Select the dog breed you are interested in from the list below. Alphabetical Search: A - E F - J K - O P - T U - Z or Select A Breed

Irish Terrier

You can find the contact details for specific breed societies local to you by going to the Your Territory area.

You may want to post any specific questions that you have about this breed in our Pet Talk area to ask people with first hand experience.

General
OtherNames		Irish Red Terrier
Dog Group Kennel Club		Terrier
Breed Classification		The Irish Terrier is a member of the terrier group. They were originally bred as watchdogs and for hunting vermin. Today they are used for coursing, hunting vermin, companions and also seen in the show ring.
Cost of Ownership Visit our dog food department
Average Food Cost		£4-7.50
Feeding Requirements		The average cost of feeding will be around £4.00 per week.
Other Expenses		The average cost of a puppy is £500 - £550.
Average Puppy Price		£500-800
Lifespan		9 - 15 years
Average Litter Size		7
General Physical Description		The graceful, racy outline of the Irish Terrier is unmistakable. Head held high on a long, graceful neck, this breed stands out in a crowd. The outer coat is very hard and wry, the undercoat being softer and finer.
Height Min Max Bitch 46cm 46cm Dog 48cm 48cm Weight Min Max Bitch 11kg 11kg Dog 12kg 12kg
Size Category		Medium
Weight Height Range		Dogs should measure 48cms and weigh around 12kgs. Bitches should ideally measure 46cms and weigh around 11kgs.
Ailments		A healthy, robust breed which has very few documented genetic problems.
Common Ailments
Susceptibility To Illness Pet insurance for dogs resource Pet health and vet advice		Low
Other
History		The Irish Terrier is believed to be one of the oldest Irish breeds originating from the districts around Cork in Southern Ireland. Very little history is documented although it is believed the breed is probably descended from old black and tan and wheaten terriers. The breed was used as messenger dogs in the first World War, which attributed to their fearless reputation.
Intelligence		Having a good memory and wanting to please, this breed is easy to train as long as training is done in a consistent manner. Plenty of variety should be given during the training routine.
Show Characteristics		The head should be long with a flat skull and narrow between the ears. The stop should be hardly visible except in the profile. The lips should be well fitting and almost black on the outside and the nose should be black. The small, dark eyes should not be prominent and a light or yellow eye is highly undesirable. The ears should be v-shaped and small, set will on the head and drop forward close to the cheek. The top of the folded ear should sit well above the level of the skull. The ears should be free of fringing and the hair should be shorter and darker in colour than that of the body. The teeth should be even, the jaws strong. With a perfect, level scissor bite. The neck should be a fair length and gradually widen towards the shoulders. It should be carried well and free from throatiness. The shoulders should be fine, long and well laid back. The front legs should be moderately long and perfectly straight with plenty of bone and muscle. The pasterns should be short and straight and hardly noticeable. The hind legs should be strong and muscular with well let down hocks and moderately bent stifles. The hair on the hind legs should be dense and crisp. The chest should be deep and muscular but not full or wide. The body should be moderately long with a straight, strong back. The feet should be strong, moderately small, round with arched toes. Black toe nails are desired. If docked, the tail is customarily docked to three quarters and should be free of fringing or feathering but still be well covered with rough hair. It should be set on fairly high and carried gaily but not over the back or curled. If undocked, the same as above but should be in overall balance with the rest of the dog. Both fore and hind legs should be carried straight and parallel in movement. The coat should be harsh and wiry and have a broken appearance with no shagginess or curl. At the base of these hairs, there should be a growth of finer, softer hair. The most preferable colours are ‘whole-coloured’ red, red/wheaten or yellow/wheaten. A small amount of white hair on the chest is acceptable, but white on the feet is highly undesirable. Black shading through the coat is also highly undesirable.
Country Of Origin		Ireland
Famous Examples
Records Held
Characteristics Visit our dog training aids department
Energy		High
Overall Exercise		40 - 60 minutes
Distress Caused if Left Alone		Medium
Personal Protection		High
Suitability As Guard Dog		High
Risk of Sheep Worrying		High
Tendency to Bark		Medium
Ease of Transportation		High
Level of Aggression		Medium
Compatibility With Other Animals		Medium
Suitable For Children		High
General Character And Temperament		Courageous and feisty little dogs who have truly earned the nickname 'The Daredevil'. Affectionate and friendly with people – particularly children – this breed will be loyal and devoted to the family. However, that said, great care should be taken in the presence of other dogs as the males of the breed are known to be fearless and will, if antagonised, fight to win.
Grooming Visit our dog grooming department
Coat Length		Short/Medium
Grooming Requirement		< Once a week
Trimming		Occasional
Requires Professional Groomer		True
Grooming		Hand plucking is required 2 or 3 times a year. The hair between the pads of the feet should be regularly trimmed and the ears must be kept clean.
Colour		Irish Terriers come in solid colours of red, red/wheaten or yellow/red. White hair can be seen on the chest and some adult dogs will have black shading.
Shedding		None
Suffers From Allergies
Tendency to Cause Allergies