Created primarily to work rats and rabbits the Plummer terrier, named after it's creator the late Dr David Brian Plummer , has a mixture of Jack Russell, Fell terrier Beagle and Bull terrier blood. It has been bred true to type for now over 12 years considering the breed is relatively new (1960's). 

                                         Dr.DAVID BRIAN PLUMMER photo G Welsby

Glenn Welsby, former PTA chairman and founder of both the EPTR AND EPTS has largely achieved the realisation of Brian Plummer. It is such as pity that Brian who died in September 2003 after a courageous fight against cancer, did not live long enough to witness the culmination of his dream. Nevertheless his legacy is being and will be realised, thanks to the efforts of past and present members of the PTA committee and all the owners and breeders of these game terriers.
 

In the late 1960's and the 1970's Brian Plummer worked as a somewhat reluctant teacher in several schools in south Yorkshire and the midlands. A self confessed rustic eccentric and seemingly frustrated academic, Brian's passion was hunting rats with was then his motley pack of Jack Russell type terriers. On settling in the midlands, living in a rundown cottage in the countryside surrounding Lichfield, he continued to teaching and in his spare time hunted rats relentlessly. He established himself as a leading author of books on hunting various quarry with lurchers and terriers. An expert regarding the science of genetics, he strove to produce a unique strain of terrier using the aforementioned bloodlines with Jack Russell terriers from Seal cottage lines as a baseline. These terriers were worked hard and, as the breed developed so too did Brian's reputation as a breeder of hardy terriers that bred true to type

Brian's now legendary dogs during this period in his frenetic lifestyle were Vampire, who died in 1980 aged 9, was a veteran of the weekly rat hunts at the local battery hen farm. His brother Warlock, sister Beltane (who Brian regarded as the "matron" of his terrier team and indeed prototype of the breed) and probably most famous Omega, bred by her sire Vampire to his own daughter Janey . Brian dedicated a whole book to the rat killing abilities of Omega. All of these terriers showed the characteristic looks of what are now regarded as Plummer terriers.. (see breed standard)
The Beagle used during the early 60's was out of the Russet show-bred strain and came from some USA imports owned by Philip Ainstay a fellow teacher friend of Brain's, brought into the UK to tidy up British exhibits. Further outcrosses were introduced . The addition of Fell terrier blood Jaeger from Nigel Hinchcliffe's lines and Flint from Brain Nuttal's lines, both noted working lines, and most likely descended from Cyril Breay's stock. Infused refinement of shape and to a certain extent contributed towards fixing the type. Pagan, a black and tan terrier (F1) is acknowledged as one of the early pillars of the evolution of the breed. Further additions included Jack Russell such as Eric Forsyth's Pip, Alan Thomas's Hamish and Pip from the chiddingfold and Leconfield foxhound kennels. Unknown Bull terrier blood was added to improve head and strength of jaw and to improve general toughness/durability in the field, but Brian later admitted to the PTA that this was his biggest mistake ,as fighters were rife amongst his stock. The addition did little at all to improve heads etc and unfortunately brought in many undesirable traits such as patella luxation and rose ears.           

         
It must be noted that performance as an earth dog was and is an expected prerequisite of most if not all terrier breeds and Plummers are no exception to this rule. At this point it has to be said that two distinct types began to develop, the smaller more snipey nosed form of Plummer and the more bully stronger headed types. At this point Brian opted for the latter, but as we have seen before it is now acknowledged that in the long term it did the breed no favours. Further out crossing to bull blood lines was stopped and after several years of painstaking discipline regarding choice preferable blood lines eventually a distinct and recognisable type was finally secured.
In the 1980's during one scene of several TV documentaries made about Brian and his terriers (including Rat Hunting Man and Lone Furrow) he said he would like his terriers to be known one day as Plummer terriers and recognised by the Kennel club. In 1985 however he suffered a near fatal heart attack which resulted in the dispersal of his substantial pack of terriers to trusted friends. He eventually moved to a remote croft in Caithness in Scotland and began to write full time. His terriers were ultimately dispersed far and wide but a few dedicated individuals ensured Brians legacy carried on. By the early 1990's most of the packs important genepool was found and regrouped albeit in a smaller scale and the work continued little by little other lines were sort out and the genepool was widened suffiecntly, to prevent inbreeding .
 

On April 22nd 1994 the Plummer terrier association was conceived to ensure the future of the breed.
The commitment of the EPTR/S AND  PTA's committee to breed only purebred terriers has established some order regarding the evolution and development of the breed and its genepool . This has seen the production of some outstanding individual dogs that have stamped their mark on the development and consolidation of the breed such dogs as Vampire, Hamish, Rocky, Welsh Viper, Stanhill Billy, Coalville Billy, and most recently the associations first supreme champion Wyremead Cereberus. The EPTR ALPHA REGISTER  register can trace dogs as far back as 1952.

