Information on AKC Irish Terrier Puppies
AKC MEET THE BREEDS®: Irish Terrier
The Irish Terrier sports a beautiful red coat, an alert expression and trim outline with piercing eyes that reflect a rare intelligence. He is a gallant picture of authentic terrier type and character. The breed is good tempered, spirited and game. The breed’s coat is short and wiry in texture.
A Look Back
His origin has been much debated, but there is indisputable evidence that he is one of the oldest of the terrier breeds. Early Irish Terriers came in a variety of colors, including black and tan, gray, and brindle. It was only near the end of the 19th century that the solid red color become a fixture of the breed. In World War I the Irish Terrier was used as a messenger and sentinel.
Right Breed for You?
The Irish Terrier is a smart, quick dog that quickly adapts to new situations. He’ll guard his home and family members with determination and pluck. This breed is great with children when raised with them and is deeply loyal to his owner. Pups require firm boundaries so they will grow into respectful adults.
If you are considering purchasing an Irish Terrier puppy, learn more here.
- Terrier Group; AKC recognized in 1885.
- Average size: 18 inches tall at the shoulder and approximately 25-27 pounds.
- Vermin hunter; farm dog.
© The American Kennel Club, Inc.
Irish Terrier Breed Standard
Head
Long, but in nice proportion to the rest of the body; the skull flat, rather
narrow between the ears, and narrowing slightly toward the eyes; free from
wrinkle, with the stop hardly noticeable except in profile. The jaws must
be strong and muscular, but not too full in the cheek, and of good punishing
length. The foreface must not fall away appreciably between or below the
eyes; instead, the modeling should be delicate. An exaggerated foreface,
or a noticeably short foreface, disturbs the proper balance of the head
and is not desirable. The foreface and the skull from occiput to stop should
be approximately equal in length. Excessive muscular development of the
cheeks, or bony development of the temples, conditions which are described
by the fancier as "cheeky," or "strong in head," or
"thick in skull" are objectionable. The "bumpy" head,
in which the skull presents two lumps of bony structure above the eyes,
is to be faulted. The hair on the upper and lower jaws should be
similar in quality and texture to that on the body, and of sufficient length
to present an appearance of additional strength and finish to the foreface.
Either the profuse, goat-like beard, or the absence of beard, is unsightly
and undesirable.
Teeth
Should be strong and even, white and sound; and neither overshot nor undershot.
Lips
Should be close and well-fitting, almost black in color.
Nose
Must be black.
Eyes
Dark brown in color; small, not prominent; full of life, fire and intelligence,
showing an intense expression. The light or yellow eye is most objectionable,
and is a bad fault.
Ears
Small and V-shaped; of moderate thickness; set well on the head, and dropping
forward closely toward the outside corner of the eye. The top of the folded ear
should be well above the level of the skull. A "dead" ear, hound-like
in appearance, must be severely penalized. It is not characteristic of the Irish
Terrier. The hair should be much shorter and somewhat darker in color than that
on the body.
Neck
Should be of fair length and gradually widening toward the shoulders; well and
proudly carried, and free from throatiness. Generally there is a slight frill
in the hair at each side of the neck, extending almost to the corner of the ear.
Shoulders and Chest
Shoulders must be fine, long, and sloping well into the back. The chest should
be deep and muscular, but neither full nor wide.
Body
The body should be moderately long. The short back is not characteristic of the
Irish Terrier, and is extremely objectionable. The back must be strong and straight,
and free from an appearance of slackness or "dip" behind the shoulders.
The loin should be strong and muscular, and slightly arched, the ribs fairly sprung,
deep rather than round, reaching to the level of the elbow. The bitch may be slightly
longer than the dog.
Hindquarters
Should be strong and muscular; thighs powerful; hocks near the ground; stifles
moderately bent.
Stern
Should be docked, taking off about one quarter. It should be set on rather high,
but not curled. It should be of good strength and substance; of fair length and
well covered with harsh, rough hair.
Feet and Legs
The feet should be strong, tolerably round, and moderately small; toes arched
and turned neither out nor in, with dark toenails. The pads should be deep, and
must be perfectly sound and free from corns. Cracks alone do not necessarily indicate
unsound feet. In fact, all breeds have cracked pads occasionally, from various
causes.
Legs moderately long, well set from the shoulders, perfectly straight, with plenty
of bone and muscle; the elbows working clear of the sides; pasterns short, straight,
and hardly noticeable. Both fore and hind legs should move straight forward when
traveling; the stifles should not turn outward. "Cowhocks"--that is,
the hocks turned in and the feet turned out--are intolerable. The legs should
be free from feather and covered with hair of similar texture to that on the body
to give proper finish to the dog.
Coat
Should be dense and wiry in texture, rich in quality, having a broken appearance,
but still lying fairly close to the body, the hairs growing so closely and strongly
together that when parted with the fingers the skin is hardly visible; free of
softness or silkiness, and not so long as to alter the outline of the body, particularly
in the hindquarters. On the sides of the body the coat is never as harsh as on
the back and quarters, but it should be plentiful and of good texture. At the
base of the stiff outer coat there should be a growth of finer and softer hair,
lighter in color, termed the undercoat. Single coats, which are without any undercoat,
and wavy coats are undesirable; the curly and the kinky coats are most objectionable.
Color
Should be whole-colored: bright red, golden red, red wheaten, or wheaten. A small
patch of white on the chest, frequently encountered in all whole-colored breeds,
is permissible but not desirable. White on any other part of the body is most
objectionable. Puppies sometimes have black hair at birth, which should disappear
before they are full grown.
Size
The most desirable weight in show condition is 27 pounds for the dog and 25 pounds
for the bitch. The height at the shoulder should be approximately 18 inches. These
figures serve as a guide to both breeder and judge. In the show ring, however,
the informed judge readily identifies the oversized or undersized Irish Terrier
by its conformation and general appearance. Weight is not the last word in judgment.
It is of the greatest importance to select, insofar as possible, terriers of moderate
and generally accepted size, possessing the other various characteristics.
General Appearance
The over-all appearance of the Irish Terrier is important. In conformation he
must be more than a sum of his parts. He must be all-of-a piece, a balanced vital
picture of symmetry, proportion and harmony. Furthermore, he must convey character.
This terrier must be active, lithe and wiry in movement, with great animation;
sturdy and strong in substance and bone structure, but at the same time free from
clumsiness, for speed, power and endurance are most essential. The Irish Terrier
must be neither "cobby" nor "cloddy," but should be built
on lines of speed with a graceful, racing outline.
Temperament
The temperament of the Irish Terrier reflects his early background: he was family
pet, guard dog, and hunter. He is good tempered, spirited and game. It is of the
utmost importance that the Irish Terrier show fire and animation. There is a heedless,
reckless pluck about the Irish Terrier which is characteristic, and which, coupled
with the headlong dash, blind to all consequences, with which he rushes at his
adversary, has earned for the breed the proud epithet of "Daredevil."
He is of good temper, most affectionate, and absolutely loyal to mankind. Tender
and forebearing with those he loves, this rugged, stout-hearted terrier will guard
his master, his mistress and children with utter contempt for danger or hurt.
His life is one continuous and eager offering of loyal and faithful companionship
and devotion. He is ever on guard, and stands between his home and all that threatens.
Approved December 10, 1968
