Irish Terrier

The Irish terrier has a few things going for it that make this breed unique. It’s the only terrier with a red coat and it’s one of the oldest terrier breeds in the world. The Irish terrier is an energetic and loyal dog with a wide streak of protectiveness towards its family and a mistrust of strangers, as a well a s jealousy and distrust of other Irish terriers, especially those of the same gender. In fact the Irish terrier was bred not only to be a ratter, like many terriers are, but also a guard dog. This dog is also very intelligent, making it great for training in all manner of activities, such as obedience and agility. Irish terriers also make great ‘therapy dogs’ because they have plenty of energy to give to people wanting to walk and lead a more active lifestyle, but they are also protective. They can be trusted around children as playmates and guardians, but they don’t play well with other animals and must be stringently socialized to tolerate other dogs in particular.

Irish Terriers are Hypo-Allergenic

Irish terriers are the only terrier breed with a red coat, though the shade of red can vary from red to golden red and sometimes there’s a white chest patch. Their coat is hard and wiry, making it necessary to comb, but not to wash.

Iris terriers do require someone willing to walk them daily and better still able to play outdoors games with them. They can live in smaller quarters like apartments, especially since they are hypo-allergenic, but they’ll do best if they can run around and play. If you are considering this dog for your family, make sure you have time to give to playing and training your pet and in return, you’ll have a wonderful family dog and guard dog.