Irish Terrier

The Irish Terrier is the oldest of the four Irish terrier breeds and was used as a watchdog and for pest control in the Cork area. They would happily take on everything from rats to badgers. They appealed to all walks of life and were kept by both commoners and nobility. Once known as the Irish Red Terrier, to avoid confusion between other Irish terrier breeds, this dog was also known as the Red Devil and was used as a messenger dog in the First World War where their bravery and tenacity became legendary. The breed’s exact origins are not known, but probably developed from the old black and tan terrier crossed with other local dogs.

You’ll need to be prepared for a much larger terrier than most, with all the fire and fiest of the smaller versions. The Irish Terrier needs lots of training and socialisation to remain polite and well mannered in daily life, and sensible management to mitigate their tendency to take offense easily and react to other dogs. As long as you understand the terrier mind and have some prior terrier experience, this can be a fun and engaging companion. 

Irish Terriers need at least an hour of dog exercise each day - along with plenty of games with their owner and enrichment toys (which should ideally include a chance to dig and some scent work). This is a breed that needs to be able to explore the sights and scents of the countryside but as they may not always be good with unknown dogs, it is good to have access to open, dog-free areas where they can be let off the lead.

The Irish Terrier is a dog who can live in a small home and garden as long as they have access to good rural or open areas for exercise.

The Irish Terrier needs to have a balanced diet including all the main nutrient groups and a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food.

The harsh, wiry topcoat of the Irish Terrier is straight and lies flat, and there is a softer, finer undercoat. A brush through a couple of times a week will be needed, and the coat will also need to be handstripped (where the dead hair is plucked out) two or three times a year.

When it comes to dog training, the Irish Terrier is a clever dog who enjoys working with their owners and can be trained to quite a high standard - as long as they can be kept motivated and enthused using positive, reward-based methods. Dog socialisation should be early and ongoing to overcome any argumentativeness with other dogs, and a good recall should be prioritised. Neither of these should entirely be relied upon in the great outdoors however!

Like many terrier dog breeds, the Irish Terrier can lack patience with children - especially if overhandled or grabbed. They can however make good family dog where there are older, dog-aware children.

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.