Irish Terrier

The Irish Terrier is a terrier from Ireland and is considered one of the oldest terrier breeds. It is an active, compact dog that fits into country or city life, with a harsh red coat that keeps out the weather. It was first bred as a working dog and a killer of vermin.

History

Where the breed came from is not known. It is believed to descend from the black-and-tan terriers of Britain and Ireland, like several other Irish and British terriers. The early dogs were bred for work and courage, not looks, and came in all types and colors: black and tan, gray and brindle, wheaten and red.

Careful selection began only in the later 19th century. The Dublin show of 1873 was the first to give Irish Terriers their own class, and the first breed club was founded in Dublin in 1879. By the 1880s it was the fourth most popular breed in Great Britain and Ireland. Before the century ended, the Kennel Club in England had recognised it as a native Irish breed, the first terrier to be so recognised.

Appearance

Breed standards sum up the ideal Irish Terrier as racy, red and rectangular. It should look powerful without being heavy, with a deep chest and a body longer in proportion than a Fox Terrier’s. The ears are small and fold forward, the eyes are small and dark brown, and the chin carries a small beard. The tail is set high. It used to be docked to about two thirds of its length.

Most standards give a height of no more than 48 cm (19 in) at the withers, though taller dogs are not unusual. Weights run from 11 kg (25 lb) in the original Kennel Club description to an accepted 13 kg for a female and 15 kg for a male.

The color is golden red, red wheaten or wheaten. A small white patch is allowed on the chest. The outer coat is straight and wiry and lies flat, with slightly longer hair on the legs. The undercoat is red too.

Temperament

The Irish Terrier is full of life without being hyperactive. It is good with people and deeply loyal, and most Irish Terriers love children. It learns fast and enjoys solving problems, though it is less eager to please than some breeds. It responds best to steady, reward-based training from a calm, confident person.

Irish Terriers are often dominant with other dogs, so early socialization matters. Most have a strong guarding instinct and make good watchdogs.

Care and health

The breed needs a lot of walking. The coat is stripped by hand or with a non-cutting knife, once or twice a year for a pet. Clipping makes it softer and paler and takes away its resistance to weather. For the same reason the dog should be washed only when dirty. A well-kept coat does not shed.

A 2024 study in the United Kingdom found a life expectancy of 13.5 years, above the average for purebred dogs.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.