Litter Size: 4-6

Irish Terriers are strong willed and can be difficult to train. They are highly intelligent, but they have a sense of humor which can surface in the middle of an obedience class... so the owner needs a sense of humor, too. They can learn complex tasks with relative ease, when they have the motivation to do so!

Irish Terriers respond best to firm, consistent training from a relaxed, authorative person. Violence should never be used - it is always best to outwit and lure. They should know who is the boss, and have natural respect for him/her.

The Irish Terrier is an active dog, and loves to be challenged mentally and physically. Because of this many excel at dog sports, particularly agility, and flyball. It is not impossible to teach Obedience to an Irish Terrier. They have a good nose and can learn to track either animal blood or human scent.

The Irish Terrier's wiry coat is fairly easy to groom, pet dogs (rather that show dogs) needing hand stripping only once or twice a year. Never cut the coat - use your fingers or a non-cutting knife.

They should be bathed as infrequently as possible, as shampoo destroys the coat's texture. When groomed properly, the Irish Terrier coat will protect the dog from rain and cold.

During World War I, Irish Terriers served as messengers and sentinels with incomparable spirit and disregard of danger. As sporting dogs, Irish Terriers can catch and kill small game, and they are lethal on vermin. From Dr. E. S. Montgomery's book, The Complete Irish Terrier, Denlinger's, 1958:

... the Irish Terrier of the early days was apparently always ready for anything with a hairy skin on it that came along. ..

Hardy and adaptable, an Irish terrier can do well in country or city, in cold climates or hot. He's good with children if they are good with him.