9 Irish Dog Breeds from the Emerald Isle

Irish canine breeds had been initially working canine bred to do particular jobs to help folks. From terriers to setters, hounds to spaniels, the Emerald Isle was the birthplace of a handful of particular canine breeds. These native Irish canine breeds are all various kinds of searching canine, falling into three American Kennel Membership teams: Terrier, Sporting, and Hound. Many Irish breeds are nonetheless working canine, whereas others are primarily pets.  

Listed below are 9 native Irish canine breeds and their histories.

  • Glen of Imaal Terrier

    Glen of Imaal Terrier

    The Glen of Imaal terrier was initially used to hunt badgers within the rocky mountain terrain of County Wicklow, Eire. A bit much less feisty than most terriers, Glens are perfect for individuals who like a much less intense canine. Their tough, wiry coat needs to be brushed a couple of times per week to forestall mats. The coat sheds little or no, so some allergy victims discover they will dwell with a Glen of Imaal. Nonetheless, the breed is considerably uncommon within the U.S.

    Breed Overview

    GROUP: Terrier

    HEIGHT: 12.5 to 14 inches

    WEIGHT: 32 to 40 kilos

    TEMPERAMENT: Affectionate, light, daring

    COAT AND COLOR: Medium-length and wiry in blue brindle or wheaten

    ENERGY LEVEL: Average

    LIFE SPAN: 10 to fifteen years

  • Irish Purple and White Setter

    Irish Red and White Setters

    The Irish pink and white setter is expounded to the solid-red Irish setter. Each breeds hunted birds in Eire way back to the 1600s. Many historians consider the Irish pink and white got here first, however the solid-red Irish setter turned extra well-liked with hunters. Much less demand for the Irish pink and white introduced the breed close to extinction, however Irish breeders Within the Twenties got down to save the Irish pink and white. Many years later, the breed was reestablished. In 2009, the American Kennel Membership welcomed the Irish pink and white to the Sporting Group.

    Breed Overview

    GROUP: Sporting

    HEIGHT: 22.5 to 26 inches

    WEIGHT: 35 to 60 kilos

    TEMPERAMENT: Pleasant, clever, energetic, desperate to please

    ENERGY LEVEL: Excessive

    COAT AND COLOR: Medium size with feathering on ears, chest, legs, and tail; pink or copper with white

    LIFE SPAN: 11 to fifteen years

  • Irish Setter

    Irish Setter

    The Irish setter has been a preferred gun canine in Eire because the early 1800s. It’s thought that the Irish pink and white setter was used to create the Irish setter by deciding on canine with extra pink shade till solid-red canine turned standardized. Irish setters had been initially used to find and retrieve birds for hunters, one thing they nonetheless excel at right now.

    Breed Overview

    GROUP: Sporting

    HEIGHT: 25 to 27 inches

    WEIGHT: 60 to 70 kilos

    TEMPERAMENT: Affectionate, clever, athletic, light, sweet-tempered

    ENERGY LEVEL: Excessive

    COAT AND COLOR: Medium size with feathering on ears, chest, legs, and tail; pink or copper

    LIFE SPAN: 12 to fifteen years

  • Irish Terrier

    Irish terrier

    One of many oldest terrier breeds, the Irish terrier was valued in Eire for his or her abilities in searching vermin and guarding the farm. The breed is comparatively uncommon right now, however in 1929, the Irish terrier was the thirteenth hottest AKC-registered breed. The Irish terrier’s dense, wiry coat sheds little or no, so some folks with canine allergic reactions can dwell comfortably with them.

    Breed Overview

    GROUP: Terrier

    HEIGHT: 18 to twenty inches

    WEIGHT: 25 to twenty-eight kilos

    PERSONALITY: Clever, energetic, protecting, trainable, dominant, respectful

    COAT: Dense, wiry, damaged, close-lying topcoat, with a superb and tender undercoat

    COAT COLOR: Stable colours which embody vibrant pink, golden pink, pink wheaten, or wheaten

    LIFE SPAN: 13 to fifteen years

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  • Irish Water Spaniel

    Irish Water Spaniel

    The Irish water spaniel was developed in Dublin within the 1860s by a sportsman named Justin McCarthy. His canine Boatswain was the idea for the fashionable Irish water spaniel breed. Right now, the IWS is uncommon, however it was as soon as a preferred searching breed and one of many unique 9 breeds first acknowledged by the AKC in 1884.

