It’s that time of year when we’re all a wee bit Irish🍀, and this St. Patrick’s Day, we’re taking a look at a few Irish dog breeds that have an Irish heritage. There are technically eight recognized dog breeds native to Ireland, each with their own unique personality and talents. The emerald isle has always been home to some beautiful dogs, (most with the instinctive urge to run away at any given time). We’re not sure if that characteristic also applies to their kilted men, but we suspect it’s a possibility…
Without further ado, here are the dog breeds of Ireland and a look at what you can expect if you bring them into your life!
Irish Setter
Obviously, we must begin with the Irish Setter. The most obvious member of Irish heritage dogs, this bright red dog boasts long hair, superior hunting skills and the unexplainable impulse to run miles and miles at various times of the day.
Also closely related to the Irish Setter is the Irish Red and White Setter. These medium-sized gundogs sport a distinctive red and white coat. Once on the brink of extinction, the Irish Red and White Setter is making a comeback
With their beautiful red coat and boundless energy, Irish Setters are energetic gundogs known for their eagerness to please .The setter is an athletic, enthusiastic dog and will love you forever (if you can catch him). They’ll need lots of room to run and plenty of mental and physical stimulation!
- Group: Sporting Dogs
- Height: 2’1″ – 2’3″
- Weight: 60 – 70 pounds
- Life Span: 11 – 15 years
- Disposition: High-energy, loves to run, escape artist and one sporting pup!
- Exercise: High
Glen of Imaal
The Glen of Imaal was originally bred to root out nuisance badgers from gardens (I’m guessing potato patches but can’t confirm). The badger, in case you didn’t know, is a very mean little creature that is super strong, very cunning, and tends to hold a grudge. The dog designed to deal with such a creature must likewise be comparable in strength and just as smart. So, the Irish modified terriers – some of the more intelligent pups out there.
This breed differs from other terriers in that it doesn’t bark, so if you have a badger problem and want to preserve silence, this may be the dog for you! They are the rarest of the Irish terrier breeds and are friendly, adaptable dogs are known for their independent spirit
- Breed: Terriers
- Height: 1’1″ – 1’2″
- Weight: Up to 35 pounds
- Life Span: 12 – 15 years
- Disposition: Intelligent, so lots of training will be needed.
- Exercise: High
Irish Wolfhound
One of the largest dogs in existence, the wolfhound is a treasured member of the dog family. The tallest of all dog breeds, the Irish Wolfhound was bred to hunt wolves and other large game. These gentle giants are known for their courage and loyalty.
Unfortunately, due to their size, they have much shorter lifespans than most large dogs and take longer to reach maturity (usually three years). They are calm, loyal and courageous and tend to know what you need before you need before you do. I don’t think I’ve heard of a single bite case with this breed because they are so gentle. You’ll need lots of room to accommodate this gentle giant!
- Avg Height: 2’8″ – 2’11”
- Avg Weight: 115 – 180 pounds
- Life Span: 6 – 8 years
- Disposition: Relaxed, gentle, and empathic
- Exercise: Low – med
Irish Water Spaniel
The Irish Water Spaniel is one of the oldest dogs in the world. It’s also quite a rare breed. One of the oldest spaniel breeds, the Irish Water Spaniel is a versatile hunting dog known for its curly coat that repels water.
Sporting a curly coat and a happy personality, the Water Spaniel is a fun dog to have around. They also love water, so be sure you have plenty of ponds or lakes nearby that they can explore.
- Breed: Sporting Dogs
- Height: 1’9” – 2’
- Weight: 45 – 65 pounds
- Lifespan: 10 – 12 years
- Disposition: This is a good-natured pup who loves to explore, hunt and swim. Plan for some fun days at the lake!
- Exercise: med-high
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
This dog is not only powerful, but gentle. Also known as the “Wheatie,” this breed is known for its soft, wheaten-colored coat and friendly personality. Wheatens are intelligent and excel in agility training.
They are very athletic and enjoy a good run in agility – anything that allows them to use their strength and their brains. They do love to be indoors and also make a great lap dog once you’ve exercised them.
- Type: Terrier
- Avg Height: 1’5” – 1’7”
- Avg Weight: 30 – 40 pounds
- Life Span 12 – 15 years
- Disposition: High-energy
- Exercise: Intelligent exercise (agility is a great start!)
Kerry Blue Terrier
Bred in the mountainous regions of Ireland, the Kerry Blue Terrier is a medium-sized all-purpose farm dog known for its distinctive blue-gray coat. It’s personality is best described as “challenging”. They are highly active, have a great personality and look good in a ring. However, they don’t particularly enjoy other dogs and tend to be a bit aggressive in pack environments. They do love people (and digging), so if you get one of these dogs, be sure you have plenty of space for them to run and dig! .
- Type: Terrier
- Avg. Height: 1’5″ – 1’7″
- Weight: 33 – 40 pounds
- Life Span: 12 – 15 years
- Disposition: High energy means lots of training and patience will be needed. They like people, but don’t do well with other dogs.
- Exercise: Med – high