Irish Terrier
A solid red Irish farm terrier that killed vermin and guarded the yard. Unusually warm with people and children, but famously unwilling to back down from another dog.
- Weight
- 11.4–12.3 kg
- Lifespan
- 13–15 years
Weight and lifespan are reference ranges from the breed guide. They vary by sex, lineage and individual dog and do not predict your dog’s ideal weight or lifespan. Read the care descriptions alongside the individual dog’s history.
Background and characteristics
The Irish Terrier was the general-purpose dog of the Irish smallholding: killing vermin, minding stock and guarding the house. It was never specialised into a single task, which shows in a dog that reads situations quickly, adapts readily and does not scare easily. Irish Terriers carried messages between trenches in the First World War and earned a reputation for nerve that the breed still trades on.
The whole-coloured red jacket is the breed's signature, and the outline is longer and racier than most terriers.
Temperament and living together
The temperament has two distinct faces. With people it is genuinely affectionate and notably tolerant of children, which is why it has a long history as a family dog. With other dogs, particularly of the same sex, it does not yield.
An Irish Terrier will rarely start something, but it will finish anything that another dog starts, so dog parks are usually the wrong environment and a multi-dog household needs its sexes and its separation plan thought through in advance. This is a trait to manage rather than train away.
Exercise and play
Exercise runs to an hour or more a day. The long legs give real speed and stamina, and a fit Irish Terrier makes a good running partner. Off-lead freedom in open ground is another matter, since recall evaporates the moment a chase begins.
Training goes well in short, frequent sessions; drilling does not, and the dog will start editing your instructions if it gets bored.
Coat and everyday care
Grooming sits in the middle of the terrier range. The harsh outer coat over a softer undercoat sheds little and needs little shaping. Comb through once or twice a week and hand-strip two or three times a year to keep the red deep and the texture correct.
Clipping softens the coat and dulls the colour over time.
Health considerations
Two health issues are strongly associated with the breed. The first is hyperkeratosis of the footpads, sometimes called corny feet, in which the pads thicken, harden and crack painfully, often starting in young dogs. It is managed rather than cured, with softening treatments and trimming of the excess keratin, so rough or cracked pads should be seen rather than ignored.
The second is cystinuria, a defect in kidney reabsorption that forms bladder stones and can obstruct the urethra in males, which is a surgical emergency. Straining to urinate or producing little urine warrants an immediate vet visit. Hypothyroidism is also reported.
Home environment and care planning
Practically, this is a medium dog that fits most homes, needs a real walk rather than a token one, and asks its owner to be competent about dog-to-dog introductions on a lead.