In honor of St Patrick’s Day I thought it would be interesting to do an article about dogs that originated from the Emerald Isle.
Turns out that there are nine native breeds of dog from Ireland:
• Irish Red and White Setter
• Irish Red Setter
• Irish Wolfhound
• Kerry Beagle
• Irish Water Spaniel
• Glen of Imaal Terrier
• Kerry Blue Terrier
• Irish Terrier
• Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Here’s the history of some of them.
Irish Setters (Red & White, Red)
When we think of Irish dogs, these gorgeous setters often come to mind. With their long, silky coats, feathery tails, and energetic, high spirit dispositions, Irish Setters were originally developed as a working dog for hunting game. They are intelligent, hardy dogs with a tremendous energy and enthusiasm. There are actually 2 breeds of Irish Setters, the Red and White Setter which dates back to the 17th century, and the solid Red Setter, which most of us are familiar with. By the early 1900’s, the red and white setter was so rare that the breed almost became extinct, but with the efforts of dedicated breeders, the Red and White Setter was re-established and today it can be seen in at Irish shows and Field Trials.
Wolfhounds
Irish Wolfhounds are huge muscular dogs, powerful and courageous. This is a very ancient breed, believed to have been established in Ireland by the first century AD. Historically, wolfhounds were used for hunting the packs of wolves that occupied large areas of uncleared forest in Europe. In the middle ages, pairs of Irish hounds were highly prized, and given as gifts to the royal houses of Europe. In the 1400’s, documents show that each county in Ireland was required to keep 24 wolfhounds to protect farmers’ flocks. As the wolf disappeared, so did this brave breed; their numbers were reduced almost to the point of extinction by the end of the 17th century. A revival of interest in the breed accompanied the growth of Irish nationalism in the late 1800’s help bring the Irish Wolfhound back; it is now considered a living symbol of Irish culture and of the Celtic past.
Kerry Beagle
Next to the Irish Wolfhound, the Kerry Beagle may be the oldest native Irish breed. Believed to have been brought to Ireland by the Celts, the Kerry Beagle is a large, scenthound very different from the smaller beagle that we are familiar with. (The name Beagle is believed to be derived from the Irish word “beag” (meaning small) and although they share the name, the Kerry Beagle is significantly larger than its more familiar cousin and was often used to hunt stag and other large game.
Irish Water Spaniel
Now that the Obama family has picked their breed, Portugese Water Dogs are in the news, but did you know that Ireland has its own breed of water dog? This rare breed is the sole surviving water dog of the British Isles and is also known as Whiptail, Shannon Spaniel, Rat Tail Spaniel and Bog Dog. These water loving dogs have slightly webbed feet and a dense curly coat with an unusual purple hue. Like other water dogs, they shed very little. Irish Water Spaniels are high energy dogs, intelligent, quick to learn, alert, and inquisitive. With proper training, and lots of exercise, they make loving and loyal pets.
Next article, we’ll take a look at the terriers of Ireland, including the very popular Soft Coated Wheaten
