The Irish Terrier is one of the oldest terrier breeds and is a descendant of Britain’s ancient coarse-coated black and tan Terrier. This breed made its debut in dog shows in 1875; within ten years, the Irish Terrier was one of Britain’s most popular breeds.
The Irish Terrier arrived in the United States during the 1880s where they became just as popular. In fact, during World War I, the military trained these Terriers to be courier dogs.
The Irish Terrier is a strong, stylish, and sturdy breed. The difference between this Terrier and others is the rectangular proportions. This dog is vibrant with wiry, ascetically long legs and small, arched feet. The Irish’s coat is brittle and red.
Their head is long with a flat skull, smooth cheeks, strong jaws, and a black nose. This dog possesses a strong expression thanks to its small, dark eyes. The ears are V-shaped and fold forward. Also, they possess a cropped tail that is erect and never curled.
Irish Terrier Breed Facts
| Energy level |  | Watchdog ability |  |
| Exercise requirements | | Protection ability |  |
| Playfulness | | Grooming requirements | |
| Affection level |  | Cold tolerance | |
| Friendliness toward dogs |  | Heat tolerance | |
| Friendliness toward other pets | | Friendliness toward strangers | |
| Ease of training | |
Temperament: The Irish Terrier is intelligent, versatile, and compliant; these dogs can easily fit into various lifestyles. They’re most loyal, devoted, and affectionate with their families; also, they’re sociable with people. The Irish are serious about their work.
This breed’s nickname is “Daredevil,” which fits it well because of their spirit and courage. They possess a powerful prey drive, and they make excellent watchdogs. We recommend you socialize and train them as early as possible, which may help channel their instincts in the right direction.
Because of their independent nature, they could be stubborn; however, they’re also sensitive and should never have to undergo intense, harsh training. This breed is also an excellent therapy dog.
Grooming: we do not recommend Clipping for this breed because it could dull the coat’s color and soften the texture. However, the coat needs to be hand-stripped at least 3 times per year, beginning at 4-6 months.
Activity level: Intense. They bred this breed for speed and endurance. Exercising should take place within a fenced yard. Make sure that the fence is at least six feet high and secured from top to bottom. The Irish perform extremely well in agility, tracking, flyball, and obedience.
Color: These dogs are whole-colored in bright red, golden red, red wheaten, or wheaten.
Coat: The Irish sports a harsh, dense, wiry outer coat with a finer, softer undercoat
Size: Males—18 inches, 27 pounds; females—18 inches, 25 pounds
Group: The Irish Terrier is a member of the AKC and UK Terrier Group
Life expectancy: 13–15 years
The Irish Terrier is a very popular dog; be prepared to get in touch with a lot of breeders before you find a puppy. Therefore, get a rescue or an older dog.
