By Heidi Clayton
In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, let’s get to know the eye-catching Irish Terrier. One of the flashiest dogs you will ever see, everything about the Irish Terrier catches your eye, from their true Irish red color to their equally daredevil and devoted attitudes that breed enthusiasts classify as “all Irish.”
The Irish Terrier originated in rural Ireland hundreds of years ago. However, the farmers at the time did not keep breeding records. The first known record of the Irish Terrier is actually from Scotland in 1875. Like all other terriers, they were bred and used to work on the farms as ratters but were found to also excel in hunting. Like most things Irish, they were and still are known to be fiercely loyal to their families. The breed made excellent guard dogs. The Irish Terrier standard says that it is of the utmost importance that the Irish Terrier show fire and animation. They are so devoted to their families that they will rush towards danger to protect them with little regard for their own safety. Not only will your family be safe when you have an Irish Terrier in the house, but you will never have a problem with vermin as they take their job of ridding the world of such things quite seriously.
The Irish Terrier is one of the first recognized breeds in the AKC, dating back to 1885. As with many dogs in the early 20th century, World War I impacted breeding programs, decreasing the number of Irish Terriers being bred. The Irish Terrier, however, was widely used as messenger and guard dogs between the trenches. Lt. Col. Richardson of the British War Dog School said of the Irish Terrier, “They are extraordinarily intelligent, faithful and honest, and a man who has one of them as a companion will never lack a true friend.”
The flashy red coat of the Irish Terrier consists of a dense, wiry coat that is close to the body and provides water resistance. Underneath, there is a softer coat that is used to retain heat. Their coat will need to be stripped, not clipped, about once a week or so. However, it is fairly low-maintenance. They are not large dogs. The boys weigh ideally about 27 pounds and the girls about 25. What they lack in size, they make up for in attitude. The Irish Terriers I know own the ground they stand on with all of the confidence of a giant working breed. They are terriers down to their toes, so they can be willful. But years of being bred to work on the farms of Ireland have made them very willing and eager to please their owners when properly trained and raised. The Irish do not quit until the job is done.
While perhaps not used in the United States for ratting anymore, much of Ireland and rural England are still vast farmlands. There, the Irish Terrier is still favored as the ratting dog of choice. The Irish Terriers of the U.S. excel at obedience, agility sports, and, of course, Barn Hunt. I absolutely love watching a plucky Irish Terrier move at dog shows and was thrilled to get to spend some time with a breeder in recent months. If you love all things Irish, I highly recommend getting an Irish Terrier to spice up your days! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
If you have any questions, please feel free to email heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
