I'M HOPING THERE ARE SOME IRISH TERRIER OWNERS OUT THERE WHO CAN GIVE ME SOME HONEST INFORMATION.
sINCE MEETING MY FIRST 'I.T'  (WHO WAS DELIGHTFUL WITH BOTH PEOPLE AND DOGS) WHILE ON MY DOG GROOMING COURSE AT COLLEGE 4 YEARS AGO I DECIDED THAT WHEN I'M READY TO GET ANOTHER DOG (I HAVE AN 8 YEAR OLD BORDER TERRIER X LAKELAND BITCH) I WOULD GET AN IRISH TERRIER.
i HAVE SINCE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH 2 OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN JUST AS EVEN TEMPERED AS 'THE FIRST'
HOWEVER.ALL THE INFO I READ ABOUT THE BREED SAYS THEY WILL NOT GET ON WITH OTHER DOGS.also an elderly aquaintance of the family who judges most breeds at championship level says they are bad tempered and i'd be mad to get one  tarring a whole breed with the same brush!
is it a case of if they are socialised well with other dogs when young they will be okay or are they notorious fighters?
I'M NOT NAIVE I KNOW THE TERRIER TEMPERAMENT IS  'UNIQUE' AND NEEDS A FIRM HAND IN TRAINING
MY OWN TERRIER CAN BE A BIT OF AN OLD CURMUDGEN AND WONT BE FUSSED AROUND BY OTHER DOGS BUT ONE HARD STARE AND A GRUMBLE AND MOST DOGS ARE PUT IN THERE PLACE.
PLEASE TELL ME THEY ARE NOT THE FIERCE BEASTIES THEY SEEM TO BE LABELED SURELY THE FEW IVE MET CANT BE EXTREME EXCEPTIONS!!

LUCY

ONE HARD STARE AND A GRUMBLE AND MOST DOGS ARE PUT IN THERE PLACE (sic)

Or start a fight?

Must say the few I've met have been somewhat 'fiesty/sharp' ...but then I have only met a few
Archer

Hi Lucy, I own an Irish, Olive.  She is exeptionally good with other dogs, although occasionally a little submissive with dogs she knows well.  However, on the occasions that she has been challenged to fight by another dog, something just comes over her and she can turn very aggressive and I know she would fight the bit out - she has left me a little unnerved at times. I would be somewhat concerned if your own dog can be a bit grumpy, as generally speaking an Irish Terrier won't back down if threatened. Olive has NEVER initiated a fight.

That being said however, Irish Terriers can be very feisty, their are nicknamed "red daredevils", as they go full throttle into situations without any regards of consequences.  I have met some ITs that HATE other dogs with a vengence.  I think as with most breeds if you socialise from an early age, you have a better chance of making your dog tolerate other dogs.  Irish terriers are not for the faint hearted though and generally do not take well to obedience training - they are free spirits.

Also, as with all breeds, not all Irish terriers are great with people.  Olive is very suspicious of strangers, particularly if I am out walking her by myself ( men are not allowed within 20 feet of me without Olive warning them off ).

If you want to discuss this more please email me at joanne@inverclydeonline.com (but be warned, IT's are my favourite subject) or join the forum as guests can only ask one question. If you email me I will also pass on details of IT related websites where you can ask all the questions you have.

Best of luck with your decision, Irish Terriers are a wonderful breed for the right person.

Joanne

Guest
you could also join the champdogs forum for a chat...its free but addictive
Archer