At a glance the quick version
FCI gives about 12.25 kg (27 lb) for dogs and 11.4 kg (25 lb) for bitches; Wikipedia gives 25-27 lb for males and 24-26 lb for females.
FCI gives about 45.5 cm (18 in).
Coat and looks how to spot one
dense wiry coat
A racy, longer-legged terrier with a tight, harsh coat that lies flat and has a slightly broken look, plus a short beard on the face. A well-kept coat sheds very little.123
Personality what they are like
Fearless and full of fire at work, yet good-natured, loving and devoted at home. It is keen to learn, loyal to its family and makes an alert guardian.142
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Moderate: up to about an hour of exercise a day, plus games and training. Many enjoy agility and other dog sports.32
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Brush more than once a week; the wiry coat is usually hand-stripped a few times a year to keep its texture and colour.32
Home where they are happiest
Adaptable to town or country with a small to medium garden.3
Company who they like around
Very people-focused and devoted to its family. It can be bossy with other dogs, so careful early socialisation and supervised introductions help.12
The story where it all began
One of the oldest terrier breeds, the Irish Terrier worked on farms as a ratter, guard and hunting companion. The first breed club formed in Dublin in 1879, and by the 1880s it was among the most popular breeds in Britain and Ireland. In the First World War it served as a messenger dog.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Irish Terriers carried messages on the front lines in the First World War.1
- 2
By the 1880s it was the fourth most popular breed in Britain and Ireland.2
- 3
The University of Notre Dame used an Irish Terrier as its mascot until the 1960s.2
- 4
Early Irish Terriers came in black and tan and brindle; the all-red coat was fixed only later.1
- 5
The AKC nicknames it the 'Daredevil' of the Emerald Isle.4
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 139, Group 3 Terriers, Section 1 large and medium-sized terriers; standard dated 13.03.2001.1
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Terrier group; first shown in 1870 and recognised as a pedigree breed in 1879. Not a vulnerable native breed.3
- AKC
- Terrier Group.4
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Irish Terrier. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Hand strippingHand stripping keeps the harsh texture; clipping also worksevery 12 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkevery 2 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- FCI standard no. 139, Irish Terrier fci.beused for recognition, height, weight, coat, colours, temperament, history
- Irish Terrier, Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, height, weight, lifespan, history, fun facts
- Irish Terrier, The Royal Kennel Club royalkennelclub.comused for recognition dates, lifespan, exercise, grooming, home
- Irish Terrier, AKC akc.orgused for nickname, temperament
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.