The Irish Terrier

The Irish Terrier, believe to be one of the oldest of the Terrier breeds, is a medium size breed. They are oddly longer then what they are taller and being a Terrier, they are bursting with personality.
Their thick, wiry coat can be found in red, golden red, red wheaten or wheaten with a soft undercoat which was perfect to keep them warm when working in water, as they were used for many years ago. The Irish Terrier can be dated back to over two thousand years ago, with images of them being found in paintings from the 1700’s. It is unsure what breed of dog/s they descended from however they were originally found in Ireland, hence their name. They were perfect hunting dogs and used to clear dens, with their body shape making for ideal mobility in tight quarters. Over the last 2 thousand years they have been used as working dogs for varying tasks, including hunting, tracking, guard dogs and police and military work.
 
Being a working dog, the Irish Terrier is a very smart breed who requires as much (if not more) mental then physical exercise and stimulation. They are not a lazy breed and enjoy being given a ‘job’ to do.
They are often known as the ‘daredevils’ of the dog world by their fans and this is because they are a courageous dog who will take on any task at hand. Being an active breed, they require plenty of exercise daily. With the right exercise, working their mind and body, they can adapt to living in smaller apartment style homes and with a strong pack leader are a very well balanced, great member of the family. Without rules, direction and exercise, they can become very difficult and destructive.


They are the ideal breed for an active person or family who wants a loyal companion that can keep up with them.
Aside from their strong demand for exercise, they are a reasonably easy breed to care for, with no hereditary health issues and grooming being very basic. Their double coat is easy to brush as needed and they rarely shed, only needing to bathed when needed.