A new dog breed for me - the Tenterfield terrier
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (345137)
Rockingham, Australia
July 9, 2022 7:07pm CST
My husband and I now live in a retirement village where almost all residents seem to have a small dog of some sort. I thought I knew many of the dog breeds but the other day I mistook a Tenterfield terrier for a very small fox terrier. I’d never heard of the Tenterfield although it was developed in Australia.
It seems the name ‘Tenterfield terrier’ has replaced ‘Miniature Fox Terrier’. The coat is short and smooth, and they have the colouring of a foxie or a Jack Russell. They were popular as pest and vermin killers, not that there is much chance of killing vermin around here. There is some argument about where the name Tenterfield came from. There is a town in New South Wales with the name and it was the home of Peter Allen’s grandfather and gave rise to Allen’s song, Tenterfield Saddler.
Peter Allen was a singer and performer who was once married to Liza Minnelli so even non-Australians might have heard of him. Quite a few famous celebrities are unheard of outside of their own countries.
The photo is of a friend’s Jack Russell terrier.
24 people like this
25 responses
@JudyEv (345137)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jul 22
Her name was Susie and she was a great little dog. Very friendly.
@Ronrybs (19811)
• London, England
10 Jul 22
On seeing the photo, I thought Jack Russell. At least I got that right! Not heard of a Tenterfield before, but with some breeds of dogs, and cats, the differences seem awfully small. Further confession, I have not heard of Peter Allen, but I have Liza Minnelli!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345137)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jul 22
Peter Allen spent most of his time in the US so I thought people might have heard of him. But he obviously had a higher profile in his own country. I've just started a book by Alexander McCall Smith called The Dog that Came in from the Cold and it stars a Pimlico terrier but apparently that's a made up breed. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345137)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jul 22
@Ronrybs The popular breeds here are anything crossed with a Shih Tzu or poodle. So we have cockapoo, goldendoodle, cavapoo, labradoodle, yorkipoo - the list goes on and on. If you're lucky, these crossbreeds will be suitable for people with dog allergies but it's not always the case.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16598)
• Raurkela, India
10 Jul 22
The dog looks cute. Did you get the dog? Please share its photo.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345137)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jul 22
@aninditasen I do like dogs but I don't want one. I don't really like the thought of dogs living inside and we have very little yard here.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16598)
• Raurkela, India
11 Jul 22
@JudyEv I thought you had brought a dog. Do you love dogs?
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (184630)
• United States
10 Jul 22
I never heard of that breed either.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345137)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jul 22
@snowy22315 Anything crossed with a poodle or shih-tzu sells for a mini fortune here.
@FourWalls (70958)
• United States
10 Jul 22
Oh, what a cute baby!!!
I think Peter Allen’s best-known song in the US is “I Go to Rio.”
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (70958)
• United States
10 Jul 22
@JudyEv — he was married to Liza Manelli for a few years, back in the late 1960s (what they used to call a ‘cover marriage” to hide the fact he was gay).
He co-wrote the theme to the movie Arthur and won an Oscar for that, too.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (110870)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Jul 22
Cute doggie. I think they come up with new breeds just to sell for high dollar
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (110870)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Jul 22
@JudyEv I have even seen people here crossing livestock guardian breeds with poodle now 
Now what will the dog be good for. You cant really tell as a pup if it will be a pet or protector.
Now what will the dog be good for. You cant really tell as a pup if it will be a pet or protector.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345137)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jul 22
@wolfgirl569 I hate seeing border collies in town houses or apartments. They must nearly go crazy sometimes.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (82190)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Jul 22
Such an adorable sincere looking dog, Wasn't this the dog in the cartoon THe Mask and later in the movie? If you know what I mean, I always loved both the cartoon and the movie with Jim Carrey, Thank you for the interesting information,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (82190)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Jul 22
@JudyEv OK I will check this out myself
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
10 Jul 22
Years ago I had a fox terrier and he was the smartest dog I've ever owned! They are very intelligent animals:)
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
10 Jul 22
@JudyEv Wiffy was very agile and smart.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345137)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jul 22
@Beestring It seems to be quite a popular name for dogs. I've known a few Susie dogs. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345137)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jul 22
Thankfully most of the little dogs here aren't yappy which is a great blessing. The Pyrenees Mountain dogs are great. We see a few of them here from time to time - and the Bernese, another lovely breed.
@LindaOHio (183822)
• United States
10 Jul 22
What a cute dog! I miss our dogs so much!!! Thanks for the information on the Tenterfield. I had no idea it was a replacement for the Mini Fox Terrier.
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
15 Jul 22
Your friends dog is so cute. I hope you find the perfect dog for your home.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (345137)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jul 22
Thank you. Yes, we are lucky to live in this country.
