The origin of the breed, the exterior standard of the Glen of Imaal Terrier and its character, training, health and grooming advice. Interesting Facts. Price when buying a puppy. Looking at this short, but such self-confident creature of a shaggy appearance, it is difficult for a non-dog expert to understand that in front of him is not some mongrel dog without specific duties, idly staggering along the street, but a real specialist in fox and badger hunting. Moreover, it has been proven by practice and time, famous throughout the entire district, well, or, at least, throughout Ireland. After all, it was there that he began his ascent to the heights of hunting glory and received a proud Irish name - Glen of Imaal Terrier.
The history of the origin of the Glen of Imaal Terrier breed
The currently known chronicle of this terrier, unique in its working qualities, dates back to the beginning of the 15th century. It begins in the Irish County of Wicklow, located in the highlands in the east of Ireland. Moreover, in the very name of the Glen of Imaal Terrier, the geographical name of the place where the historical pedigree roots of this shaggy assistant of man come - the Imaal Valley (the word "glen" is translated from English as "hollow, valley"), is very accurately indicated.
Yes, it was there, in this small valley, with flooded meadows and marshes, closed on all sides by low rocky mountains, that this type of dog was born. In those ancient times, the main occupation of local residents was sheep breeding, fishing and hunting. Well, how could all this be done without a reliable assistant dog? Moreover, there were plenty of small and large animals in the county at all times. And for the extraction of each of them, a different kind of dog was needed.
The first documented (but, unfortunately, few) mentions of discreet-looking, but fearless and talented dogs in hunting date back to the 16th century. Judging by these ancient documents, their ancestors from the Imaal Valley mainly specialized in burrow hunting (foxes and badgers), and also exterminated rats and mice in the dwellings and outbuildings of peasants. Sometimes they took part in hunting rabbits and otters.
For a long time, the local breed was little known outside County Wicklow, but during the reign of the British Queen Elizabeth I, who sent mercenaries to Ireland to pacify a nine-year riot (1594-1603), not only declared itself, but also unexpectedly received a new development. The hunting dogs brought by the mercenary soldiers with them to the lands of Ireland from England and France for several years significantly "improved" the local appearance of the terriers, giving it an almost modern appearance.
The Glen of Imaal Terrier gained the greatest recognition at the end of the 19th century, after the creation of the first breed club in Dublin (March 1879). True, there was no global increase in the population then. The onset of the 20th century was also more successful for the breed. After journalist Jenny Boy's note in The Irish Fild (1930) on the unique talents of the Irish hunting dog from the Imaal Valley, educated Ireland became aware of the existence of this little badger hunter. And not only found out, but in every possible way contributed to the increase in its population and official recognition. In 1934, the Glen of Imaal Terrier was finally officially entered into the Studbook of the Irish Kennel Club (so far the only one of the four existing Irish Terrier species).
Until 1966, during the exhibition championships, the Glen Terriers were required to be tested for their working qualities in order to obtain the champion title, passing field trials. Since 1966, the field exam became optional, and in 1968 it was completely canceled.
Today, the Glen of Imaal Terrier is a breed recognized by the Federation Cynological International (FCI) (the last breeding standard was approved in March 1990) and the main canine organizations in the world. In particular, clubs in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and USA. Moreover, now in the United States there is a real breed boom for Glen Terriers, more than 500 Irish Terrier puppies are registered there annually, while in their homeland in Ireland there are no more than a hundred. And this despite the fact that the breed was officially recognized in the United States only very recently - in October 2004.
Purpose and use of the Glen of Imaal Terrier
Modern representatives of the breed are less and less used as hunting burrowing dogs, both in Ireland itself and around the world. More often, modern Glen of Imaal Terriers are either show dogs or companion dogs living in houses and apartments as ordinary pets. This state of affairs was greatly facilitated by the cancellation of mandatory field tests for show dogs, which led to the loss of working qualities.
Description of the exterior of the Glen of Imaal Terrier
The appearance of the representative of the breed is quite peculiar. Dirty and disheveled after a hunt, he is no different from a shaggy mongrel, and when washed and combed out, he gives the impression of a decorative dog. But this is only at first glance. All the strong stand and stockiness of the terrier's downed figure leaves no doubt - we have in front of us a very strong, hardy and energetic dog, perfectly adapted for burrowing and capable of independently defeating a badger or a fox. This is a real fighter, not a lapdog.
