Plate 154 · British Isles
Irish Terrier
爱尔兰㹴
“The only all-red terrier.”
- Origin
- Ireland
- Country of origin
- The point is a reference position in the country of origin.
- Era
- Old farm type; shown as a breed from the 1870s
- Today
- Companion · Watchdog
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Ireland
A leggy, all-red Irish terrier, an all-purpose farm dog: ratter, watchdog and hunting companion.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Killing vermin, guarding farms and families, and hunting on land and water.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Its origin is unknown; it probably descends from the old black-and-tan terriers. Early dogs came in many colours. According to Wikipedia, the Dublin show of 1873 gave it its own class (the AKC dates the first record of it shown as a recognised breed to Glasgow in 1875), a breed club followed in 1879, and by the 1880s it was among the most popular breeds in Britain and Ireland. In the First World War it served as a messenger and sentinel.
04 · Today
Companion · Watchdog
A spirited companion.
Personality
- Bold
- Dashing
- Tenderhearted
- Loyal
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
- Energetic: several walks a day on lead, or a fenced yard.
- Grooming
- Regular brushing and hand-stripping.
- Training
- Smart and willing but strong-willed; early socialization, as it may not accept other dogs.
Living with one
- Size
- Medium
- Lifespan
- 13–15 years
- Coat
- Dense, wiry broken coat in bright red, golden red or wheaten
Field note
Wikipedia reports that in the 1880s it was the fourth most popular breed in Britain and Ireland.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Terrier Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (Group 3, standard 139), Irish Kennel Club
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Terrier Group, recognized 1885.
AKC registrations: ranked 149 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- Irish Terrier — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/irish-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.
- Irish Terrier — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Terrier
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Unknown origin and early colours, the Dublin show of 1873, the 1879 club, popularity in the 1880s.
- Irish Terrier — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/IRISH-TERRIER-139.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Ireland; Group 3, section "Large and medium sized Terriers"; accepted 1955.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions.
