(AKC Terrier Group)
The
Irish Terrier sports a beautiful red coat, an alert expression and trim
outline with piercing eyes that reflect a rare intelligence. He is a
gallant picture of authentic terrier type and character. The breed is
good tempered, spirited and game. The breed’s coat is short and wiry in
texture.
The Irish Terrier is a smart, quick dog that quickly adapts to new situations. He’ll guard his home and family members with determination and pluck. This breed is great with children when raised with them and is deeply loyal to his owner. Pups require firm boundaries so they will grow into respectful adults.
General Appearance
The over-all appearance of the Irish Terrier is important. In conformation he must be more than a sum of his parts. He must be all-of-a piece, a balanced vital picture of symmetry, proportion and harmony. Furthermore, he must convey character. This terrier must be active, lithe and wiry in movement, with great animation; sturdy and strong in substance and bone structure, but at the same time free from clumsiness, for speed, power and endurance are most essential. The Irish Terrier must be neither "cobby" nor "cloddy," but should be built on lines of speed with a graceful, racing outline.
Head
Long, but in nice proportion to the rest of the body; the skull flat, rather narrow between the ears, and narrowing slightly toward the eyes; free from wrinkle, with the stop hardly noticeable except in profile. The jaws must be strong and muscular, but not too full in the cheek, and of good punishing length. The foreface must not fall away appreciably between or below the eyes; instead, the modeling should be delicate. An exaggerated foreface, or a noticeably short foreface, disturbs the proper balance of the head and is not desirable. The foreface and the skull from occiput to stop should be approximately equal in length. Excessive muscular development of the cheeks, or bony development of the temples, conditions which are described by the fancier as "cheeky," or "strong in head," or "thick in skull" are objectionable. The "bumpy" head, in which the skull presents two lumps of bony structure above the eyes, is to be faulted. The hair on the upper and lower jaws should be similar in quality and texture to that on the body, and of sufficient length to present an appearance of additional strength and finish to the foreface. Either the profuse, goat-like beard, or the absence of beard, is unsightly and undesirable.
Teeth
Should be strong and even, white and sound; and neither overshot nor undershot.
Lips
Should be close and well-fitting, almost black in color.
Nose
Must be black.
Eyes
Dark brown in color; small, not prominent; full of life, fire and intelligence, showing an intense expression. The light or yellow eye is most objectionable, and is a bad fault.
Ears
Small and V-shaped; of moderate thickness; set well on the head, and dropping forward closely toward the outside corner of the eye. The top of the folded ear should be well above the level of the skull. A "dead" ear, hound-like in appearance, must be severely penalized. It is not characteristic of the Irish Terrier. The hair should be much shorter and somewhat darker in color than that on the body.
Neck
Should be of fair length and gradually widening toward the shoulders; well and proudly carried, and free from throatiness. Generally there is a slight frill in the hair at each side of the neck, extending almost to the corner of the ear.
Shoulders and Chest
Shoulders must be fine, long, and sloping well into the back. The chest should be deep and muscular, but neither full nor wide.
Body
The body should be moderately long. The short back is not characteristic of the Irish Terrier, and is extremely objectionable. The back must be strong and straight, and free from an appearance of slackness or "dip" behind the shoulders. The loin should be strong and muscular, and slightly arched, the ribs fairly sprung, deep rather than round, reaching to the level of the elbow. The bitch may be slightly longer than the dog.
Hindquarters
Should be strong and muscular; thighs powerful; hocks near the ground; stifles moderately bent.
Stern
Should be docked, taking off about one quarter. It should be set on rather high, but not curled. It should be of good strength and substance; of fair length and well covered with harsh, rough hair.
Feet and Legs
The feet should be strong, tolerably round, and moderately small; toes arched and turned neither out nor in, with dark toenails. The pads should be deep, and must be perfectly sound and free from corns. Cracks alone do not necessarily indicate unsound feet. In fact, all breeds have cracked pads occasionally, from various causes.
