Charlotte Foster
The Irish Terrier is one of the largest and calmest terrier breeds. Her long-legged, elegant physique is just as appealing as her friendly, child-loving character. With good socialization and consistent training, this dog breed is the right choice for active owners who spend a lot of time in the woods and fields and are also interested in dog sports.
Versatility in the genes
According to historians, the Irish Terrier is the oldest terrier breed in the world. Their origin lies in Ireland, where the animals lived as part of the family for many centuries, keeping the farm free of rats, foxes, and other vermin. The Irish Terrier is said to be closely related to the Irish Wolfhound. In the 19th century, the way people lived changed so radically that this breed of dog was on the verge of extinction. Lovers of the breed are doing everything they can to preserve and breed the Irish Red Terrier as we know it today. Nevertheless, the breed is now very rare, although it is an interesting choice for families with children who are enthusiastic about the outdoors.
Nature of the Irish Terrier
The Irish Terrier is a versatile, medium-sized dog with an appealing, strong personality. His roots as a family member with the task of supporting his people as a guard and hunting dog are still firmly anchored in his nature today. On the one hand a gentle, intelligent family dog, on the other hand, has typical terrier characteristics such as courage, self-confidence, and a passion for hunting. He is considered to be extremely fond of children and loyal to his people. His bond with his family is extraordinarily strong. The clever four-legged friends have a moderate “will to please” and are easy to train with a little dog experience. Pay great attention to good socialization in the first few weeks in the new home so that you and your Irish Terrier can go through life relaxed and balanced.
Training and keeping the Irish Terrier
The curious, active Irish Terrier needs a lot of exercises and mental work to be happy. A home with a large, securely fenced yard allows the avid watchdog to indulge his innate instincts. In addition, be sure to give him a chance to let off steam and let him trot longer distances. As a companion dog when jogging, cycling or horseback terrier cuts a fine figure. However, the prerequisite is that you can call up your wiry companion anytime and anywhere. His hunting instinct can become a challenge. With the right anti-hunting training, however, most Irish Terriers achieve a high level of security in retrieval. Dog schools and trainers will help you to master the necessary training steps together. In addition to hunting substitute training such as search games or mantrailing, the smart terrier can also be enthusiastic about other dog sports: Dog Frisbee, dog dancing, or agility are sports that appeal to his joy of playing, satisfy his urge to move, and at the same time train impulse control.
Care of the Irish Terrier
The Irish Terrier has a roughly trimmed coat with a thick, soft undercoat. If you brush him once or twice a week, he will only shed a few hairs around the house. The longer top hair has to be trimmed by hand several times a year. Professional dog hairdressers can help with this and also trim the fur between the toes. Apart from that, the Irish terrier does not require much care. He is considered to be very robust and is hardly affected by hereditary diseases typical of the breed. Most Irish Terriers live to be 13 to 15 years old.