The Irish Terrier is a "classic" terrier in every sense of the word. He is believed to be one of the oldest of the Irish Terrier breeds, however there is scarce documentation of this. It is known that when dogs were first shown in Ireland in 1870 there were several terriers of this strain but there were many other colors besides the red that we know of today. It was not until later that the outstanding red color was favored above all else, to the extent that other colors such as brindle and black and tan were eliminated from the bloodlines.
The Irish Terrier is courageous and plucky and has a reputation for being fearless and quite intelligent. During World War I this breed was often used as a messenger dog. The dog has achieved the nickname of "Daredevil" for good reasons, as it is a dog that does not give up when confronted. One of the early descriptions of the breed describes him as "the poor man's sentinel, the farmer's friend and the gentleman's favorite".
The Irish Terrier always is a beautiful deep red color with no other markings. This color is accentuated by the harshness of each individual hair and the color is enhanced by "stripping" the coat rather than shaving any part of it. Exhibitors in the Conformation Rings take great care to strip the coat regularly but "pet people" often do shave the coat rather than deal with the time consuming job of hand stripping. The Irish Terrier is a racy lean terrier, appearing somewhat long of leg, with fold over ears and a square jaw appearance that is enhanced by the beard and mustache. The tail is customarily docked. The coat should be hard and wiry with a softer undercoat. The males are around 19 inches at the shoulder and the females should be about 18 inches. The Irish Terrier has well balanced movement and should not be high stepping or choppy in its gait. He is a popular dog in the Conformation ring, although not considered to be as "flashy" as the Fox Terrier or the Kerry Blue. Despite this reputation, in 1994 an Irish Terrier took the Best In Show at the premier terrier show of the world, the Montgomery County Kennel Club Terrier Show.
The Irish Terrier is definitely an individual. He knows that he is the best and will not be unwilling to prove it if confronted by any other dog. When challenged, he will fight to the death. It is essential that his owner be aware of this, he has a very strong terrier instinct and although it is not "aggression" in the usual sense of the word, he is not the sort of dog that automatically gets along with any other dog. However, one must realize that this is a characteristic which is completely in harmony after all with what a "terrier" is. Otherwise, this breed has no equal as far as being a guardian and companion to his family, with children he is especially affectionate and steadfast in his loyalty and protection. Furthermore, he can and does serve his owners well when it comes to being the rat catcher and general rodent killer on the farm and in the house.
The Irish Terrier is a wonderful medium size dog that can live in an apartment as long as she is allowed frequent long walks. A properly fenced in yard would be ideal for this dog to get her exercise but pay attention to possibly burying a part of the fence into the ground as she is a digger. She wants to sleep inside with her+ family as she is a serious people protector. She is often called a daredevil because when it comes to protecting her family, she is unconcerned with her own well being. Keep her under control when outside as she may leave to experience an adventure. She is good with kids in general but may fight with other dogs. She can not be trusted with other smaller pets. She will require early socializing and obedience training should be started early. She can be a handful but once she is trained, you should have a long lived, healthy, protective dog.
*Good With Children? They are generally good with children, especially older considerate ones. As a reminder, never leave a young child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.
*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Irish Terrier is 18 to 19 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 25 to 27 pounds.
*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Irish Terrier is no exception. Although considered to be a very healthy breed, be on the look out for hypothyroidism (sluggish thyroid gland which can result in weight gain), and urinary problems. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.
*Grooming. The Irish Terrier has a dense and wiry coat which is hard. She rarely sheds and needs to be brushed regularly to delete dead hair. Brushing will also help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.
*Life Span. The Irish Terrier can live between 13 and 16 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.
*History. The Irish Terrier comes from Ireland where they were used on the farm to guard possessions, people and livestock. They were utilized in both World Wars as messengers and served bravely. They were recognized by the American Kennel Association in 1885.
Some Registries: *Irish Terrier Club of America *UKC United Kennel Club *NKC National Kennel Club *CKC Continental Kennel Club *APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc. *AKC American Kennel Club *FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale *NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club *KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain *ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club *ACR = American Canine Registry
Litter Size: 4 to 6 Irish Terrier puppies
Category: Terrier
Terms To Describe: Muscular, good tempered, animated, daredevil, loyal, guarding, rugged, affectionate, courageous, bold,
*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS Makes a good watch dog. Makes a good guard dog. Rarely sheds. A well mannered dog. A very healthy breed.
*SPECIAL BAD POINTS Can be very stubborn. Can be a chore to housebreak. May fight with other dogs. She is a digger. May take off to explore if not controlled. She needs obedience training.
*Other Names Known By: Irish Red Terrier, Red Devil, Daredevil
*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.
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