Fun Irish Terrier Facts For Kids

The Irish Terrier is deemed to be one of the oldest terrier dog breeds with their origin in Ireland. In 1873, the Irish Terrier was assigned a separate class in the Dublin dog show, and in the 1880s this Irish Terrier dog breed was the fourth most popular breed in England and Ireland.

This breed of dog was once depicted as ' poor man’s sentinel' because of their potential of being a promising watchdog, a fair partner, and training skills.

The Irish Terrier breed is often referred to as 'daredevil' because of their bravery and dedication. This Irish Terrier breed is of medium size with a wiry coat and always ready to protect their family.

The Irish Terrier is considered as one of the ancient breeds and its ancestor might be the black and tan terrier which is extinct now. Soon the popularity of this dog reached the US where it was demonstrated in the Westminster Kennel Club show and in 1885 this breed of dog was registered with the American Kennel Club.

During World War I, the Irish Terriers acted as messengers and sentinels for which they got numerous commendations for their courage and faithfulness.

If you want to know more amazing Irish Terrier information and facts then keep reading this article. You may also like our articles on the Norwich terrier and rat terrier.

Irish Terrier Interesting Facts

What type of animal is an Irish Terrier?

The Irish Terrier is a type of dog.

What class of animal does an Irish Terrier belong to?

This breed of dog belongs to the class of mammals.

How many Irish Terriers are there in the world?

This breed of dog is superabundant hence an accurate number for the Irish Terrier is not specified.

Where does an Irish Terrier live?

They are considered as one of the oldest breeds of dogs and also the descendant of the black and tan Terrier. This terrier breed is native to Ireland and later they became a very famous breed in Britain too and deliberately their popularity reached the United States and they were registered with the American Kennel Club.

Now they are found in various parts of the world because they can adjust to any type of climate.

What is an Irish Terrier's habitat?

The Irish Terrier is known for their adaptability, their red wiry coat helps them to adapt even in cold. They are home pets and they can effortlessly adjust in apartments and homes. As they are a very popular breed of dog they are very common in households because of their adaptive nature hence they generally live with humans.

Who do Irish Terriers live with?

The Irish Terrier temperament makes them an ideal pet and suitable to live with humans. They are extremely intelligent, strong-willed dogs with high energy levels which makes them a great companion for humans but the terrier breeds can be aggressive toward other dogs of the same gender.

How long does an Irish Terrier live?

The life span of this dog is somewhere between 13-15 years. However, like all other dogs, this breed of dog is also vulnerable to various viral and bacterial infections which may cause early death so vaccinations and proper care are very crucial.

How do they reproduce?

Irish Terrier breeds reproduce through copulation. Once the dog hits puberty their estrous cycle begins this phase is often referred to as ‘heat’ in female dogs which may occur twice per year.

During this phase, the female dog and the male dog copulate and the gestation period is usually 58-68 days.

Irish Terriers are often bred with other breeds to get new breeds, for example, Irish Aussie Terrier is a mixed breed of Irish Terrier and Australian Shepherd.

The Irish Troodle is a mixed breed of Irish Terrier and Poodle mix and the Irish Saint Terrier is a mixed breed of Irish Terrier and Saint Bernard mix and the average litter size is four to six puppies.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status is Least Concern as there are no potential threats at present.

Irish Terrier Fun Facts

What do Irish Terriers look like?

Irish Terrier breeds have a rectangular body structure and they are medium-sized, their bodies are proportionately extended than the Fox Terrier.

Another unique feature is their deep chest and small ears which are tucked forward. The coat of an Irish Terrier can vary from bright red, golden red, wheaten, or maybe solid red color.

They are the only breed that comes in various shades of red in the group of Terrier.

Irish Terrier’s coat is dense and wiry which protects them from cold weather and hence they are suitable in all climates.

Unlike the Kerry Blue Terrier, the outer part of their coat is not smooth and silky rather wiry and long but not long enough to hide its posture even the interior part of the coat which is also referred to as ‘undercoat’ must be red.

The small beard point up their chin and their eyes are dark brown with prominently groomed eyebrows as they grow old grey hair may be visible.

Their body is strong and sturdily built as they can be good sports dogs and weigh somewhat around 25–27 lb (11–12 kg).

How cute are they?

The Irish red Terrier is a medium-sized dog covered in fur and always energetic. They develop a unique bond with their dog parent. Their dark brown eyes display the affection they have for their family making them one of the most lovable and cute pets to be with.

How do they communicate?

Just like every other dog, the Irish Terrier barks to communicate. They are highly alert and always active which makes them wonderful watchdogs so they may bark to warn their family.

Other than barking, dogs have various ways to communicate amongst themselves and to their humans. They may circle each other and sniff to greet each other.

To their humans, as they cannot talk, to communicate they may use various body language and signals. However, the bond which develops between a human and its dog is unique and they can comprehend each other even without talking which is purely instinctive.

How big is an Irish Terrier?

