, Lakeland, Manchester, miniature bull, miniature schnauzer, Norfolk, Norwich, Scottish, Sealyham, Skye, smooth fox, soft-coated wheaten, Staffordshire bull, Welsh, West Highland white, and wire fox. The Boston terrier and Tibetan terrier are properly classified as nonsporting dogs; the silky terrier and Yorkshire terrier are toy breeds. For more information, see the separate articles on many of the breeds mentioned. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.