Irish Terrier

An Irish Terrier’s coat will usually be light brown or tawny colour, although it can also be a reddish, rust type colour, or wheaten red.

Irish Terriers have a short, straight and wiry topcoat with a soft and much thicker underlayer.

Double layered with a thick undercoat.

Dark brown.

Irish Terriers have stocky frames with a deep chest. Their legs are much longer than most terriers, and they also have long necks and a high head carriage. This gives them a proud, elegant posture that is always ready for action. Irish Terriers have short, folded ears and longs muzzles covered with patches of long hair.

The Irish Terrier will certainly show its family lots of affection, but don't expect these high-energy dogs to spend too much time cuddling up on your lap. They're far too independent and active to be treated like a lapdog.

Like most terrier breeds, the Irish Terrier is very playful. These working dogs are eager to please and find reward-based games and training extremely stimulating. They also like having fun and will happily keep their owners entertained for hours at a time.

Irish Terriers are not known for being one of the calmer breeds! These dogs are full of energy, have a low tolerance for boredom, and will likely chase after anything that moves. They can also be very territorial, meaning they're likely to start barking and yapping when “strangers” come to visit.

A highly-intelligent breed with a willingness to learn, the Irish Terrier requires an experienced handler who understands positive reinforcement training techniques. Like many intelligent breeds, these dogs can be a bit stubborn and independent. So you’ll need to keep them engaged in the right way.

These dogs were bred to hunt. As with many terrier breeds, they were first used to hunt small vermin and later became valuable hunting companions in the search for bigger game. Today's Irish terrier retains many of these hunting instincts.

Irish terriers aren’t fearful or wary of much, and when they are, they tend to go on the offensive. Rather than avoiding or hiding from strangers, an Irish Terrier is much more likely to start barking and yapping at them. This is their way of saying “who are you? And what are you doing in my space?"

Irish Terriers are very social animals and shouldn't be left alone for long periods of time. If they are, they do have a tendency towards destructive behaviour. That being said, these dogs are very independent minded. This requires a skilled handler, especially when it comes to training.

Irish Terriers are pack dogs who need plenty of company. Leaving an Irish terrier alone for long periods of time will have a very negative effect on its mental health. This will result in a host of behavioural issues including destructive behaviour and separation anxiety.

Providing you understand the fundamental principles of positive training methods, the Irish Terrier is very easy to train. Without such techniques, the Irish Terriers independent streak can take over, and you'll have a very stubborn and disobedient dog on your hands. If you've never owned a dog before, then do plenty of research on reward-based training methods before adopting an Irish terrier. You may even want to invest in some professional help from a certified dog trainer.

He never barks without reason.

His hunting instinct and exceptional sense of smell push the Irish Terrier to follow tracks as soon as he gets the chance.

This depends. As long as their needs are being met, an Irish Terrier will rarely become destructive. However, if they're bored or lonely, this breed will destroy anything they can get their teeth into. And they’ll probably cause a lot of expensive damage. They have powerful jaws designed for tearing things apart.

Irish Terriers are not particularly greedy or glutinous. However, like most breeds, they will over-eat if you let them. So make sure you feed them within the recommended guidelines; obesity can lead to many serious health problems.

Irish Terriers are alert, loyal, territorial and very vocal. They make excellent watchdogs.

It is a good choice for a first adoption but it is preferable that it is initiated by a hunter or a particularly dynamic owner.

He can live both inside and out. Apartment life can be considered but he needs a lot of exercise.

All Irish Terriers need plenty of exercise and stimulation. A short morning walk is enough to start the day, but they'll also need a much longer (and more interesting) walk in the afternoon. These dogs like to explore and need plenty of time off the leash to be truly happy. It's also a good idea to let them have access to a garden or fenced of open space throughout the rest of the day.

They’re not the easiest dogs to travel with. This is because of their energetic and lively nature.

Although he is a very good hunter, if he grows up with cats, a nice friendship can be born. Be careful however to "foreign" cats that pass in the garden.

Irish Terriers are social creatures, but they're also quite dominant. This can be a problem when they come into contact with other stubborn breeds.

Irish Terriers are great with children of all ages. Their loving and playful characters makes them a perfect addition to families with younger children. But Irish Terriers can be very boisterous; they should always be supervised around toddlers.

Some elderly people might be a bit intimidated or unnerved by the Irish Terriers boisterous nature, which can easily be misinterpreted as aggressive. Other might just find it annoying.

Irish Terriers are not prone to air loss, although they will shed quite heavily during warmer times of the year.

The average lifespan for an Irish Terrier is between 13-15 years.

He is a very strong dog but can suffer from health problems despite his resistance and his courage.

Most terriers were bred in cold, harsh environments, hence their thick insulating undercoat. This will shed during summer and spring, although it's still good to give it an additional trim during hot periods of weather. This will reduce the risk of overheating.

Because of their double coat, Irish Terriers are highly resistant to cold weather. Their thick underlayer is extremely insulting, while the wiry topcoat protects them from rain and snow. Many Terriers were bred in the Scottish Highlands, so these dogs will have no problems surviving a standard British winter.

Like any dog, Irish Terriers will overeat if you let them. That being said, their naturally high energy levels and active nature means they’re unlikely to become obese. Still, it's important to feed them within the recommended guidelines.

• Cystinuria Sinuses
• Hyperkeratosis
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