Legs moderately long, well set from the shoulders, perfectly straight, with plenty of bone and muscle; the elbows working clear of the sides; pasterns short, straight, and hardly noticeable. Both fore and hind legs should move straight forward when traveling; the stifles should not turn outward. "Cowhocks"--that is, the hocks turned in and the feet turned out--are intolerable. The legs should be free from feather and covered with hair of similar texture to that on the body to give proper finish to the dog.
Coat
Should be dense and wiry in texture, rich in quality, having a broken appearance, but still lying fairly close to the body, the hairs growing so closely and strongly together that when parted with the fingers the skin is hardly visible; free of softness or silkiness, and not so long as to alter the outline of the body, particularly in the hindquarters. On the sides of the body the coat is never as harsh as on the back and quarters, but it should be plentiful and of good texture. At the base of the stiff outer coat there should be a growth of finer and softer hair, lighter in color, termed the undercoat. Single coats, which are without any undercoat, and wavy coats are undesirable; the curly and the kinky coats are most objectionable.
Color
Should be whole-colored: bright red, golden red, red wheaten, or wheaten. A small patch of white on the chest, frequently encountered in all whole-colored breeds, is permissible but not desirable. White on any other part of the body is most objectionable. Puppies sometimes have black hair at birth, which should disappear before they are full grown.
Size
The most desirable weight in show condition is 27 pounds for the dog and 25 pounds for the bitch. The height at the shoulder should be approximately 18 inches. These figures serve as a guide to both breeder and judge. In the show ring, however, the informed judge readily identifies the oversized or undersized Irish Terrier by its conformation and general appearance. Weight is not the last word in judgment. It is of the greatest importance to select, insofar as possible, terriers of moderate and generally accepted size, possessing the other various characteristics.
Irish Terrier is a generally healthy breed. The life expectancy is around 13 – 14 years.
The proportions are not over-exaggerated in any way and thus eye or breathing problems are rare. Most Irish Terriers do not show signs of allergies towards foods. As they are small dogs, the breed has a very low incidence of hip dysplasia.
In the 1960s and 1970s there were problems with hyperkeratosis, a disease causing corny pads and severe pain. Today it is widely known which dogs carried the disease and respectable breeders do not use those bloodlines any more. A health study conducted by the Irish Terrier Club of America showed a greater-than-expected incidence of hypothyroidism and cataracts. There are not enough eye-checked individuals to draw any conclusions.
The temperament of the Irish Terrier reflects his early background: he was family
pet, guard dog, and hunter. He is good tempered, spirited and game. It is of the
utmost importance that the Irish Terrier show fire and animation. There is a heedless,
reckless pluck about the Irish Terrier which is characteristic, and which, coupled
with the headlong dash, blind to all consequences, with which he rushes at his
adversary, has earned for the breed the proud epithet of "Daredevil."
He is of good temper, most affectionate, and absolutely loyal to mankind. Tender
and forebearing with those he loves, this rugged, stout-hearted terrier will guard
his master, his mistress and children with utter contempt for danger or hurt.
His life is one continuous and eager offering of loyal and faithful companionship
and devotion. He is ever on guard, and stands between his home and all that threatens
The Irish Terrier had been established in his native country and elsewhere and truly bred long before entering the show ring. His origin has been much debated, but there is indisputable evidence that he is one of the oldest of the terrier breeds. In his beautiful red jacket, alert and trim, his piercing eyes reflecting a rare intelligence, he is a gallant picture of authentic terrier type and character.
The first record of an Irish Terrier being shown as a recognized breed dates back to 1875 when a class was held for it at a show in Glasgow In 1879, Champion "Erin" and "Killney Boy" appeared. They were bred and their progeny included a remarkable number of champions, establishing their place in Irish Terrier history as the "mother and father" of the breed. In the 1880’s, the Irish Terrier was the fourth most popular breed in England.
