The Irish Wolfhound.
The most famous of all the Irish breeds the Irish Wolfhound has an instantaneous association with Ireland no matter where they live in the world.
They are magnificent and beautiful dogs with a mystical look in their eyes.
Dating back to ancient Ireland, these wonderful animals have withstood the test of time and are now probably the most recognizable dog breed in the world.
Their origins lie in the massive war hounds of the Ancient Celts. They are the largest of the dog breeds in Ireland and their name is derived from their original purpose, they were used for hunting wolves.
The Wolfhound is probably most famous for its formidable size. They are widely mentioned in the history of Ireland appearing in ancient historic documents.
They are written into the fabric of Irish culture and appear in myth and legends that have survived since the days of the ancient Celts. They were usually the property of Royalty, Nobility and the Warriors of Ireland.
They were associated with wealth and power and in Ireland were so revered that the simple word Cu was all you had to say to refer to the majestic Wolfhound.
They are now wonderful family pets and are the mascots for many military regiments around the world, most famously The Fighting 69th from New York City.
The Wolfhound is very tall, but is gracefully built and muscular, it is known as a galloping hound due to its ability to run great distances.
The Wolfhounds coat is wiry and they come in a variety of colors, gray, brindle, red, black, white and fawn.
Unfortunately the Irish Wolfhound does suffer from a variety of health issues such as heart problems that can be attributed to its size.
Their life span is relatively short they live between 6-10 years.
They make amazing family pets and are kind hearted and gentle. They are reserved and quite, but do require allot of space to run around in.
They are not good guard dogs as they do not protect property but rather attach themselves to their people, often protecting them with their lives.
They are also known to become very attached to other dogs they are raised with and do grieve deeply the loss of anyone close to them.
They say that an Irish Wolfhound is “gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked”
The Red Setter.
The stunning Irish Red Setter, with it long shining red fur that dances while they move, this Irish breed is a hunting breed and its main purpose is as a Gundog.
The Irish Red Setter is famed as highly intelligent and extremely loving.
They have a life expectancy of approximately 10 years and are known to be an extremely healthy bread.
Their beautiful long sleek coat is famed around the world and the Irish setter has been used in multiple media campaigns associated with Ireland.
The Irish Red Setter is extremely friendly so they do not make good guard dogs. Due to their long coat they shed a lot and their coat needs constant grooming.
The Irish Red Setter makes a great family pet but they are not suitable for small children as it is very active and bouncy.
The Irish Red Setter needs a lot of exercise.
They need a lot of space so needs a large area of land to play in, so apartment living might not be the best option for this energetic breed.
Due to their friendly and happy nature the Irish Red Setter has become a popular choice as therapy dogs. They become very attached to their human companions and they need human contact and are not suitable to be left alone for long periods.
Kerry Blue Terrier.
The Kerry Blue Terrier derives its name from the County in Ireland where it was first recorded, County Kerry.
The Kerry Blue were used to control vermin in Ireland, such as rabbits, foxes and badgers, but went on to become extremely dependable working dogs in Ireland guarding sheep and cattle against harm.
The Kerry Blue is famed for its loyalty to their owners but might not be friendly to strangers.
Kerry Blue puppies are born black and their beautiful blue sheen develops as they get older.
They are a strong and healthy breed with a good life expectancy.
Their world famous blue coat is like wool and they do require a lot of grooming and care.
Despite a Kerry Blue winning Crufts, they are not a very popular breed but are not on the endangered dogs list.
They might not be the best choice of pet if you have children. The Kerry Blue is extremely active and needs a large amount of exercise.
Michael Collins famously owned a Kerry Blue and it is one of Ireland most famous national dogs.
Irish Water Spaniel.
The Irish Water Spaniel is an intelligent, active breed with a wonderful temperament and loving nature.
The Irish Water spaniel is said to be one of the oldest of all the spaniels and its history stretches back over 1000 years.
Due to their high level of intelligence the Irish Water Spaniel can be easily trained.
They absolutely love swimming and have webbed feet to help them move swiftly thought the water.
Their coat is easily identified as it is made up of long soft curls and they are normally a dark brown color.
Their tail is long and hairless and helps to guide them through the water. They do not shed their coat and can look like a poodle.
These beautiful dogs have a long life span of 12 years and have are a healthy breed.
As gundogs they are traditionally used for retrieving foul when hunting.
The Irish Water Spaniel make a wonderful family pet and is very loyal to the family.
This gentle animal is also wonderful with children but they do need to be socialized early and they make excellent guard dogs.
The Irish Wheaten Terrier.
The Irish Wheaten Terrier is another Ancient Irish Breed
of Terrier. These beautiful dogs were initially used to hunt and exterminate pests such as rodents, rabbits and foxes.
They were hard working farm dogs that were also used to guard livestock.
The Irish Wheaten Terrier is a healthy dog with a long life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.
They have a beautiful soft coat, and they do not shed, so they need constant grooming to avoid matting and skin problems.
The Irish Wheaten is famous for their wonderful bouncy personalities and is extremely energetic and requires a large amount of exercise.
They are incredibly loyal and obedient, as a result, are easily trained.
They are a wonderful family pet that is gentle and loyal, and they become very attached to their family.
They also love to greet people with a bouncy hello and a wagging tail.
Due to their high level of energy and active nature, these happy dogs need a lot of space to run around and exercise.
The Irish Wheaten Terrier puppies are born red of brown, and as they get older, these vivid colors fade to white.
The Kerry Beagle.
The beautiful Kerry Beagle Is not related to the beagle we see today as they date back to the 6th Century.
They are an extremely active and intelligent breed and are excellent trackers.
The Kerry Beagle is one of Ireland’s Ancient breeds and is said to be a descendant from the massive Celtic hound.
It is said to be from the same time as the Irish Wolfhounds.
This beautiful dog is sadly listed as now being a vulnerable breed.
The Kerry Beagle gets its name from the county where it was first recorded in Ireland.
The Kerry Beagle is a medium sized dog with soft short hair and they are usually and black and tan color.
They have a good lifespan and are a healthy bread of dog.
The Kerry Beagle were originally breed to hunt but now make a wonderful pet especially with children.
They are gentle, kind hearted and extremely patient. They like all beagles have a tendency to bark a little more then most.
They are energetic and full of life and want nothing more then exercise and love.
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