The Irish red Terrier is a medium-sized dog that is sort of rectangular in its structure. The male Irish Terrier is somewhat around 17–18 in (43–46 cm) while the female Irish Terrier is 16–18 in (41–46 cm). They are twice the size of Norfolk Terrier.

How fast can an Irish Terrier run?

The Irish Terrier is known for their agility and enthusiastic nature and this is why they were employed as messenger dogs during World War I. The terrier group dogs are always active and the Irish Terrier can run relatively fast with a speed of 22 mph (35.4 kmph).

How much does an Irish Terrier weigh?

The weight of Irish Terriers depends on their gender.

A male Irish Terrier when it is about three months should weigh between 2.1-2.3 lb (4.7-5.1 kg ) and when it is of six months it should weigh about 3.9-4.2 lb (10.9-11.9 kg) and by the time it grows up, it may weigh around 25–27 lb (1–12 kg).

While the female when young may weigh around 2.1-2.3 lb (4.7-5.1 kg) when it is of three months, she can weigh 3.9-4.2 lb (10.9-11.9 kg) when she is of six months, and when she grows up she may weigh around 24–26 lb (11–12 kg).

Both male and female Irish Terrier stops growing after 14 months.

What are their male and female names of the species?

The male Irish Terrier is known as a dog while the female Irish Terrier is known as bitch. No other term has been specified.

What would you call a baby Irish Terrier?

The baby of the Irish Terrier is known as the Irish Terrier puppy. The Irish Terrier Puppies are born after 58-68 days which is the gestation period.

What do they eat?

The Irish Terrier dogs are carnivores and their diet consists of non-vegetarian items including fish, meat, and eggs. These Irish Terriers are mostly home pets, so it is very important to feed them meals that provide them with all the essential dietary supplements.

The meals should be proportionated, there are various dry dog foods widely available in the markets or they can be cooked in the home.

One to two cups of dry dog food of high quality divided into two meals should be provided.

Now, the amount of food given to the dogs should depend on factors like age, size, and metabolism. You have to make sure not to overfeed them, and adequate exercise along with proper diet is essential otherwise it will make the dog overweight.

Are they slobbery?

The amount of drooling is very low in Terrier. An Irish Terrier does not drool much. However, during certain times they may drool a little especially when they see food, but they are not slobbery overall.

Would they make a good pet?

The Irish Terriers can get along with adults and as well as with children. They have a high sense of responsibility and loyalty to the core.

They can be a great companion for a regular stroll as they are always active. They are relatively low maintenance than any other breed and are adaptable even in apartments.

Their coats need to be brushed at least twice and week as they are dense and wiry. They unite the entire household with their high energy level and this is why they make an amazing pet.

Did you know...

Here is some interesting information about the Irish Terrier

The Irish Terrier has been tagged as 'd’Artagnan of the show ring'.

No other Terrier breed has legs and body as long as the Irish Terrier.

They are hypoallergenic.

The Irish Terriers have an excellent sense of smell which can be utilized to trace blood and humans as well.

Rexx from the film ‘Firehouse Dog’ was an Irish Terrier.

Characteristics and health issues

The Irish Terriers have very distinguishing characteristics, and the Irish Terrier temperament can be described as full of energy but they are not hyperactive. They frequently enjoy physical and cognitive challenges, they have the tendency to ace many dog sports if trained properly.

The Irish Terriers are very lenient inside their homes but equally active when they are outside.

Early socialization is very effective in Irish Terriers as this helps them to get along with humans very well. Also, they may turn aggressive toward other dogs of same-gender because of their dominating nature.

The Irish Terriers are also vulnerable to certain health problems which can be inherited. This breed can develop muscular dystrophy but chances are quite low.

Another condition that can affect them is hyperkeratosis also they may develop kidney stones more than any other breed. So it is very crucial to reach out to a vet as soon as any abnormal symptoms are detected.

Getting your own Irish Terrier

This breed is strong-willed and you have to consider various aspects before getting an Irish Terrier.

The puppy may cost approximately $60-$1000 but it is always recommended to adopt an Irish Terrier rescue dog.

The terrier breed is relatively more active than any other breed so they need proper exercise and space to run so it is very important to take them for a stroll regularly they also like to indulge themselves in numerous outdoor activities like playing with a frisbee and swimming.

The Irish Terrier possesses a thick dense coat that needs maintenance and if appropriately groomed they do not even shed very much.

Grooming of their coat is not tedious as they require only two or three grooming sessions each year.

This breed is relatively healthy and very adaptable and infrequently exhibits health issues.

They can be dominating hence early socialization is significant because despite their playful temperament they can be aggressive around other dogs of the same gender and as they are highly alert and active their barking tendencies are higher than any other breed. They are also very social and so do not enjoy being left alone for a long time.

So, before getting your Irish Terrier you have to keep all these things in mind.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including Bedlington terrier, or Cheagle.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Irish Terrier coloring pages.