Glen of Imaal Terrier
Encyclopedia
The Glen of Imaal Terrier is a breed
of dog
of the terrier
category and one of four Irish terrier breeds. It is sometimes called the Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier or the Wicklow Terrier. It originates in the Glen of Imaal
in County Wicklow
, Ireland
. The breed was recognized first by the Irish Kennel Club
in 1934 and most recently by the American Kennel Club
in 2004.
The breed came into existence during the reign of Elizabeth I, who hired French
and Hessian mercenaries to put down civil unrest in Ireland. After the conflict, many of these soldiers settled in the Wicklow area. They brought with them their low-slung hounds, which they bred with the local terrier stock, developing the Glen of Imaal Terrier as a general working dog used for herding and eradicating vermin such as foxes and badger and otter. When hunting Glens work mute to ground as they are a strong dog and not a sounding terrier.
Some descriptions of the breed claim that it was used as a turnspit dog
to turn spits of meat over a fire for cooking.
The Glen of Imaal Terrier is one of the rarest breeds of dog. It is the least known Irish terrier breed.
The breed has a medium-length double coat that is harsh on top and soft below. The coat may be wheaten, Blue or brindle in colour. The Glen of Imaal terrier does not molt.
Glens have a large head with rose or half-prick ears and short, bowed legs, with a topline that rises from the shoulder to the tail. The shoulders, chest and hips are sturdy and muscular and feet should be turned out. With three growing stages a Glen can take up to four years to reach full maturity.
Wheaten Glen of Imaal puppies often have black highlights in their fur. Usually, the black will fade and their full wheaten coat will come in as they mature.
Historically the breed's tail was typically docked. This is still common in the United States, but is no longer the practised by some people in Europe but working people in the UK and Ireland still dock as working terriers can still be docked and shown there some countries ban docking for showing completely.
is available for PRA, and breeders are now using this test to evaluate potential breedings, though numbers affected are very low. Heart problems are rare with only one recorded case. Skin allergies are occasionally seen and may be caused by diet or allergies to flea or mite bites (the breed does best on a low-protein diet after the age of twelve months). Glens can live for 15 years or more.
Though normally docile and quiet for a terrier, glens can sometimes be aggressive if provoked. There have been no reported serious injuries caused by the breed, but as a working terrier they are a strong dog used for drawing prey from the ground. They must be silent to ground. They can also be used to ground vermin and have a super nose and will work on mink, rats, etc. and can work well in water. They have a high prey drive
and might take domestic pets such as cats, rats, or gerbils for prey. Barking is also an issue for Glens. However, Glens are highly intelligent and quite easily trained, so this is generally not a problem with properly trained dogs.
Dog breed
Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock....
of dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
of the terrier
Terrier
A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, very active and fearless dogs. Terrier breeds vary greatly in size from just a couple of pounds to over 70 pounds and are usually categorized by size or function...
category and one of four Irish terrier breeds. It is sometimes called the Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier or the Wicklow Terrier. It originates in the Glen of Imaal
Glen of Imaal
The Glen of Imaal is a remote valley in the western Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It is ringed by the Lugnaquilla massif and its foothills, including Table mountain and Keadeen...
in County Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The breed was recognized first by the Irish Kennel Club
Irish Kennel Club
Irish Kennel Club is an organization dedicated to supporting dog breeds and their owners.-History:The Kerry Blue Terrier increased dramatically in the Dublin area as it gained admirers in the early 1920s. On St. Patrick's Day, 1921 a conformation dog show was organized, which included other breeds...
in 1934 and most recently by the American Kennel Club
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. Beyond maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an annual event which predates the official...
in 2004.
The breed came into existence during the reign of Elizabeth I, who hired French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Hessian mercenaries to put down civil unrest in Ireland. After the conflict, many of these soldiers settled in the Wicklow area. They brought with them their low-slung hounds, which they bred with the local terrier stock, developing the Glen of Imaal Terrier as a general working dog used for herding and eradicating vermin such as foxes and badger and otter. When hunting Glens work mute to ground as they are a strong dog and not a sounding terrier.
Some descriptions of the breed claim that it was used as a turnspit dog
Turnspit Dog
The Turnspit Dog was a short-legged, long-bodied dog bred to run on a wheel, called a turnspit or dog wheel, to turn meat. The type is now extinct. It is mentioned in Of English Dogs in 1576 under the name Turnespete. Rev. W. Bingley's Memoirs of British Quadrupeds also talks of a dog employed to...
to turn spits of meat over a fire for cooking.
The Glen of Imaal Terrier is one of the rarest breeds of dog. It is the least known Irish terrier breed.
Appearance
The Glen of Imaal Terrier is more substantial than many other dogs of similar height; the average adult Glen weighs approximately 36lb and stands 14in tall at the withers.The breed has a medium-length double coat that is harsh on top and soft below. The coat may be wheaten, Blue or brindle in colour. The Glen of Imaal terrier does not molt.
Glens have a large head with rose or half-prick ears and short, bowed legs, with a topline that rises from the shoulder to the tail. The shoulders, chest and hips are sturdy and muscular and feet should be turned out. With three growing stages a Glen can take up to four years to reach full maturity.
Wheaten Glen of Imaal puppies often have black highlights in their fur. Usually, the black will fade and their full wheaten coat will come in as they mature.
Historically the breed's tail was typically docked. This is still common in the United States, but is no longer the practised by some people in Europe but working people in the UK and Ireland still dock as working terriers can still be docked and shown there some countries ban docking for showing completely.
Health
Generally very strong and healthy. A genetic testGenetic testing
Genetic testing is among the newest and most sophisticated of techniques used to test for genetic disorders which involves direct examination of the DNA molecule itself. Other genetic tests include biochemical tests for such gene products as enzymes and other proteins and for microscopic...
is available for PRA, and breeders are now using this test to evaluate potential breedings, though numbers affected are very low. Heart problems are rare with only one recorded case. Skin allergies are occasionally seen and may be caused by diet or allergies to flea or mite bites (the breed does best on a low-protein diet after the age of twelve months). Glens can live for 15 years or more.
Temperament
Glen of Imaal terriers are energetic and highly intelligent. However, like other terrier breeds, these dogs can be stubborn and requires an experienced owner to be in charge. They are typically fearless and loyal and are superb with people but can be aggressive if not properly trained.Though normally docile and quiet for a terrier, glens can sometimes be aggressive if provoked. There have been no reported serious injuries caused by the breed, but as a working terrier they are a strong dog used for drawing prey from the ground. They must be silent to ground. They can also be used to ground vermin and have a super nose and will work on mink, rats, etc. and can work well in water. They have a high prey drive
Prey drive
Prey drive is the instinctive inclination of a carnivore to pursue and capture prey.In dog training, prey drive can be used as an advantage because dogs with strong prey drive are also willing to pursue moving objects such as toys, which can then be used to encourage certain kinds of behavior, such...
and might take domestic pets such as cats, rats, or gerbils for prey. Barking is also an issue for Glens. However, Glens are highly intelligent and quite easily trained, so this is generally not a problem with properly trained dogs.