St. Patrick’s Day is a day that seems to change everyone’s nationality to Irish for at least 24 hours each year.
Instead of looking at the history of St. Patrick, we’ve decided to look at the history of man’s best Irish friend, the dog.
We will be especially looking at Irish dog breeds, giving some information about the history of the breeds and some of their colourful characteristics.
Many of the breeds are seen as extremely rare so see can you spot any of these in your local parade!
From the very obviously named setters and wolfhounds, Ireland has produced quite several different dog breeds throughout the years.
Here is a list of just a few of them and their characteristics.
Irish Dog Breeds
Irish Setter
The first dog breed we’re going to look at is the Irish Setter. The colour most associated with Ireland is green,
However, the Setter has lovely reddish maroon coloured hair.
The Irish Setter is a very affectionate breed of dog and they tend to need a lot of attention to keep them happy. They have a very high activity level and need a lot of exercise to keep them from getting bored.
They make great companion dogs and are often highlighted for their very caring nature with children.
A very sensitive dog, they do not take well to strict discipline or rough handling.
The popularity of the Irish Setter rose massively in the 1960s and 70’s when a film named Big Red was released, prompting everyone to go out and buy one, including President Richard Nixon in the Whitehouse in the U.S.!
The Kerry Blue Terrier
The Kerry Blue Terrier causes a bit of controversy with where it originated from. As the name suggests, Kerry has been given the benefit of the doubt on its original location.
However, many say that it came from Tipperary. According to a certain legend, the Blue terrier came to life after a Russian ship wrecked in Tralee Bay and a Blue-Coated dog is all that paddled its way to shore.
The locals were so impressed by the survival instincts and the beauty of the dog that it was mated with all the local females wheaten terriers in Kerry. Of course, this is only a legend, so no one knows the exact origin of the Kerry Blue Terrier.
The breed has a very distinctive colour and texture of its hair. They are known for being very intelligent and brave and once shown love and affection, they will become a great loyal family pet.
Offspring of the breed are often born with black hair which slowly changes in colour as the dog matures and becomes the iconic blue at about 18 months of age.
They need a great deal of attention, with high levels of exercise required and almost daily grooming to keep their hair in check.
Irish Terrier
Next up on our list of Irish dogs is the Irish Terrier. The history of the breed remains unknown although some people believe it has its origins going back over two thousand years.
The Irish Terrier is a medium-sized dog breed that is known for its mischievous ways.
They are a handful for even the most advanced dog owner, they are extremely energetic and will take as much exercise as you can throw their way.
They have a very aggressive nature and will almost chase anything that moves, which can be very harmful to themselves and other small animals. More suited to very active families, the
Irish Terrier requires a lot of work to keep them happy. If trained from an early age, they can make a great watchdog as they generally bark if anything new comes into their line of sight.
They make an excellent people dog however and are best suited to families who have at least one person home during the day to keep the dog company.
They are happy to relax indoors with people and are not overly active inside, but require lots of outdoor walking to fulfill their needs.
The Irish Terrier has excellent hunting skills and a strong desire to seek out and destroy anything that moves, so a fenced area and leashed walks are necessary for their safety.
Irish Wolfhound
The Irish Wolfhound is credited with being one of the tallest dog breeds in the world. The breed was originally used in wars to drag men off horses or chariots.
Due to the size of the Irish Wolfhound, they were also used to hunt larger animals such as deer, boar, or wolves. Nowadays, they make great family pets that are very adaptable, obedient, and well-tempered dogs.
They have an excellent kind nature which means they are great for families with children. They tend to see all humans the same and as such are not considered to be bright dogs, so do not count on them being a good watchdog.
A rapidly growing dog, they reach full maturity and height after about 2 years. They require high-quality food and daily walks for their continued growth.
They are a relatively easy breed to train and should be trained from a young age with firm but gentle commands.
The breed almost became extinct in the mid-1800s but Captain George Augustus brought the Irish Wolfhound back from extinction by crossbreeding the wolfhound with Deerhounds, Great Danes, and Mastiffs.
Irish Water Spaniel
The Irish Water Spaniel is one of the oldest and most rare dogs still in existence today. It is often mistaken for being a large poodle because of the curly hair located on its body.
The exact history of where the breed came from remains a mystery. It is thought that the breed evolved from dogs that originated in Persia.
The most interesting feature of the breed is their unique tail, often called a “whip” or a rat’s tail. The breed is the largest of the spaniel family.
The Irish Water Spaniel is known for its intelligence and devotion to its owner. They are very willing to please their owner and will do almost anything you ask of them.
They are extremely loving dogs that make great family pets.
The breed is highly energetic and requires plenty of daily activity to keep them from creating their activities which can often result in mischief.
The dense and heavy coat means they require grooming regularly. The breed loves to swim and comes equipped with webbed feet which are unusual for a dog breed, mainly where they get their name.
The Irish water spaniel is also the largest of spaniels, weighing, on average, between 55 and 65 pounds.
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Like many other dog breeds, the exact origins of the Glen of Imaal Terrier are unknown. However, the name comes from a Glen which is located in County Wicklow.
The breed was originally developed to be a multi-purpose hunter, hunting foxes, and badgers and to get rid of rodents.
The breed was also used in organized dog fights due to its highly spirited nature and its tenacious spirit.
The Glen of Imaal makes great watchdogs due to their ability to spot almost any movement. This can sometimes get them into trouble though, with their instincts kicking in meaning they will chase almost anything.
They also love to dig, so must be either tied or penned in when left in your garden or expect your flower beds to be dug up when you return.
They have a very affectionate nature and are considered to be a very intelligent breed. They share all the common traits of that their cousin the terrier, which is something to be aware of if you want to breed this dog.
These are just several Irish breeds still found on these shores. Some are quite rare, while others are very common.
If you have more questions, reach out to our nearest petworld store or call us now