The Irish Terrier’s popularity quickly extended to the United States.
Westminster held its first class for the breed in 1881; the Irish
Terrier Club of America was founded in 1896, adopting the British
standard for the breed; and by 1929 the breed ranked 13th among the 79
then recognized by the AKC.
The Irish Terrier is an incomparable pal, and the loyal, unyielding protector of those he loves. None is hardier or more adaptable. He is equally at home on the country estate, in the city apartment, or in camp; he thrives in the northland or in the tropics. He is the interested playmate and protector of children, eager to join in their fun and frolic. In their service, as in his master’s, he challenges whatever may menace. He is a born guardsman.
The Irish Terrier is an accomplished sportsman. In this country he will catch and kill woodchucks and other small game, and rates with any dog in hunting rabbits. He is death on vermin. A natural water dog, and not apt to be gun-shy, he may be trained to retrieve in water as well as on land. Indeed, the Irish Terrier has many of the sporting gifts and talents of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the Beagle, and the Spaniel. He has hunted big game successfully in the far north and in the tropics.
As a show dog, the Irish Terrier’s style and deportment are peculiarly his own. In competition he is an impressive picture of intrepid terrier character. He has been styled "the D’Artagnan of the show ring.
The
Irish Terrier sports a beautiful red coat, an alert expression and trim
outline with piercing eyes that reflect a rare intelligence. He is a
gallant picture of authentic terrier type and character. The breed is
good tempered, spirited and game. The breed’s coat is short and wiry in
texture.The Irish Terrier is a smart, quick dog that quickly adapts to new situations. He’ll guard his home and family members with determination and pluck. This breed is great with children when raised with them and is deeply loyal to his owner. Pups require firm boundaries so they will grow into respectful adults.
Irish Terrier Breed Standards
General AppearanceThe over-all appearance of the Irish Terrier is important. In conformation he must be more than a sum of his parts. He must be all-of-a piece, a balanced vital picture of symmetry, proportion and harmony. Furthermore, he must convey character. This terrier must be active, lithe and wiry in movement, with great animation; sturdy and strong in substance and bone structure, but at the same time free from clumsiness, for speed, power and endurance are most essential. The Irish Terrier must be neither "cobby" nor "cloddy," but should be built on lines of speed with a graceful, racing outline.
Head
Long, but in nice proportion to the rest of the body; the skull flat, rather narrow between the ears, and narrowing slightly toward the eyes; free from wrinkle, with the stop hardly noticeable except in profile. The jaws must be strong and muscular, but not too full in the cheek, and of good punishing length. The foreface must not fall away appreciably between or below the eyes; instead, the modeling should be delicate. An exaggerated foreface, or a noticeably short foreface, disturbs the proper balance of the head and is not desirable. The foreface and the skull from occiput to stop should be approximately equal in length. Excessive muscular development of the cheeks, or bony development of the temples, conditions which are described by the fancier as "cheeky," or "strong in head," or "thick in skull" are objectionable. The "bumpy" head, in which the skull presents two lumps of bony structure above the eyes, is to be faulted. The hair on the upper and lower jaws should be similar in quality and texture to that on the body, and of sufficient length to present an appearance of additional strength and finish to the foreface. Either the profuse, goat-like beard, or the absence of beard, is unsightly and undesirable.
Should be strong and even, white and sound; and neither overshot nor undershot.
Lips
Should be close and well-fitting, almost black in color.
Nose
Must be black.
Eyes
Dark brown in color; small, not prominent; full of life, fire and intelligence, showing an intense expression. The light or yellow eye is most objectionable, and is a bad fault.
Ears
Small and V-shaped; of moderate thickness; set well on the head, and dropping forward closely toward the outside corner of the eye. The top of the folded ear should be well above the level of the skull. A "dead" ear, hound-like in appearance, must be severely penalized. It is not characteristic of the Irish Terrier. The hair should be much shorter and somewhat darker in color than that on the body.
