Celtic Canines - a list of the top ten Irish dog breeds - PHOTOS

From the Irish wolfhound to the terrier - the Irishman's best-friends

The Irish Terrier

This is a lean, powerful dog with a harsh red coat. They are action-fiends that require ample physical activity. Irish Terriers are certainly not dumb, but their innate thirst for action can make them an ordeal to train.
 
If their trainer appears inadequate, they will completely lose respect, and then a lifetime of disobedience may ensue.
 
Same-sex aggression is a not-too-uncommon occurrence. Such pathological behavior can even be directed at males of other species.
 
Fortunately, all this doggy testosterone can be channeled into something positive; many of this breed have excelled in canine sporting events, particularly agility competitions.

The Wheaten Terrier

This is a deceptively-athletic dog with a bountiful supply of playfulness. Wheatens are known to jump a person in order to lick his/her face repeatedly.
 
This breed can bark all day at strangers but will almost certainly not attack a human, unless there is extreme provocation.
 
Wheatens excel at a number of outdoor and obedience activities. One weakness that comes to mind is hot weather. They have been known to overheat.

Glen of Imaal Terrier

This feisty bundle hails from County Wicklow and is the result of visiting Dachshund-type dogs breeding with local Irish pooches of terrier extraction.
 
The Glen of Imaal emerged as a vermin-hunting extraordinaire. Legend has it that some were even able to turn spits of meat over the fire.
 
Despite its short stature, this breed tends to pack a considerable amount of brawn. It can take them as much as four years to reach their full growth.
 
Four years is half a life-expectancy for some breeds, but the Glen of Imaal has plenty of time to mature; this breed routinely lives for fifteen years or longer.
 
They tend to be very intelligent, but a strong prey drive can result in calamity, as inadequately trained Glen of Imaals have been known to take down the household cat.

PHOTOS - Irish dog breeds photo gallery

The Irish Red and White Setter

A very similar makeup to the “regular” Irish Setter, except that this dog has spots of mahogany, as opposed to the full coat.
 
As their fully red counterparts rose to ascendancy, the Irish Red and White decline into obscurity. They would have gone extinct altogether, except for the Herculean efforts of a certain Irish clergyman in the early 20th-century.

The Irish Lurcher

This sight-hound proved an effective companion for hunters. Legend has it that this dog emerged in the 14th century, at a time when the British rule prohibited “commoners” from owning more established sight-hound breeds. Supposedly the Irish Lurcher was bred to circumvent this rule.

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