Glen of Imaal Terrier

Active, agile and silent when working. Game and spirited with great courage when called upon, otherwise gentle and docile, who oozes personality; his loyal and affectionate nature makes him a very acceptable house dog and companion. The Irish Glen of Imaal is said to be less easily excited than other terriers, though he is always ready to give chase when called on.

Like many dogs in the Terrier group, not really appreciated by gentlemen sportsmen before the middle of the 19th century, the Irish Glen of Imaal is an old breed which was simply ignored for a long time, rather than the result of later breed experiments. He is very much a local dog, confined to the bleak area of the Glen of Imaal. The farmers of this area, who were descended from soldiers given land in the 16th and 17th centuries as payment for service rendered to the British Crown, had to utilize their natural cunning an dexterity to survive in this harsh terrain. A dog, who could not pull his weight in the day-to-day struggle for existence would not be tolerated. So he had to spend long hours propelling dog wheels and was often pitted against other dogs in the dubious sport of dog fighting, customs now disappeared. Before the Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier became known at dog shows, he had evolved through generations of hard work into the strong sturdy dog we know today. The Irish Kennel Club gave official recognition to the breed in 1934 and a club to promote its interests was soon formed.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier breed is suitable for both apartment and rural living. They enjoy daily walks but must always be securely leashed. They also enjoy free play in a securely fenced yard. However, the Glen of Imaal Terrier is prone to digging, so fencing must be buried deeply underground. They make excellent travel companions as they enjoy going for car rides.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier is quite easy to groom. Bi-yearly stripping of the coat is required. The paw pads should be kept trimmed and the excess hair in the ears plucked out regularly. Due to the rarity of this breed and limited intervention of breeders, this breed has no known health issues.

It is a dog which is easy to train even if it is sometimes stubborn and dominant. The training must be consistent and should be mixed the training exercises with play.

The fur must be trimmed twice a year for not getting tangled.

Though not overly inclined to sound off, the Glen of Imaal Terrier has a deep bark that makes the dog sound much bigger than he is. Likes to dig and chase and can be taught to retrieve. Adapts well to changes of owner. Prefers to sleep indoors, though he