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Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier

Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier

FCI standard Nº 302
Origin
 Ireland
Group
 Group 3 Terriers
Section
 Section 1 Large and medium sized Terriers
Working
 Without working trial
Acceptance on a definitive basis by the FCI
 Wednesday 17 September 1975
Publication of the official valid standard
 Tuesday 3 September 2024
Last update
 Friday 20 September 2024
En français, cette race se dit
 Terrier irlandais Glen of Imaal
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar
 Irischer Glen of Imaal Terrier
En español, esta raza se dice
 Terrier Glen de Imaal irlandés
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd
 Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier

Usage
Like all other terriers, this small, tough breed had to hunt badgers and foxes, and to keep the rat population to a minimum. Now he is a gentle and docile family dog.

Brief historical summary
Like many dogs in the Terrier group, not really appreciated by gentlemen sportsmen before the middle of the 19th century, the Irish Glen of Imaal is an old breed which was simply ignored for a long time, rather than the result of later breed experiments. He is very much a local dog, confined to the bleak area of the Glen of Imaal. The farmers of this area, who were descended from soldiers given land in the 16th and 17th centuries as payment for service rendered to the British Crown, had to utilize their natural cunning an dexterity to survive in this harsh terrain. A dog, who could not pull his weight in the day-to-day struggle for existence would not be tolerated.
So he had to spend long hours propelling dog wheels and was often pitted against other dogs in the dubious sport of dog fighting, customs now disappeared.
Before the Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier became known at dog shows, he had evolved through generations of hard work into the strong sturdy dog we know today. The Irish Kennel Club gave official recognition to the breed in 1934 and a club to promote its interests was soon formed.

General appearance
Medium sized with medium length coat, great strength with the impression of maximum substance for the size of the dog.

Important proportions
Body longer than high and low to the ground.

Behaviour / temperament
Active, agile and silent when working. Game and spirited with great courage when called upon, otherwise gentle and docile, who oozes personality; his loyal and affectionate nature makes him a very acceptable house dog and companion. The Irish Glen of Imaal is said to be less easily excited than other terriers, though he is always ready to give chase when called on.

Head

Cranial region
Skull
 Of good width and of fair length. 
Stop
 Pronounced.

Facial region
Nose
 Black.
Muzzle
 Foreface of power, tapering to the nose.
Jaws and teeth
 Strong. Teeth sound, regular, strong and of good size. Scissor bite.
Eyes
 Brown, medium size, round and set well apart. Light eyes should be penalised.
Ears
 Small rose or half pricked when alert, thrown back when in repose. Full drop or prick undesirable.

Neck
Very muscular and of moderate length.

Body
Body
 Deep and long, and longer than high.
Topline
 Straight with slight rise to rear.
Loin
 Strong.
Chest
 Wide and strong, ribs well sprung.

Tail
Docked. Strong at root, well set on and carried gaily. Pups tails docked to half length. A natural tail (undocked) is allowed for in countries where docking is banned by law.

Limbs

Forequarters
Shoulders
 Broad, muscular and well laid back.
Forearm
 Short, bowed and well boned.
Forefeet
 Compact and strong with rounded pads. Front feet to turn out slightly from pasterns.

Hindquarters
Generality
 Strong and well muscled.
Upper thigh
 Well muscled.
Stifle
 Well bent.
Hock
 Turned neither in nor out.
Hind feet
 Compact and strong with rounded pads.

Gait and movement
Free, not hackneyed. Covers ground effortlessly with good drive behind.

Coat
Hair
 Medium length, of harsh texture with soft undercoat. Coat may be tidied to present a neat outline.
Colour
 . Blue brindle but not toning to black.
. Wheaten, from a light wheaten colour to a golden reddish shade.
. Puppies may be born coloured Blue, Wheaten, or Reddish.
Lighter coloured pups usually have an inky blue mask, and there may also be a streak of Blue down the back, on the tail, and on the ears. The darker markings will clear with maturity.

Size and weight
Height at withers
 Dogs : 14 inches (35,5 cm) is the maximum. Bitches : accordingly less.
Weight
 35 lbs (16kg). Bitches : accordingly less.

Faults
• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

General faults
 Hound ears.
 Undershot bite, overshot bite.
 Too short in body.
 Straight front.

Disqualifying faults
 Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
 Black & Tan colour.
 Narrow foreface.

NB :
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Bibliography
https://www.fci.be/

 

Additional information from visitors
This small working breed is descended from Eastern hunting, herding and fighting dogs brought to Ireland by the Celts. Developed in the Wicklow County in the 16th century, the Glen Of Imaal terrier was an immensely succesful hunter of badgers and foxes, destroyer of vermin, turnspit dog and a popular fighter. Slightly larger in the past than it is today, this feisty Irish terrier has been deliberately bred down in size to further improve upon its ability to go underground after its prey. Some Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Irish Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier blood has reportedly influenced the breed in the first decades of the 20th century, making this fierce Irish working dog more friendly and even-tempered. The Wicklow Terrier's gameness and intelligence secured its survival and the breed was eventually standardized and recognized in the 1930's. Introduced to Britain in the late 1950's and America in the 1970's, the Glen Of Imaal Terrier became a popular family companion and Show dog, valued for its bravery, resilience and rugged good looks. This is a short-legged and strong-boned breed, with a muscular body and a powerful neck and head. Although not as aggressive as its ancestors, the Irish Glen Of Imaal Terrier is still fairly confrontational around other dogs and has a tendency to chase small animals, needing early and broad socialization. The coat is rough, rich and dense, allowed in wheaten, blue and brindle shades. Average height is around 13 inches.
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