Of course most breeds have their faults and Plummers are no exception .Early problems encountered by breeders (c,early1990) such as Patella Luxation and Perthes Syndrome are currently running at below 2% in the population. Other problems such as undershot jaws and colouration patterns etc are now quiet rare. But are always a possible fault to look out for when breeding to closely.
In a relatively short period of time the breed and its guardians have come a very long way and both are in a healthy position and looking forward to the next ten years

BREED STANDARD

The breed standard originally wrote by the late Dr David Brian Plummer in the mid 1980s was in his own words "a little loose."

The Plummer terrier association revised the standard numerous times and eventually with the help of Col David Hancock a new standard was adopted. This is the standard by which Wyremead Plummer terriers are bred against. It is also the adopted standard of the European plummer terrier society and register.

Working role: To hunt ground vermin, going to ground when required, but to act as an all purpose sporting dog. 

General appearance: A small, sturdy, short smooth coated, compact but free moving, well boned, strong jawed working terrier with a bright fiery red tan coat, accompanied by white on legs and collar, usually with a docked tail, should appear bold but not aggressive.

Honorable scars permissible.

Characteristics: Bright, alert, determined, self-confident, lively, bustling, sharp-eyed, spirited, keen to hunt, fearless, but not hyperactive, independent-minded yet responsive to training and commands.  

Temperament: Bold but friendly by nature; extrovert, not prone to give tongue without good reason; not immediately welcoming with strangers but not immediately submissive either.

Aptitude: Willing to hunt ground vermin, above and below ground, perseveres in difficult working conditions, displays no hesitation in tackling ground quarry, without being too hard or oblivious to instruction. Has an offensive approach without ever being out of control.  

Construction: Must have the anatomy of a working terrier: a flexible spine, a powerful jaw, sturdy legs, strong but never heavy bone, ample chest room without too much ‘spread' in front, must be able span behind the shoulders by the average persons hand, sound compact feet with well-formed pads and strong toe-nails.  

Forefront: The head is strongly-made, broad with good width between the ears and a well defined ‘stop'; strongly jawed the muzzle length measures roughly two-thirds the distance from the occiput or peak to the stop, giving a strong, tapering jaw, still broad at the nose: the jaws close in scissor bite, with equally strong in upper and lower jaw. The skull size is in proportion to the dogs size, the ears are set high, well apart, neat and V-shaped, but with slightly rounded tips, carried close to the head, dropping forward even when the dog is alert deep-set and fairly wide apart, the eyes are almond shaped, dark brown with an alert watchful expression, the lips are tight, with dark pigmentation. The neck is strongly made, of good length, slightly arched, blending well into the shoulder construction. 

Forehand: The shoulder blades and upper arm are of sufficient length and angle to permit a free front stride with good extension and ample reach of neck; the elbows fit closely but allow free forward movement. The forelegs should be straight when viewed from the front, not over-boned but discernibly muscled. The forefeet are small and compact but still good-sized, round, with strong robust pads, sturdy toes and strong nails. 

Torso: The chest is narrow whilst retaining breadth, with well-sprung ribs carried well back. In profile the dog is oblong but not excessively so, the distance from the point of shoulder to hip not greatly exceeding the shoulder height of the dog. The topline is level; the body length indicating symmetry and balance, based on a lower station. The loins are supple and strong. Great flexibility in the body is desirable; the underline shows a very slight tuck up.

Hindhand: The tail is set level with the topline, which slopes very slightly downwards at the croup; the tail is carried high but not set too high, pelvic angulation, turn of stifle and angulation at the hock must allow good forward reach when working underground and ample rear extension when on the move, the hind legs are straight when seen from behind. The hindfeet are small, round and compact, with strong, tough pads, toes and nails. The tail is normally docked to just less than four inches. Undocked of moderate length giving a general appearance of balance to the dog, set fairly high, carried up when the dog is on the move.

Movement: Purposeful with a low drive and a good stride, fore and aft, indicating well-laid shoulders and correctly constructed hindquarters. The style is brisk, full of enthusiasm; the whole impression is one of perky assertiveness, supple strength and physical harmony.

Coat: Colour; the bright fiery copper red coat is a feature of breed type and must be present. This breed feature ideally consists of a rich red copper; full cape from head to tail or a white collar, there must be no more than 15% white on the back, white leg markings are permissible. The head is preferred in solid red tan but a white blaze, or badger marking is acceptable.

Texture: Short, dense, close-lying but resistant to the hand when reverse stroked; guard hairs are not desired; any looseness or untidiness of coat is not desired.

Dimension: Height at the withers: dog's 34cm(13inches) bitches 31cm(12 inches) but 2.5 cm (1 inch) above or below is acceptable.

Weight is to be consistent with size.

Male animals must have two apparently normal testes fully descended into the scrotum

Faults: Any departure from the foregone points should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and it's effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.