How to Identify an Irish Terrier

Irish Terriers originated in Ireland and are known for being able to do a wide variety of different jobs on the farm, including guarding their family and the flock, being a watchdog, and being a companion for hunting. [1] They have a few characteristics that are similar to other breeds, along with several unique ones. This wikiHow will help you figure out whether or not a dog is an Irish Terrier.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Taking Note of the Body Structure

  1. Irish Terriers are usually 18 inches (46 cm) tall. Males typically weight 27 pounds (12 kg), while females generally weigh 25 pounds (11 kg). [2]
  2. Irish Terriers should have a head that is of a long length yet still in good proportion with their body. Their skull should be flat and quite narrow between their ears, with a little narrowing towards the dog's eyes. [3]
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  3. Irish Terriers have ears in the shape of a v that are small in size and fairly thick. They should be set well on the dog's head and drop forward, closely towards the eye's outer corner. The top of the dog's ear, which is folded, should be quite above the skull's level. [4]
  4. Irish Terriers have dark brown-colored eyes that are small in size. They should also not be prominent. [5]
  5. The stern of an Irish Terrier is typically docked, with around 1/4 of it removed. It is set quite high on the dog, is not curled, and should appear of good substance and strength. You should also notice rough, harsh-feeling hair on the dog's stern. [6]
  6. Overall, Irish Terriers should have a symmetrical, balanced appearance. [7]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Checking the Coat

  1. Irish Terriers should have a coat that is either wheaten, golden red, red-wheaten, or bright red in color. [8]
  2. An Irish Terrier's coat should have a dense, wiry feel. [9]
  3. Overall, the coat of an Irish Terrier should appear broken, yet it should still lie relatively close to the dog's body. The hairs should grow so close together and strong that the skin should barely be visible when you part it with your fingers. You should also notice soft, fine hair growth that is lighter-colored at the outercoat base, forming the undercoat. The coat on the sides of the dog's body is not as harsh as on the dog's quarters and back, yet there is still a lot of it, and it still has a good texture to it. The hair should also not be so long that the dog's body outline is changed. [10]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Looking at Temperament

  1. Irish Terriers are intelligent dogs, and as a result, they are quite trainable. [11]
  2. Irish Terriers are known to have a dominant, take-charge personality, and they'll need consistent, strong training to know who is truly in charge. [12]
  3. Irish Terriers may be aggressive towards other dogs, and they will need frequent socialization from an early age to potentially help curb this. They should not be around rabbits or rodents at all, however. [13]
  4. Irish Terriers like to dig, and they will need supervision whenever they are outside, as well as frequent training to potentially help prevent this behavior. [14]
  5. Irish Terriers are known to bark frequently. While they will bark to let you know if there may be an issue, they may also bark at random times, so, once again, you'll want to train them to curb this. [15]
  6. Irish Terriers do not like to be alone, and rather, they love being around their people. [16]
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      Tips

      • If you would like to know what breed your dog is, consider dog DNA testing. This can help confirm whether or not your dog is an Irish Terrier.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/irish-terrier/
      2. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/irish-terrier/
      3. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/IrishTerrier.pdf
      4. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/IrishTerrier.pdf
      5. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/IrishTerrier.pdf
      6. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/IrishTerrier.pdf
      7. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/IrishTerrier.pdf
      8. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/IrishTerrier.pdf
      9. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/IrishTerrier.pdf
      1. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/IrishTerrier.pdf
      2. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/irish-terrier-temperament/
      3. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/irish-terrier-temperament/
      4. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/irish-terrier-temperament/
      5. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/irish-terrier-temperament/
      6. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/irish-terrier-temperament/
      7. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/irish-terrier-temperament/

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