Neck
Should be of fair length and gradually widening toward the shoulders; well and proudly carried, and free from throatiness. Generally there is a slight frill in the hair at each side of the neck, extending almost to the corner of the ear.
Shoulders and Chest
Shoulders must be fine, long, and sloping well into the back. The chest should be deep and muscular, but neither full nor wide.
Body
The body should be moderately long. The short back is not characteristic of the Irish Terrier, and is extremely objectionable. The back must be strong and straight, and free from an appearance of slackness or "dip" behind the shoulders. The loin should be strong and muscular, and slightly arched, the ribs fairly sprung, deep rather than round, reaching to the level of the elbow. The bitch may be slightly longer than the dog.
Hindquarters
Should be strong and muscular; thighs powerful; hocks near the ground; stifles moderately bent.
Stern
Should be docked, taking off about one quarter. It should be set on rather high, but not curled. It should be of good strength and substance; of fair length and well covered with harsh, rough hair.
Feet and Legs
The feet should be strong, tolerably round, and moderately small; toes arched and turned neither out nor in, with dark toenails. The pads should be deep, and must be perfectly sound and free from corns. Cracks alone do not necessarily indicate unsound feet. In fact, all breeds have cracked pads occasionally, from various causes.
Legs moderately long, well set from the shoulders, perfectly straight, with plenty of bone and muscle; the elbows working clear of the sides; pasterns short, straight, and hardly noticeable. Both fore and hind legs should move straight forward when traveling; the stifles should not turn outward. "Cowhocks"--that is, the hocks turned in and the feet turned out--are intolerable. The legs should be free from feather and covered with hair of similar texture to that on the body to give proper finish to the dog.
CoatShould be dense and wiry in texture, rich in quality, having a broken appearance, but still lying fairly close to the body, the hairs growing so closely and strongly together that when parted with the fingers the skin is hardly visible; free of softness or silkiness, and not so long as to alter the outline of the body, particularly in the hindquarters. On the sides of the body the coat is never as harsh as on the back and quarters, but it should be plentiful and of good texture. At the base of the stiff outer coat there should be a growth of finer and softer hair, lighter in color, termed the undercoat. Single coats, which are without any undercoat, and wavy coats are undesirable; the curly and the kinky coats are most objectionable.
Color
Should be whole-colored: bright red, golden red, red wheaten, or wheaten. A small patch of white on the chest, frequently encountered in all whole-colored breeds, is permissible but not desirable. White on any other part of the body is most objectionable. Puppies sometimes have black hair at birth, which should disappear before they are full grown.
Size
The most desirable weight in show condition is 27 pounds for the dog and 25 pounds for the bitch. The height at the shoulder should be approximately 18 inches. These figures serve as a guide to both breeder and judge. In the show ring, however, the informed judge readily identifies the oversized or undersized Irish Terrier by its conformation and general appearance. Weight is not the last word in judgment. It is of the greatest importance to select, insofar as possible, terriers of moderate and generally accepted size, possessing the other various characteristics.
Irish Terrier Health Issues
Irish Terrier is a generally healthy breed. The life expectancy is around 13 – 14 years.
The proportions are not over-exaggerated in any way and thus eye or breathing problems are rare. Most Irish Terriers do not show signs of allergies towards foods. As they are small dogs, the breed has a very low incidence of hip dysplasia.
In the 1960s and 1970s there were problems with hyperkeratosis, a disease causing corny pads and severe pain. Today it is widely known which dogs carried the disease and respectable breeders do not use those bloodlines any more. A health study conducted by the Irish Terrier Club of America showed a greater-than-expected incidence of hypothyroidism and cataracts. There are not enough eye-checked individuals to draw any conclusions.
