Irish Terrier Breed Origins and Caracteristics
Description:
The Irish Terrier has a wiry coat and is a dog that was bred for action. This dog is very lively and has a lot of guts. It has a long but proportionately shaped head and its skull is quite narrow and flat, not thick. The jaws of this dog are strong, have a good size length and should not look overloaded. The coat of this dog should be thick and wiry and should have a broken look to it, it has a beard but it should not look exaggerated. The neck should have a good length; its shoulders are long; the body is moderately long and its back should not be too short, it should look straight and strong and should not sink inwards. The legs have a moderate length and should be straight with good bone structure and its hocks should be close to the ground. The tail is usually docked but find out first about the laws in the country you live in concerning this procedure. The color of this dog must be uniform and can be bright red or tawny red; some of them also have a white spot on their chests. The ideal size for this dog is a moderate one; it should weigh around thirteen and a half kilograms in the case of the males, and females should weigh around twelve and a half kilograms. Its ideal height is forty-six centimeters.
Ideal owner:
Since this dog is a Terrier you could say that it is a fearless dog and very daring. This dog is not so common as a companion dog or s a show dog, however it can be used as one. It is a very functional dog and is has the ability to get rid of pests like no other. It is very loyal and devoted to its owners and loves being involved in a family unit. It likes to dig by nature and can be quite loud at times.
Growth:
At birth this dog's weight is around 225 grams. It has a pretty steady growth and there shouldn't be any complications along the way. The spurs are cut and if the tail is to be docked, it should be done after four days of birth. The way it carries its ears is very important in the standard breed and it is possible that the owner will have to "stick" them together so that they stay in their right place until the puppy is around one year old. Talk to your veterinarian about helping it get the right ear position.
General health:
The great thing about the Irish Terrier is that it is a dog that does not have a lot of health problems and not much has been documented. The main concern breeders have with this dog is its skin, however regular grooming and brushing can help to control skin problems. Make sure to not over bathe this dog since this will irritate its skin. In the case of the males kidney stones has been seen and it cause the dog to have pain when it urinates, this should be a clear indicator of the problem. The Terrier family is in general prone to adrenal tumors but it has not been seen in the case of Irish Terriers. This dog does well in all types of climates and it requires a lot of exercise. Firm and constant training are a must in this breed and more so in the case of the males. The males are by nature more aggressive with other males.