The size of this terrier (according to the standard) is quite comparable to the size of the bulk of the terriers. Height at the withers reaches an average of 35–36 centimeters with a body weight of up to 16 kg. Naturally, the females are somewhat smaller.
- Head the Glen Terrier is somewhat elongated, with a rather wide skull. The stop is distinct and pronounced. The animal's muzzle is wide at the frontal part and gradually tapers towards the nose. The bridge of the nose is moderately wide and even. The nose is black. The lips fit snugly to the jaws (no flews are formed) and are black or grayish-black in color. The terrier has strong jaws and excellent grip. The bite of large white teeth (full formula) resembles a scissor.
- Eyes according to the existing standard, they should be small and not on the rollout (which allows them to be protected from injury during underground movements and in a fight with a badger), they can only be dark in color (light or yellow eyes are not allowed). The terrier's gaze is very quick-witted, lively and determined.
- Ears thick, small, triangular in shape, set high and funny - "… like a clam shell."
- Neck muscular, strong, close to medium in length.
- Torso strong, stretched format (in length it resembles a not too long dachshund), with a wide and deep chest, a straight strong back, a somewhat convex loin and a taut bottom line.
- Tail thick at the base and set high. In the best variant, it should be very dense and strong, with the obligatory cheerful waving. The tail is abundantly covered with coarse hair, but should not form excessive fringe. The puppy's tail is docked at 3/4 of its original length.
- Limbs the Irish Terrier is of medium length, strong and muscular, and straight (some distance from the pasterns to the forelegs may be possible, but general clubfoot or openness is not allowed). Feet are oval, with firm pads and strong black nails.
- Wool dense and rigid in structure (ideally similar to the quality of wire), medium length, without shaggy and curly. Hair on the head is within 2-3 centimeters in length, and the so-called "beard" and "mustache" - more than 5 centimeters. There is a soft, dense undercoat in structure.
- Color The coat of the Glen Terrier has several varieties. The most common colors (approved by the standard) are: fawn (light fawn to golden red), wheat, gray brindle (but not too dark), reddish brindle. It is preferable when the dog has a more uniform, uniform color.
There may be a "mask" on the face, as well as a longitudinal stripe on the back of a dark gray color. The presence of white spots or marks on the chest of the animal, and especially on the limbs, is undesirable.
The character of the Glen-of-Imaal Terrier and features of training
The working Glen Terrier is a very energetic and "viscous" (that is, tenaciously holding the animal) hunting dog, fearless and hardy, both in pursuit and in a fight with a fox or badger. He has a stable psyche and wonderful innate hunting instincts.
The Irish Glen, unlike other similar terriers, is considered a rather quiet dog, rarely accompanying its pursuit with game. Even in a burrow underground, he rarely indicates his location (unlike the same loud-voiced dachshund). The barking of the Glen Terrier also distinguishes it from the general terrier chorus. His voice, despite its small size, resembles the bass barking of a very large dog.
The Glen of Imaal Terrier has phenomenal endurance and good adaptation to difficult weather conditions. It is unpretentious in its content and unpretentious in its nutrition, it is capable of long-term costs with the very minimum, which makes it a very convenient dog for a hunter.
Like the vast majority of terriers, the "glen" is distinguished by a somewhat obstinate independent character, which does not allow a person with a gentle heart and soft character to have such a dog. However, if the owner manages to find the keys to the soul of this obstinate, then he will be loyal and obedient like no other dog. The Irish Terrier appreciates kindness and is inclined to pay in kind.
This dog is quite jealous and prejudiced towards strangers, and even more so other dogs, believing that they are all trying to claim the love of its owner. Pugnacious and cocky, which requires constant attention, control and timely socialization from the owner. The terrier also treats other animals with suspicion, and simply does not tolerate rodents, exterminating everywhere where it can get.
In general, there are few real working terriers now, and show dogs no longer show not only hunting talents, but are much more balanced and manageable, having lost some of their harmfulness and obstinacy with their working qualities. These pets are playful, playful and affectionate. They are friendly to other animals, seeing neither game nor rivals in them.
