Gregarious by nature, Irish Terriers are
friendly and playful but not hyperactive. They happily rest in
their favorite spot until called or have reason to spring to
action. Then, Irish Terriers are playful or defensive as the
situation requires.
Irish Terrier
puppies, like any baby, are
adorable. They grow into intelligent, independent- minded
dogs, and they can be willful. Aloof to strangers, they warm
quickly to their family and its circle of friends as opposed
to being a one-person dog. Steadfast, loyal, and good around
children, Irish are naturally watchful and protective of home,
family, and property.
Irish Terriers are territorial, their territory
being wherever they are. As such, they are frequently
aggressive towards other animals, dogs in particular. They
need obedience training early when territorial instincts are
most pronounced to curb this natural tendency. Irish are
easily trained dogs, but need variety and patience in the
training process.
Irish Terriers readily adapt to most climate
conditions -- hot or cold, damp or dry. Natural athletes, they
thrive where they have room to run and jump. A fenced yard or
run area is an essential part of their home environment as
they are inclined to roam. They can
come to harm if allowed to roam. Irish Terriers do
well in agility training and make great jogging and cycling
companions. Some, although not all, take to water readily.
Don't expect them not to take a dip if you have a pond on your
property.
Full-grown Irish Terriers are frequently
larger than the breed standard (18 inches at the shoulders and
28 pounds for males, slightly smaller for bitches). Today's
Irish Terrier typically average about 19- to 20-inches at the
shoulder and weigh 33 to 36 pounds for males in good trim; the
female is slightly smaller. Bitches tend to be "longer cast"
(longer proportionately in the body) than males.
Irish Terrier coat colors ranges from
light red-wheaten to dark mahogany red. Often, they will have
a small white spot or blaze on the chest as does Redloch's
Clancy (left). This is neither desirable nor undesirable. One
pup in a litter may have the blaze while litter mates do not.
Clancy has the blaze, but his litter mate Buster does not.
The Irish have a double, broken coat. The outer
coat is harsh and wiry, each hair curling slightly next to
another to give the broken appearance. The second or
underneath coat is soft and slightly fuzzy. The Irish
Terrier's facial and leg hair (called furnishings) is similar
in texture to the body hair. The facial hair needs to be
carefully trimmed to give the distinctive muzzle with its
beard and goatee and nuanced brow protecting small beady eye.
Trimming the leg hair reveals the full rear quarter, strong
tubular shaped fore and hind legs, and small, well rounded
feet.
Grooming Irish Terriers involves
brushing/combing regularly and hand plucking (so-called
"stripping") the outer coat completely down to the undercoat
about twice a year. An instrument called a "stripping knife"
is used for the grooming process (Pearson Products carriers them).
Scissor work is limited to trimming hair from the pads of the
feet, inside the ears, the underbelly, around the anus and
guard hairs on muzzle, brow, cheeks, and under chin. Bathing
is usually not required if the dog is regularly brushed.
Nail trimming and dental care are the same as for other
breeds.
Some families choose to clipper their Irish
Terriers not being groomed for show. This is a practical and
acceptable alternate, but it drastically changes the color and
texture of the coat, softening both since the dark color and
stiff texture is clipped off with the tip of each hair. Left
un-groomed, the outer coat of the Irish Terrier will mask the
dog's naturally elegant lines, giving a Benji-like appearance
with little discernible form or shape. Totally un-groomed,
Irish Terriers look like small, red, wooly sheep.
On the whole, the Irish Terrier is an
excellent dog for many families. Affectionate and loyal, it
learns quickly and can be readily trained when young. If you
think the Irish Terrier might be the pet for you, you should
invest time in getting familiar with the breed by talking with
Irish Terrier breeders and owners.
If you are considering showing your Irish
Terrier, you will want to read the additional information
about grooming
and physical
appearance. Our Irish Terrier links
page will lead you to substantially more information
on the breed standards provided by
the Irish Terrier Club of America (ITCA)
and the American Kennel Club
(AKC). Our links
page also has an extensive list of Irish Terrier breeders and
Irish Terrier Clubs in the United States and other countries.