Irish Terriers

Description

The Irish Terrier is a very distinguished looking breed. This medium-sized, well-proportioned animal looks somewhat like the Wirehaired fox terrier and is sometimes mistaken for that breed.

The Irish Terrier has a flat skull that gives this breed one of its most unique characteristics and features. The healthy dog will have long whiskers and a much-bearded muzzle. The Irish Terrier has very powerful jaws for a animal of its size.

The unique stop is most noticeable in profile. When the animal is healthy the nose will be black. The ears are V-shaped and will normally fold forward. It should be noted that the hair on the ears is shorter and will often be much darker than on the rest of the body.

The Irish Terrier has very bushy eyebrows. The eyes of this breed are small and dark, but they are alert to any action that takes place nearby. Some people would suggest that the eyes are intelligent, and that is a fair assessment.

Usually, the front legs of the Irish Terrier are long, straight, and muscular. For show dogs, any sign of weakness in the front legs is a demerit. The Irish Terrier's tail is docked about 3/4 of its original length and the tail is carried erect.

It is generally accepted that the body of the Irish Terrier should be moderately long. This is a powerful dog and the back must be strong and straight for those animals that are being placed in shows.

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Coat Description

The coat on a healthy Irish Terrier should be dense and wiry in texture. It will be rich in quality and it will have a somewhat broken appearance. It should lie fairly close to the body.

The individual hairs should grow so closely together that when parted with the fingers the skin is hardly visible. It should be noted that on the sides of the body the coat is never as harsh as on the back and quarters, but it should be plentiful and of good texture.

Owners who are planning to place their dog in shows should read up on the various particulars that are associated with this breed as a show dog.

For the most part, the Irish Terrier should be whole-colored, and those colors should be either bright red, golden red, red wheaten, or wheaten. There can be a small patch of white on the chest which is a common trait of all whole-colored breeds. Owners should know that often puppies have black hair at birth. This black hair will change as the animal grows and should all be gone by the time it is full grown.

History

The Irish Terrier has a long and honorable history and it is one of the most beloved breeds. The Irish Terrier originally came from Country Cork, Ireland. There is some agreement that it is one of the oldest terrier breeds.

It has been suggested that this breed is two thousand years old. There are paintings of the breed that date back to the 1700's. The breed has been well loved by authors and kings alike. The breed has been used as a hunter and rodent killer. At times this brave breed was used a wartime messengers.

The first known breed club was established in Dublin in 1879. Irish Terriers were the first members of the terrier group to be recognized by the English Kennel Club as a native Irish Breed. This recognition took place just before the end of the 19th century. The first Irish Terriers were taken to the US in late 19th century and quickly became popular with hunters and pet lovers alike.

The Irish Terrier became very popular in England during the late 1800's. In 1896 the United States' breed club was started. While the breed is still used for hunting purposes by some owners it is now mainly a companion dog.

It was also in the latter part of the 19th century that the proper selection process of the breed began. At that time they were shown sometimes in one class, sometimes in separate classes for dogs under and over 9 pounds.

Today the breed is well loved and kept in many countries from the US to Australia.

Temperament

The Irish Terrier has a personality all its own. Owners should understand that this hot little package can be very hot-tempered when it wants to be. It can also be very reckless in such activities as chasing cars or larger animals. One of its most endearing benefits is that it can be extraordinarily courageous.

Even though this breed can be energetic and very spirited, they can also be some of the most loyal dogs that you can bring into the home. When cared for properly they can be very affectionately and loving with those people and family pets that it has been around and is familiar with.

The healthy Irish Terrier will play hard and is a good companion for active children. The breed is by nature curious and bold in equal measures. It should be noted however that the breed can be somewhat willful at times.

Owners who are new to the Irish Terrier should keep in mind that it is normal for this breed to be feisty to the point of being a daredevil. This breed has been known to protect its owner and family to the point of death. It will rarely back down when it feels the owner or family is being threatened. This loyalty to the family makes this one of the best guard dogs available.

But while it makes a great guard dog, it should be remembered that it also makes a fine companion as it is loving and respectful to its owner and family. This breed can become very devoted and that makes it one of the endeared breeds known.