    Breed Overview

    GROUP: Sporting

    HEIGHT: 21 to 24 inches

    WEIGHT: 45 to 68 kilos

    TEMPERAMENT: Alert, curious, playful, affectionate, lively

    ENERGY LEVEL: Excessive

    COAT AND COLOR: Dense, tight, crisp curls on the physique, and brief and easy on the face with an extended topknot and ears; stable liver (brown)

    LIFE SPAN: 12 to 13 years

  • Irish Wolfhound

    Irish Wolfhound

    The Irish wolfhound is the tallest of all canine breeds and likewise one of many largest canine breeds. Mentions of the ancestors of the majestic Irish wolfhound might be present in literature courting way back to the fifth century Eire. Traditionally, solely Irish noblemen and kings had been permitted to personal Irish wolfhounds, which had been used to hunt elk, boar, and wolves.

    Breed Overview

    GROUP: Hound

    HEIGHT: Not less than 30 inches (feminine), at the very least 32 inches (male)

    WEIGHT: 105 kilos (feminine), 120 kilos (male)

    TEMPERAMENT: Brave, calm, even-tempered

    ENERGY LEVEL: Low

    COAT AND COLOR: Medium-length and wiry in black, blue, brindle, creme, grey, pink, silver, white or wheaten

    LIFE SPAN: 6 to eight years

  • Kerry Blue Terrier

    Kerry Blue Terrier

    The Kerry blue terrier was developed within the mountains of County Kerry, Eire, greater than 100 years in the past. One concept concerning the Kerry blue’s historical past says that as a result of solely the Aristocracy was allowed to hunt with Irish wolfhounds, non-nobles got down to create their very own breed to assist them poach recreation.

    Breed Overview

    GROUP: Terrier

    HEIGHT: 17 to 19 inches

    WEIGHT: 30 to 40 kilos

    TEMPERAMENT: Loyal, alert, attentive, vibrant

    COAT AND COLOR: Quick, tender and wavy coat with no undercoat; blue-gray in shade upon maturing

    LIFE SPAN: 12 to fifteen years

  • Gentle Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    The tender coated wheaten terrier was developed in Eire as a flexible farm canine, able to dispatching rodents, warning of approaching strangers and defending livestock. Right now’s wheaten is extra more likely to be a faithful household pet than rustic farm canine. The wheaten’s coat is completely different from many terriers as a result of it’s tender and silky reasonably than wiry. It sheds little or no, making this breed an excellent candidate for allergy victims. The coat requires day by day brushing to forestall mats, and common skilled grooming. 

    Breed Overview

    GROUP: Terrier

    HEIGHT: 17 to 19 inches

    WEIGHT: 30 to 40 kilos

    TEMPERAMENT: Pleasant, energetic, affectionate

    COAT AND COLOR: Wavy, silky, medium-length coat in wheaten

    ENERGY LEVEL: Medium to excessive

    LIFE SPAN: 12 to 14 years

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  • Kerry Beagle

    kerry beagle dog breed

    One of many oldest breeds native to Eire, the Kerry beagle is a hound breed which may have emerged through the first Celtic settlements. These searching canine have usually been used to pursue stag, however additionally they make wonderful companions for lively households. The Kerry beagle will not be generally seen exterior of its dwelling nation and isn’t acknowledged by the AKC. Nonetheless, the breed possible shares lineage with different hounds, together with the English foxhound and the black and tan coonhound. Though the Kerry beagle will not be straight associated to the beagle, they could have ancestors in frequent.

    Breed Overview

    GROUP: Hound

    HEIGHT: About 22 to 24 inches

    WEIGHT: About 50 to 60 kilos

    TEMPERAMENT: Brave, calm, even-tempered

    ENERGY LEVEL: Low

    COAT AND COLOR: Quick, easy coat in stable black, black and tan, tan and white, tricolor, and mottled blue and tan

    LIFE SPAN: 10 to 14 years

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