Irish Terrier: varieties, rules of care and feeding

The Irish Terrier is an amazing dog, whose rustic appearance hides high intelligence, courage and boundless loyalty to its owner. For a great sense of humor, impulsive character and ebullient energy, which literally gushes, he is often called the "red devil" or "sunny dog".

The Irish Terrier is considered to be the oldest terrier breed to be found in Ireland. Unfortunately, it was not possible to establish the exact date and place of the appearance of this amazing breed, since ancient sources in the form of manuscripts give very vague information on this matter. It is only known that the first mentions of representatives of this breed date back to the time of St. Patrick, namely to 432.

As for the ancestors of the Irish Terrier, nothing is known for certain about them, although a couple of versions still exist. According to one of them, the ancestors of the dog are wire-haired terrierswhich were imported from Britain and used as working hunting dogs. The second version says that the ancestor of the terrier is irish wolfhound.

The story is also silent about the "author" of this wonderful breed, whose name is still not known to the general public. The first official mention of the "Irish" dates back to 1875when they first appeared before the audience and members of the jury in Glasgow, Scotland, and a year later they shone in the rings of Brighton.After participating in two major exhibitions, interest in the new breed increased significantly, and in 1879 a breed club was created with headquarters in Dublin, Irish. This contributed to the active development of the breed and made it very popular in a short time not only among hunters, but also among ordinary townspeople.

They had rather massive necks and voluminous muzzles, and their bodies were not athletic at all. In addition, the standard of that time provided for the docking of not only the tail, but also the ears.

At the end of the XIX century. "Irish" were recognized by the English Kennel Club and were equal in rights with representatives of other breeds. However, the latent potential of these intelligent and intelligent dogs was revealed not at exhibitions or hunting, but on the fronts of the First World War. Terriers were used as messengers and sanitary dogs, and also unmistakably found mines, which saved thousands of lives.... Unlike other service breeds, the "Irish" behaved very calmly at the front: they were not afraid of explosions and shots and did not run away from the battlefield.

And although ups and downs from time to time occur with absolutely all breeds, true connoisseurs of the Irish were very concerned about the fading public interest in the "red devils". To turn the tide and attract maximum attention to the breed, in 1933 the owner of a large shopping complex "Oxford Street" Gordon Selfridge came up with an effective marketing ploy. He gave a large-scale presentation of the Irish Terrier breed, which was seen by thousands of people. As expected, interest in dogs increased significantly, the demand for puppies contributed to the expansion of the breeding base in kennels, and the breed continued its development at an active pace.

The first bitch was brought, for which it was not possible to find a dog in the Union, and therefore for mating they had to use a Kerry Blue Terrier and a Welsh Terrier. The purity of the breed in the Soviet space was threatened, which greatly upset European breeders and connoisseurs of the Irish Terrier. However, in the early 50s, thanks to a nursery opened in the Polish People's Republic, the situation was successfully resolved. Its specialists handed over to their Soviet colleagues several purebred males, which were later joined by individuals from the German Democratic Republic.

The situation changed only in 1997, when elite British manufacturers now arrived in Russia. They were actively involved in breeding work, thanks to which the Irish Terrier population of our country began to acquire a more sophisticated look and closer to the strict European standards. Dogs began to receive admissions to international rings and looked pretty good on them.

The breed is currently developing at a normal pace, gaining more and more fans around the world. Over time, the purpose of dogs has also changed. If earlier they were used exclusively for hunting, where the fearless "Irishman" boldly took out otters and badgers from shelter, lifted a flock of ducks into the air and tirelessly chased foxes, roe deer and deer, today the dog is often attracted to serve in the police, where she helps to accurately find drugs.

According to the FCI standard No. 139 dated 04/02/2001, the Irish Terrier belongs to group 3 - "Terriers", to section 1 - "Large and medium-sized terriers" (without working tests) and is used as a universal rural dog, pet, guard a dog with a high indifference to pain and danger, as well as a hunter and a gun dog.

Average height of adults is 42-46 cm, and weight varies from 11.4 kg in bitches to 12.5 kg in males. Let's consider the main characteristics of the representatives of the breed.