Irish Terrier Temperament
The temperament of the Irish Terrier reflects his early background: he was family
pet, guard dog, and hunter. He is good tempered, spirited and game. It is of the
utmost importance that the Irish Terrier show fire and animation. There is a heedless,
reckless pluck about the Irish Terrier which is characteristic, and which, coupled
with the headlong dash, blind to all consequences, with which he rushes at his
adversary, has earned for the breed the proud epithet of "Daredevil."
He is of good temper, most affectionate, and absolutely loyal to mankind. Tender
and forebearing with those he loves, this rugged, stout-hearted terrier will guard
his master, his mistress and children with utter contempt for danger or hurt.
His life is one continuous and eager offering of loyal and faithful companionship
and devotion. He is ever on guard, and stands between his home and all that threatensDid You Know?
- In World War I the Irish Terrier was used as a messenger and sentinel.
- The Irish terrier is the raciest member of the terrier group, with a longer body and longer legs than the other terriers.
- Early Irish terriers came in a variety of colors, including black and tan, gray and bridle; only near the end of the 19th century did the solid red color become a fixture of the breed.
- The Irish Terrier is one of the oldest of the terrier breeds.
- First record of the Irish Terrier being shown as a recognized breed dates back to 1875 in Glasgow, Scotland.
- The Irish Terrier has the distinction of being the only all-red terrier.
Irish Terrier History
The Irish Terrier had been established in his native country and elsewhere and truly bred long before entering the show ring. His origin has been much debated, but there is indisputable evidence that he is one of the oldest of the terrier breeds. In his beautiful red jacket, alert and trim, his piercing eyes reflecting a rare intelligence, he is a gallant picture of authentic terrier type and character.
The first record of an Irish Terrier being shown as a recognized breed dates back to 1875 when a class was held for it at a show in Glasgow In 1879, Champion "Erin" and "Killney Boy" appeared. They were bred and their progeny included a remarkable number of champions, establishing their place in Irish Terrier history as the "mother and father" of the breed. In the 1880’s, the Irish Terrier was the fourth most popular breed in England.
The Irish Terrier is an incomparable pal, and the loyal, unyielding protector of those he loves. None is hardier or more adaptable. He is equally at home on the country estate, in the city apartment, or in camp; he thrives in the northland or in the tropics. He is the interested playmate and protector of children, eager to join in their fun and frolic. In their service, as in his master’s, he challenges whatever may menace. He is a born guardsman.
The Irish Terrier is an accomplished sportsman. In this country he will catch and kill woodchucks and other small game, and rates with any dog in hunting rabbits. He is death on vermin. A natural water dog, and not apt to be gun-shy, he may be trained to retrieve in water as well as on land. Indeed, the Irish Terrier has many of the sporting gifts and talents of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the Beagle, and the Spaniel. He has hunted big game successfully in the far north and in the tropics.
As a show dog, the Irish Terrier’s style and deportment are peculiarly his own. In competition he is an impressive picture of intrepid terrier character. He has been styled "the D’Artagnan of the show ring.
Irish Terrier Suggested Food Choices
- Terrier Dog Formula - (Airedale Terrier, Irish Terrier, Scottish Terrier, etc): "Formulated to meet the needs of the terrier group and maximize the benefit of good nutrition in every part of the body, including liver and gastrointestinal health. Liver disorders (copper storage disease), various disorders of the skin and coat, cataracts and other oxidative eye conditions are common disorders among the Terrier Group."
- Pro Plan™ Beef and Rice Formula - Optimal protein to fat ratios.
Ingredients: 17.6 mg/kg (ppm) Copper. Beef, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, whole grain wheat, beef tallow preserved with mixed-tocopherols (Vitamin E)...
Irish Terrier Pics
Irish Terrier Videos
AKC Registered Breeders
Irish Terrier
Parent Club: Irish Terrier Club of America
Breeder Referral: Debbie Rybacki; CST (630) 420-2271
Breeder Directory: website
Regional Clubs: website
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