Health Problems

The Irish Terrier is a generally healthy breed. For this breed, eye and breathing ailments are rare. They are not prone to Allergies as other breeds may be, but they must be checked for fleas and ticks regularly as they love to hunt out of doors will get into the bushes and thickets. Because of their small size they are not very prone to hip dysplasia.

Grooming

For the most part, the Irish Terrier is easy to groom. When groomed properly, the Irish Terrier coat will protect the animal from rain and cold. The Irish Terrier does not shed when the coat is groomed properly.

The Irish Terrier has a wiry coat and it needs to be stripped once or twice a year. The procedure is that the coat must be stripped by hand or by the use of a non-cutting knife to retain its weather-resistant qualities.

When this is done correctly it does not hurt the dog. By keeping the skin above the stripped section taut with your free hand the process goes much smoother. This is especially true for those areas where the skin is looser, such as the belly and the chest.

You should never cut the coat but rather use your fingers or a non-cutting knife. When the coat is clipped, it loses color and becomes softer. This causes the coat to lose its weather-resistant characteristics.

It is important to remember that the coat should not be washed too often, as shampoos will also reduce the natural skin oils that help protect the animal. The best rule of thumb is that most Irish Terriers only need washing when dirty.

When stripping the Irish Terrier, the coat may be taken down entirely to leave the dog in the undercoat until a new coat grows in. For a pet, this should be done at least twice a year. If you are looking for a show quality coat, a professional should be consulted as there are many issues that need to be considered. Before a show an expert trimmer is needed to fashion the coat.

It is important to remember to clean the teeth. If the owner is not able to perform this grooming task, a pet salon should be used. Proper dental care is extremely important as it helps your pet to keep its teeth for as long as possible.

Ear cleaning is easy. For general cleaning, you can use baby oil and a cotton ball. Take special care to not go too far into the ear as you could damage the ear drum. It is best to gently wipe around the outer ear and remove any debris that you may find.

In the event that you should notice your dog is scratching its ears more often than usual or shaking its head vigorously, you should take the dog to the vet as this may be an indication of ear infection.

You should also trim your pet's nails once a week or so to prevent overgrowth. This is very easy to do. You will need a pair of animal nail clippers that can be found in most pet stores. Only trim the top portion of the nail and do not over cut into the nail.

The hair between the pads of the feet should be trimmed when it becomes long.

Many new owners of the Irish Terrier will want to learn the techniques needed for coat grooming from a pet salon. This is a great way to learn the skills that you will need.

Exercise

The Irish Terrier was bred for long, active work. They love activity and they love to run and play when they get the opportunity. The healthy Irish Terrier needs plenty of exercise and this exercise should be taken on a routine basis.

One of the best ways to exercise this breed is the walk. Owners should always make sure that they have the animal on a leash when walking so as to avoid the possibility of a fight should your dog happen onto another dog.

The Irish Terrier can live very well in apartments. Unless provoked, it does not bark unnecessarily. It can be housebroken easily and it makes a calm, quiet companion for most elderly people.

However, because the Irish Terrier loves to run and hunt and play it does better in homes that have outdoor areas for it. For those homes with a back yard, the use of a fence is almost mandatory for this breed. The fence used needs to be sturdy and it should be at least five to six feet high. The Irish Terrier loves to jump and will happily jump the fence if allowed to.

It is important for all owners of this breed to understand that this animal needs exercise in order for it to remain fit and it will often dig into the ground in order to get that exercise. It will certainly try to dig under your fence so make sure the fence is secured top and bottom.

The breed does well in all climates and it can be left out of doors although it would prefer to be with the family indoors.

Training

The Irish Terrier is a very Intelligent and trainable breed, but owners should understand that this breed can be somewhat stubborn and willful.

The best way to train the Irish Terrier is to train it firmly and from an early age. Owners must understand that while the Irish Terrier can be very affectionate with people they can be very combative with other dogs and they should not be trusted with non-canine pets such as rabbits or cats.

The Irish Terrier has a strong protective instinct, so he should be socialized well with people at an early age so as to avoid instances of biting and snapping. While it is not always a problem with all dogs, some of this breed can be difficult to housebreak.

Owners must understand that the Irish Terrier likes to dig, explore, and chase things. These are issues that the owners can train against but the owner should not get his or her hopes up too high.

For some owners the best way to begin training of this breed is to go to a professional trainer. Once the professional trainer has laid down the basics, the owner can begin training at home.