• The head of the animal has a flat skull, rather narrow between the ears and tapering even more in the eye area. The transition between the forehead and muzzle is very poorly visible and is visible only in profile.
• The ears are small, V-shaped, set high and hanging over the temples. Moreover, the coat on them is always darker and shorter than on the body.
• The eyes are predominantly dark in color, not too large or bulging. Although sometimes there are individuals with yellow eyes.
• The nose, as well as thin dry lips, always black.
• The jaws are very strong and have a somewhat elongated structure. This allows the animal to have a secure grip, which is quite important for a hunting dog.
• Strong and straight teeth "Irish" are not susceptible to caries, with a tightly closed mouth, the upper incisors slightly overlap the lower ones.
• The neck is set high has an elongated structure, is devoid of suspension and evenly expands towards the shoulders. There is a wool frill on both sides that extends all the way to the ears.
• The back is strong enough smoothly turning into a muscular, slightly raised loin. Moreover, in bitches it can be somewhat longer than in males.
• Rib cage also quite muscular, but does not differ in large volume and width.
• The tail is set high, docked up to 2/3 of the original length and has a hard coat, devoid of dewlap and fringes. In countries that support a ban on docking ears and tails, only dogs with natural tails are allowed for keeping and breeding.
• The limbs of the "Irish" strong and muscular, with powerful hips and strong, rounded legs. Arched fingers end in black claws, and the pads on them are free of cracks and keratinization.
• Irish wool has a wire-like structure and, when adhered to the body, forms a break. Moreover, the hairs are located so close to each other that if you make a parting, then the skin will not be visible. As for the length of the coat, on each part of the body it has its own: in the jaw area, on the sides of the neck and on the front legs, it is longer, but without curls and curls, on the legs and body it is of medium length, and on the head it is very short, barely reaching 0.75 cm. A distinctive feature of the breed is the presence of a beard and mustache, which seem soft and silky, but in fact are as hard as the rest of the coat.
• Irish Terrier color ranges from copper-colored to wheaten, with yellow tints also allowed by the standard, and yellow-red representatives of the breed are not uncommon. All other colors are considered serious deviations and are subject to disqualification. According to the standard, the color of Irish Terriers should be uniform on all parts of the body except for the ears: they are usually one or two shades darker, which makes the dog's appearance even more piquant. White markings on the chest are also allowed.

These include behavioral abnormalities such as excessive shyness or excessive aggressiveness, undershot and undershot mouth, pigmentation of the nose of any color other than black, the presence of horny growths and cracked paw pads, as well as testicles that have not descended into the scrotum.

The classification of "Irish" is made only on one basis - the length and color of the coat. According to this criterion, four types of dogs are distinguished.

• Irish smooth-haired terriers are active, high-legged animals with a strong muscular body and a solid red or wheaten color. The characteristic features of the species are a very coarse coat and a complete absence of chest spots. Dogs are very active and require increased physical activity.Of the positive qualities, one can indicate no shedding, which allows you to keep such a dog in homes where there are allergy sufferers.

• Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers - these are large and very harmoniously folded dogs up to 50 cm in height. Unlike the previous species, the wool of such animals is soft, silky and pleasant to the touch. It is slightly longer than the smooth-haired, slightly curled and evenly covers the dog's body. A characteristic feature of the species are fur-covered eyes, because of which they often watery and require increased attention from the owner.

Moreover, soft-haired pets need daily brushing with special combs. Otherwise, soft hair will quickly roll into tangles, which are almost impossible to comb.

Soft-coated terrier puppies are always born black and only at the age of two acquire a wheaten color. Compared to other Irish Terrier species, these dogs are not aggressive and very obedient. They almost never vote, do not bully at unfamiliar dogs, are very sociable, perfectly trainable and quickly memorize commands.

• Irish Wirehaired Terriers are the owners of a golden-red coarse wool that feels like a wire. It protects the animal well from heat and cold, creating an air gap inside. In addition, such a cover does not allow water to pass through and repels dirt. Dogs practically do not shed and do not smell like a dog, but they need regular plucking and thinning of their hair - trimming.

Dogs very quickly get used to this procedure and do not experience any inconvenience in this regard. Trimming noticeably improves the condition of the skin and coat, so it should be done fairly regularly. Unlike wheaten terriers, the coat of the wire-haired representatives of the breed is not prone to curliness and waviness.

• Irish Blue Terriers, unlike their red-haired counterparts, have thick wavy gray or steel-colored wool. The paws and ears of animals are often black, and the beard is much longer than that of red dogs. Blue Terriers are distinguished by excellent protective and protective qualities and temperament of real fighters.

Irish Terriers are quite impulsive in nature and can be hot-tempered and aggressive with unfamiliar dogs. Due to emotional incontinence, the "Irish" have firmly established a reputation as squabblers and brawlers who are not averse to clarifying relations even at exhibitions. However, such a reaction does not apply to a person. Cynologists and breeders of the breed note that terriers are very versatile in character and can harmoniously combine the features of an exemplary hard worker, a mischievous clown and a reliable watchman.

A dog can be ferocious, and after a minute - unusually affectionate, can amuse others with his tricks, and immediately be offended if they laugh at her, can love to swim, but cannot stand walks in the rain.

Despite the contradictory nature, Irish Terriers have a subtle sense of the owner's mood and have a high intelligence... Dogs perfectly understand intonation, know the meaning of a large number of words, have an excellent memory and are perfectly oriented on the terrain. At the same time, young individuals are not averse to playing a little hooliganby pulling a sausage off the table or turning the contents of the cabinet over. They especially have fun in the absence of their owners: gnawed legs of chairs and spoiled shoes are invariable attributes of these mischievous and agile dogs growing up.

