Developed in Australia, the forebears of the Tenterfield Terrier accompanied British settlers en route to Australia by ship. The forebears of these small dogs had been bred for ratting. This type of dog suited shipboard life, where rats and mice were both a health hazard and a threat to food supplies. They are not exaggerated in any features. They have a square or compact body, a wedge shaped head with equal length from occiput to stop and stop to the end of the nose. This gives the head parallel head planes, making the head unusual in this Group.