Nevertheless, the training of this breed must be done under the guidance of an experienced dog handler, who knows how to correctly direct the activity of a cocky, but intelligent dog. Yes, exactly smart, and capable, surprisingly quickly, to master not only standard commands, but also complex tricks. It is also advisable to conduct trainings for acquiring hunting skills under the guidance of a knowledgeable hunter who understands the intricacies of burrow hunting and the peculiarities of training a real burrowing dog.
Glen of Imaal Terrier dog health
The Glen Terrier of the old type was distinguished by excellent health and strong immunity. But further experiments of breeders to improve the exterior of the animal, change its color to more exotic colors, improve the structure and quality of its fur, in addition to success, led to the acquisition of a number of health problems. These genetic predispositions include:
- progressive retinal atrophy, which can lead to complete loss of vision;
- itching of the skin (which the dog scratches to the point of ulcers) and allergic rashes (especially often manifested on the paws of the animal);
- dysplasia of the hip joints (proceeding in a relatively mild form and rarely leading to lameness in the dog);
- increased risk of injuries to the metacarpals of the legs at a young age (due to the rather large weight with small stature and restless-energetic character);
- a problem with the assimilation of protein foods over the age of 1 year (which requires more attention to the selection of the diet).
Proven by the practice of dog breeders, the average life expectancy of Irish Glen Terriers reaches 12-14 years.
Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier Care Tips
Taking care of the Glen Terrier is easy. Its coat is rigid in structure and perfectly keeps its shape and only needs to be brushed regularly (1-2 times a week). During molting periods (twice a year) - a little more often.
It is occasionally necessary to bathe your pet. Especially if he is a real hunter and regularly travels through the fox underground tunnels (in this case, it is necessary to bathe the dog after each hunt). Well, if you have a show dog, then it is necessary not only to bathe it, but also to cut it (in accordance with the standard and the dog's latest fashion).
The Glen Terrier is unassuming in content and is able to live both in an apartment or house, and on the street (in an aviary or in the yard). When keeping in the yard, it must be borne in mind that this pet is a very inquisitive, active and great master of digging and digging. That is why it is able to easily "wash away" by setting up a tunnel, in the absence of proper attention from the owner (an active terrier needs a full and rather long walk, attention to his person, training and training).
In nutrition, it is necessary to carefully consider the protein component of the diet in order not to have health problems for your pet (congenital predisposition to poor absorption of excess protein) and to control the energy value of the diet (the dog should receive a balanced diet that allows him to regain strength, but without overeating). It is also important not to forget about supplementing the diet with multi-vitamin complexes and mineral supplements, as well as periodically pampering your terrier with natural lean meat.
Interesting facts about the Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier
Interestingly enough, the use of the Glen of Imaal Terriers in ancient Ireland was not limited to hunting and extermination of rodents. The Irish were far more resourceful. Glen Terriers, being very energetic and hardy dogs, as well as having a compact size, were used in the old days as so-called "trochanter dogs".
The main task of such a dog (and more often two, used in shifts) consisted in the rotation of the wheel. The terrier was placed inside a special wheel and rotated it during its run (like a squirrel wheel). Various mechanisms were attached to the wheel using belt or gear drives. The most common were spinning wheels, furs for blowing air, as well as devices for rotating a skewer with meat for even frying (hence the name - "spit dog"). The Irish probably preferred well-done mutton. And it was a serious and not so easy task for a cook of those years.
Price when buying a puppy of the Glen of Imaal Terrier breed
This breed is still little known in Russia. Single dogs from the Irish Imaal Valley, come to the territory of the Russian Federation mainly from foreign kennels. More often from the UK, Czech Republic and Finland. Therefore, they are extremely rare to be found at exhibitions and championships, where they invariably take prizes, competing in the exterior with themselves in splendid isolation.
The cost of such imported animals ranges from 600 to 1300 US dollars, depending on the class, sex and prospects of the puppy itself. Puppies from working hunting Glen of Imaal terriers in Russia have not yet been presented. But it is likely that in Ireland itself they cost about the same.
More information about the breed in the following video:
