The medium-sized Irish Terrier, often known as “Daredevil” of the Emerald Isle, is a daring, dashing, and brave terrier. The Irish Terrier, known for his fiery red color and temperament to match, is stouthearted at work and softhearted at home. The original long-legged terrier is the Irish Terrier. They have a shoulder height of roughly 18 inches and are powerful but graceful. Everybody line is striking, and the composition as a whole is superbly balanced. The breed’s temperament is as fiery as its tight, red coat. A dog lover’s dream, if you don’t melt when you see this Technicolor terrier set against the vibrant greens of the Irish countryside, forget pets and get a goldfish instead.
Irish Terrier
bold / dashing / tenderhearted
Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.
Height
18 inches
Weight
27 pounds (male)
25 pounds (female)
Life Expectancy
13-15 years
Breed Traits & Characteristics
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Affectionate With Family
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Openness To Strangers
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!
Playfulness Level
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.
Watchdog/Protective Nature
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.
Adaptability Level
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.
Trainability Level
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!
Energy Level
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.
Barking Level
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.
Mental Stimulation Needs
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.
About the Breed
What To Expect When Caring For a Irish Terrier
Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.
Health
Irish Terriers are typically healthy dogs, however, they can occasionally develop certain conditions. While uncommon in North America, hyperkeratosis (hardened, cracked footpads) may be present in dogs descended from European ancestors. Recently, a genetic test for this illness was created. Although bladder stones caused by cystinuria are rare, there is no genetic test available for Irish Terriers. Prospective owners should find a trustworthy breeder and inquire about these two diseases. Like all breeds, Irish Terriers should have their ears periodically examined for indications of infection, and their teeth should be brushed frequently with dog-specific toothpaste. To ensure the dog has a long and healthy life, regular trips to the vet for checks and parasite management are recommended.
Grooming
Regular brushing, stripping, and trimming are necessary to maintain the Irish Terrier's short coat in good shape. His thick, wiry broken coat forms a tight, water-resistant jacket around his body. On a cool, damp day, a rich undercoat of softer, finer hair beneath the rigid outer coat stores body heat. Instead of being clipped, the outer coat should ideally be hand-stripped. Weekly brushing will help to keep the dog looking his best by removing dirt and loose hair. Regular nail trimming is advised because lengthy nails can be uncomfortable for the dog.
Exercise
The Irish Terrier is exuberantly energetic, playful, and outgoing. A gated garden is wonderful for Irish Terriers because they are excellent athletes and need frequent exercise. If this fails, they need to walk frequently throughout the day—always on a leash—to preserve their physical and emotional health. Despite being stubborn, Irish Terriers are eager to please their owners and are excellent show and performance dogs. The breed's vigor, natural athleticism, and intelligence are channeled through obedience, agility, rally, earthdog, and flyball competitions.
Training
The Irish Terrier is extremely intelligent and eager to please, but he also has a tendency to be challenging, independent, and strong-willed. He will become a polite member of your household who feels at ease among family and friends with early and consistent socialization and fundamental obedience training. The relationship you develop with your Irish during training will last a lifetime. Early training should be utilized consistently and reinforced on a lifetime basis. The Irish Terrier is a quick-thinking, intelligent dog that easily adjusts to new circumstances. When nurtured with kids, this breed gets along great and is incredibly devoted to his owner. In order for puppies to mature into respected adults, they need clear limits.
Nutrition
Irish Terriers should be fed premium dog food that is suitable for their age (puppy, adult, or senior) and degree of activity. Discover which foods fit the bill for canine consumption and which don't. If you have any queries or worries regarding your dog's weight or diet, speak to your veterinarian or the breeder. Fresh, clean water must always be accessible.
History
The Irish Terrier has been a mainstay of rural Ireland for hundreds of years and is the perfect example of an all-purpose farm dog. Of course, a dog with this much enthusiasm and intelligence can’t be contained by a single job description, even if it is a relentless ratter. As watchdogs, flock and family protectors, and hunting partners on land and in lakes, ITs have earned their food. In the 1870s, the breed’s type as we know it was established.