Description:The Tenterfield Terrier originated in England. The Foxhunters of the day used Fox Terriers and Fox Terrier types, but found they needed a smaller dog to send down the Foxhole and to be used generally for hunting vermin. The early settlers to Australia brought out the smaller progeny of Fox Terriers as a working dog for vermin. The breed was widely used throughout England and Australia for ratting and rabbiting. It is believed they outcrossed it to other breeds to bring the dog down in size,and to add speed, the Manchester Black and Tan and the whippet being two such breeds that have been used. The dog has commonly been referred to as the "Miniature Fox Terrier" in the past. Over the next hundred or so years the breed became quite established in Australia as a working terrier and family companion. There was hardly a farm in Australia that didn't have at least one of these terriers. There was never a reason for any of these people to develop a breed registry for their beloved breed - they were just loved. In the early 1990's a group of interested owners, who wanted to secure the future of this terrier, advertised for interested persons to attend their first meeting. This meeting led to the formation of the Miniature Fox Terrier Club of SA. A similar club had been running in New South Wales for some time prior to this. A club was then formed in WA and the breed registry was established soon after, with the first entries being January 1991. In 1992 it became quite apparent that if we were to eventually have this wonderful little dog recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council, the name of "Miniature Fox Terrier" was extremely inappropriate, as the terrier was not a miniaturisation of the Fox Terrier. We, as a club, could understand this valid point. The link to the Fox Terrier is long since removed. After consultation with all club members a name change for the breed came about. Numerous ideas were put forward. It is believed these terriers were bred quite extensively in and around northern New South Wales. A known large breeder of this terrier was George Woolnough, the Tenterfield Saddler (Peter Allen's grandfather). We have letters written from elderly Tenterfield residents telling us of how George loved his little terriers and owned "an awful lot". Tenterfield, as a place, is also known as the “Birthplace of the Australian Nation” – Hence, because of the renown of The Tenterfield Saddler and “the birthplace of a Nation” our little dogs became “The Tenterfield Terrier” -the birth of a brand new Australian developed and bred dog. The establishment of the Tenterfield Terrier Club of Australia Inc took place in January 1993, and its main purpose (for the present time) is to register all dogs and bitches below 4th Generation, animals having gained 4th generation TTC Australia Inc .listed papers are to be registered with their respective State Canine Control bodies. The Tenterfield Terrier is a true terrier. He is a strong, active, agile working terrier of great versatility and of pleasing proportion. He has proven himself without question as a hunter (of various forms of vermin, including foxes and snakes) and of being an extremely loving family pet. He loves being curled up on a loving knee in front of a fire. The Tenterfield is an ideal companion for both children and the elderly. The Tenterfield Terrier is shown 100% naturally with only minimal grooming required to remove loose hair during the seasonal change of coats. At the A.N.K.C Perth Conference held in October 2001 it was resolved that the Tenterfield Terrier be accepted as a recognised breed and accepted onto the Main Register as from 1st January 2002. There have been very few breeds of dogs developed here in Australia, so we are excited that we have a new Australian dog breed for the new millennium!!