In the apartment, in the presence of the owners, the dog behaves quite calmly, but as soon as the owner invites her for a jog or a bike ride, the “Irishman” becomes unrecognizable: the dog, sporty by nature, begins to cut circles, have fun and enjoy the joint pastime and freedom. As for the attitude towards children, then the dog responds with pleasure to outdoor games and fun, but only with those children with whom he grew up or is just familiar... He can even tolerate an accidentally pinched paw or twitching by the tail.

"Irish" are distinguished by good health and are practically not susceptible to genetic diseases. Due to their low weight, dogs very rarely suffer from such a common canine ailment as hip dysplasia and are not allergic to food. Due to the high resistance of the terrier to various kinds of diseases, they are often compared to mongrels: dogs have a strong musculoskeletal system and good immunity. Among the pathologies encountered among the "Irish" hypothyroidism, von Willebrand-Diana disease and hyperkeratosis.

The best option for keeping the "Irishman" is a country house with a spacious plot. A prerequisite is the presence of a fence with a height of at least 2 m. This requirement is due to the excellent jumping ability of the pet, which can easily overcome a one and a half meter fence.

However, the dog gets used to living conditions rather quickly, the main thing is not to be lazy to walk with him for several hours a day. The only thing that should not be done under any circumstances is to put the "Irishman" on a chain. Not being able to fully move and being in a confined space, the dog will become very angry and become uncontrollable.

It is enough to trim the dog regularly, and brush soft-haired individuals daily. For trimming, it's best to contact a groomer rather than plucking yourself. Unlike a haircut, this is a rather complex and specific process, which even takes 5-6 hours even for an experienced master. If you decide to pinch yourself, then it is better to resort to the help of a trimming scheme, which clearly shows the sequence of the procedure and rules for plucking wool in certain areas of the body.

Hair growing in the ear canals must be plucked out, thereby ensuring air circulation. The trimming procedure is repeated every 6 months, and in show dogs every 1.5-2. Before plucking, the wool is washed, combed well and gets rid of tangles.

Bathing the Irish» as needed with a special shampoo for rough-haired dogs. The eyes and ears are examined daily, removing the discharge with a damp swab. Claws are cut with a nail clipper at least once every 1.5 months, and teeth are cleaned weekly, using dog paste and a brush attachment on the finger.

When compiling a diet for the Irish Terrier, you should be aware that 70% of the total food should be foods rich in protein. An adult dog should be fed 2 times a day, and in the first half of the day, the portion should be slightly larger than in the second. Puppies up to 3 months old are fed 5-6 times a day, babies 4-6 months old - 3-4 times a day, from 7 months of age terriers are transferred to 2 meals a day.

With a natural diet, half of the portion should be lean meat or offal, and the rest should be porridge (buckwheat, rice or pearl barley) and vegetables, flavored with a spoonful of vegetable oil.

From fermented milk products to terriers you can give cottage cheese and sour cream with a low percentage of fat. Bone meal, fish oil and vitamin and mineral preparations should be used as an additive to natural nutrition.

If you decide to feed the "Irishman" with industrial food, then any premium-class composition is suitable, in which all the substances necessary for the dog's body are in the right amount and acceptable combinations.

The Irish have an impressive training ability, but they are not suitable for everyone as a first dog. This is due to the fact that standard classes are not suitable for them: these dogs will train only if they are very interested in this process and want to do it themselves. Therefore, the upbringing of terriers should be carried out in a playful way and rely on the natural curiosity of the pet.

The main thing in this business is not to flirt and not turn the relationship with the dog into familiarity. Terriers are prone to leadership and will not mind fighting for it with the owner.

Terriers show excellent results not only in OKD, but also in search and rescue and protective guard courses. In addition, with the "Irish" you can practice coursing, skijoring, dog-frisbee and agility, as well as train them on the trail of blood and teach them how to fish out of a pond and pick up a padded bird.

However, whatever type of activity the dog is trained in, it is better that the lessons are individual. In group training, the "Irish" often do not show any results at all, while in a personal approach they grasp everything quite quickly.

In general, Irish Terrier owners speak very well of the breed. However, many of them note some problems in the upbringing of adolescent dogs, which consist in the pet's desire to establish leadership over the owner. Puppies, looking into the eyes of the owner, begin to do forbidden things, and neither slaps nor shouts help at all. By 7-8 months, or even a year, most of them calm down and establish warm, trusting relationships with the owner. Mentioned in the reviews and about the "spreading of apartments", which arrange pets in anticipation of the owners: they gnaw shoes, spoil the legs of furniture and gnaw wallpaper.

Many owners blame the dog behaving like a vacuum cleaner while walking, picking up everything edible and inedible on its way. However, by the year this habit disappears and no longer bothers the owners. Of the positive qualities, a sharp mind, intelligence and the ability of a pet to adapt to the mood of the owner are noted. It also speaks of guarding qualities and the boundless loyalty of the "Irishman".

For the Irish Terrier, see below.