Overview

The Irish Terrier appeared in Ireland in the 1700's and is considered to be one of the oldest of the Terrier breeds. They excel at hunting and have served as an exterminator of den animals, wartime messengers, and retrievers as well. While the aristocracy never favored them, the Irish farmer found their work ethic to be highly useful.

Activity

The Irish Terrier is very active and requires regular exercise on a daily basis. They can do well in an apartment environment as long as they get the exercise they need during the day however, if left alone for long periods of time they will become highly destructive and lonely. They need room to run and play and will be happiest with a fenced in yard.

Care

The Irish Terrier requires constant brushing and grooming to remove dead hair and keep shedding to a minimum. Bathing should only happen when it is absolutely necessary to maintain a healthy coat and should only be done with a mild shampoo. They are a fairly health breed but some can suffer from hypothyroid issues.

Character

The Irish Terrier is a strong and proud breed of medium size. They are very agile and graceful and have been known to be more of a daredevil due to its outrageous courage and willingness to fight with anything that crosses its path the wrong way.

Coat

The Irish Terrier has a double coat with a wiry, dense outer coat that fits loosely to the body and gives the breed a broken appearance and an undercoat that is soft and fine to the touch. They come in solid wheaten to golden red colors and will shed little to no hair if brushed regularly.

Temperament

While the Irish Terrier is a bit bold and reckless, they also have an adventurous nature that makes them exceptionally devoted and loyal to its family. They do well in homes with older, well behaved children but do not do well with other dogs or household pets of any kind. They can become extremely combative at times and will require an experienced handler.

Training

While the Irish Terrier is an intelligent breed, their willfulness makes them a bit difficult to housetrain for inexperienced owners. They will need an intensive round of obedience and socialization training when they are young or you might never get control of them on your own if you have never owned a breed like this before. You must use positive reinforcement as heavy handed training methods make them more apt to fight than learn. They do well as companions, with hunting, and even police and military work.