Dashing
Daredevil
The spirited and steadfast Irish Terrier
rewards those who earn his loyalty.
By Keith Bush
Two Irish Terriers dug furiously near a fence, driven by a primal urge. Pam Harris of Peaback, N.J., watched the pair work together, the stronger male opening a hole and then relinquishing it to the smaller female, who could burrow farther, while he listened for sounds of rodent movement before opening a new entrance.
Suddenly, the occupant, a field mouse, made his move.
“He made the biggest broad jump a mouse can make, flying 3 feet up and 3 feet forward to leap through a hole in the fence,” says Harris, newsletter editor for the Irish Terrier Club of America. “He took the Irish by surprise, but they were at the fence by the time the mouse landed on the other side. They stood at the fence for a few seconds pondering how he got away. Then they were off in a flash to another corner of the yard in search of some new adventure.”
Intelligence, drive, and high spirits distinguish the Irish Terrier, which served Irish farmers as companions, hunters, and guardians. Irish Terriers appeared at a Dublin dog show in 1873, and the first breed club formed in 1879. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1885 and the Irish Terrier Club of America came together in 1897. Irish Terriers carried messages in combat zones in World War I.
“They are highly sensitive dogs of fine mettle, and those of us who respect and admire the finer qualities of mind will find them amply reflected in these Terriers,” wrote Col. E.H. Richardson, commander of the British War Dog School. “They are extraordinarily intelligent, faithful and honest, and a man who has one of them will never lack a true friend."
Special dogs for special people
Not everyone can be a true friend to an Irish Terrier, according to Nan Bruner of Piney Flats, Tenn.“They’re high-maintenance,” says Bruner, chairperson of the Irish Terrier Rescue Organization.
The Irish Terrier’s dapper looks don’t come easily. For several weeks during the first year, owners glue the tips of the dog’s ears to the top of the head while the cartilage develops. Although responsible breeders provide guidance, this process demands commitment and diligence from the owners.
Also, the coat requires hand-stripping to maintain its wiry texture. Clipping will make it more likely to mat and, since pigment concentrates in the tips, can transform fiery red hair into a dull, wheat-colored coat.
Shaping behavior requires effort, as well.
“They require a lot of time initially to make the puppy become a good citizen,” Bruner says. She recommends puppy socialization, obedience classes, and crate training, and admonishes owners to keep their Irish Terriers on leashes when out.
“They don’t necessarily love you or respect you until they’ve gotten to know you,” Bruner says. “If they decide they don’t respect you, you’ve got a problem.”
Irish Terrier owners should not expect unfailing obedience, however, and must have a sense of humor, says ITCA president Marianne Kehoe, of Plainfield, N.J. They also need to include their Irish Terriers in family activities.
“If you do not have the time to spend with your IT, do not get one,” Kehoe says. “These dogs thrive on love and attention and they do not do well without it.
The AKC registered only 303 Irish Terriers in 2002, but to a select group of fanciers, the breed’s rare qualities justify any extra effort.
“He does not throw away his priceless devotion and loyalty on every stranger who may chirp to him,” wrote author and Collie breeder Albert Payson Terhune. “But to the death, he is the comrade, protector, and exuberant playmate and sympathizing comforter of the human who has won his heart and respect. He is an Irish gentleman from the deathless old school, a fiery gentleman from the tips of his braced toes to the rough hatch of his crown.” 