Irish Terrier

The Irish Terrier is the red daredevil — a long-legged Irish working terrier with an old reputation for fearlessness.

History

It is among the oldest of the terrier breeds and was standardised in Ireland in the 1870s, worked on vermin and as a farm and guard dog. It served as a messenger dog in the First World War, where its handlers wrote about it with unusual warmth; the solid red coat was fixed as the breed standard around the same period.

Temperament

The breed is known for being bold, loyal and affectionate with its own people, notably good with children, and thoroughly ready to take on other dogs — the courage the name trades on is not a marketing line.

Care and training

It needs substantial exercise, a secure garden and consistent training. The harsh red coat needs hand-stripping and sheds very little.

Health

Generally robust and long-lived, with hyperkeratosis of the footpads and cystinuria among the known hereditary conditions. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.