Glen of Imaal terrier
The Glen of Imaal Terrier comes from a remote valley in County Wicklow, where it worked badger and fox and, notoriously, ran turnspits in cottage kitchens.
It is built low and heavy with bowed front legs, and it is one of Ireland's four native terrier breeds.
It stands 32 to 36 centimetres, weighs 14 to 16 kilograms and lives ten to fifteen years, with a harsh wheaten or blue brindle coat. It is a vulnerable native breed with few registrations. Temperament sets it apart from other terriers: Glens are famously quiet — they were bred not to bark while working underground — and calmer indoors than their relatives, while remaining game and determined.
- Origin
- Glen of Imaal, County Wicklow, Ireland
- Size
- 32–36 cm; 14–16 kg
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years
- Coat
- Harsh wheaten or blue brindle; hand-stripped
- Temperament
- Quiet for a terrier — bred not to bark underground
- Health
- PRA — DNA testable; hip dysplasia; a vulnerable native breed
Related: Airedale terrier · American hairless terrier · American pit bull terrier · American Staffordshire terrier · Australian terrier
2 glen of imaal terrier photos, newest first
Living with a glen of imaal terrier
Ask for the PRA DNA test. Progressive retinal atrophy is well documented in the breed and the test is definitive.
The bowed front legs are correct for the breed rather than a deformity, but the low heavy build means weight control matters for the joints and the back.
The harsh coat is hand-stripped a couple of times a year and brushed weekly; clipping softens it.
The gene pool is small. Ask a breeder what they do about diversity, and for hip scores.
They are quieter than most terriers but still game and prone to dog-to-dog scrapping. Prey drive is real, and they dig.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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