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The Irish Terrier
The Irish Terrier is an amazing breed; but it is not the breed
for everyone. You do not need a huge garden, a large car and a big
house. You do need a sense of humour and more importantly, common
sense and the ability to think quickly and above all, to ‘think
dog’.
Once in your home – your Irish WILL make himself comfortable!
Your full attention will be required…
Outdoors it is a different matter – nose down, ears forward. You
must establish a fool-proof WAIT command – and he must know you mean
it!
If your main reason for wanting an Irish Terrier is that you want
something unique, appealing and that little bit different; a dog
that will make people stop in the street and ask where he came from,
then visit you nearest dogs’ home, because every dog is unique and
EVERY DAY, potentially fantastic pet dogs are killed because nobody
wants them. When you take possession of an Irish Terrier, you
become an ambassador for the breed and this is not optional!
An Irish Terrier is a long commitment; anything from 10 to 15 years
(usually 12). Puppies are born thinking your possessions fall into
two camps – things to chew and things to urinate on. Adults remain
alert, active and extremely agile for many years and old dogs can
develop all the usual problems associated with old age, such as
arthritic joints, failing eyesight and deafness.
Thirteen years old – still enjoying the great outdoors
Irish terriers have a tremendous capacity for learning, for having
fun and for life in general and a typical Irish will thrive on human
companionship and mental stimulation. Coats are easy to maintain,
feeding costs are low and working with an Irish Terrier in any
discipline, whether it be agility, flyball, gun-work or ratting is a
pleasure (if a little like driving a red Ferrari with no brakes at
times).
How much fun can you have with a staircase and some dummies?
Irish Terriers like to be occupied. Bad weather should never prevent
exercise and training! However, training must be fun and in short,
exciting bursts. These dogs have a low boredom threshold (unless, of
course, whatever they are doing was their idea in the first place)
But….before you get carried away, dreaming of your perfect life
together, please note the word ‘typical’. Remember, dogs (and much
as we owners like to think our bred is a bit more than a dog – Irish
terriers are dogs) only do what they find rewarding to do and if a
dog has learned from experience that interaction with humans is
unpleasant and snapping is the best way to avoid it – then the dog
will snap. Likewise, a dog that has learned that pulling on the lead
means they get where they want to go that bit faster – the dog will
pull. Irish Terrier Rescue welcomes enquiries from potential new
homes. Working with a dog that has a ‘past’ is incredibly rewarding,
but incredibly frustrating at times too.
Laughing in the face of discipline!
If you buy a puppy, make sure you meet both parents and make sure
you have done your homework on the breed: come to shows, talk to
other owners and read books specifically about Irish Terriers. The
Irish Terrier Association has a website, as does Lucy Jackson, who
wrote the latest IT book. We are fortunate in Irish Terriers as we
have some incredibly experienced and knowledgeable judges and
breeders who are delighted to help newcomers – whether they are
interested ultimately in showing, or happy to be pet owners.
Irish terriers are high input – high output dogs: if you put in the
time and energy you will be rewarded a thousand-fold. If you feel
you have the experience and more importantly the time and
willingness to work with a dog to fulfil its potential (whether it
be as a working dog or an enjoyable, reliable family pet) then you
would make a good owner. Their loyalty is legendary, made famous by
the books of Jack London and by the accounts of the late Colonel
Richardshon in his memories of training war dogs for active service
in WW1.
Irish Terriers are not typical ‘terriers’ in the sense that they
were not bred to go to ground. Instead, they were developed as a
multi-purpose dog; one that would live happily in the family home
while also guarding (most excel as guards) controlling vermin such
as rats and also being used to catch food, such as rabbits. Their
distinctive colour has the advantage (or disadvantage!) of rendering
the dog almost invisible at twilight – handy for poaching in days
gone by, if not for the average walk.
The coat should ideally be hand-stripped because this encourages a
harsh, waterproof coat that is much easier to keep clean and tidy
and also affords the dog some protection. However, many owners have
their dogs clipped. It is a matter of personal choice. Coats vary in
texture and quantity, with some much easier to look after than
others. It is perhaps best to take advice from an experienced
terrier-groomer to start with, but don’t be afraid to have a try and
get stuck in yourself. Remember – a good dog can’t have a bad hair
day and it will grow back!
My favourite summary of the Irish Terrier comes from an old dog book
by Gordon Stables, “I admire the fire that is in them: the fire
and the fun”.
Written by RJL.
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