Plate 146 · British Isles
Glen of Imaal Terrier
峡谷㹴
“A quiet terrier from a Wicklow glen.”
- Origin
- Ireland
- Glen of Imaal, County Wicklow
- Region of origin
- From the Glen of Imaal in the Wicklow Mountains; the marker is County Wicklow's reference point.
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- Centuries old; recognized in Ireland 1934
- Today
- Companion · Earthdog
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Glen of Imaal, County Wicklow
A low, sturdy, unusually quiet Irish terrier from the Wicklow Mountains.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Hunting vermin and badgers, and other farm work; some say it also turned kitchen spits.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Kept for generations by farmers in a remote glen, it was recognized by the Irish Kennel Club in 1934 and by the UK Kennel Club in 1975. It is reported to have nearly died out before a 20th-century revival.
04 · Today
Companion · Earthdog
A companion and earthdog.
Personality
- Spirited
- Gentle
- Bold
- Quiet
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Moderate; with slightly bowed front legs, puppies should not be pushed into long walks.
- Grooming
- Weekly brushing and stripping two or three times a year.
- Training
- Smart and trainable, but a terrier: sometimes stubborn, keen on small animals.
Living with one
- Size
- Small
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years
- Coat
- Medium-length, harsh double coat; wheaten, blue or brindle
Field note
It was the third of Ireland's four native terriers to be recognized by the Irish Kennel Club.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Terrier Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (Group 3, standard 302), Irish Kennel Club
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Terrier Group, recognized 2004.
In the 2010s it was reported on the UK Kennel Club's list of Vulnerable Native Breeds. AKC registrations: ranked 165 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- Glen of Imaal Terrier — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/glen-of-imaal-terrier/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Glen of Imaal Terrier — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_of_Imaal_Terrier
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · County Wicklow origin, Irish (1934) and AKC (2004) recognition, near extinction, global population estimate, Vulnerable Native Breed status.
- Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/IRISH-GLEN-OF-IMAAL-TERRIER-302.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Ireland; Group 3, section "Large and medium sized Terriers"; accepted 1975.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: From the Glen of Imaal in the Wicklow Mountains; the marker is County Wicklow's reference point.