Dog Breeds 101: Glen of Imaal Terrier

Photo – Wikipedia(PD)

The Glen of Imaal Terrier, simply referred to as Glen is the rarest of the four Irish terrier breeds. This dog has the personality of a typical terrier; stubborn, fiesty, impulsive and independent. They were originally bred to eradicate vermin and to aid their masters in hunting for foxes ad badgers. Inside the house, they are loving and affectionate pets but can get a bit rowdy if not given plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation which is why they require a dedicated owner who will be able to cater to those needs and does not spend a lot of time away from home. The breed’s average life span is 12 to 15 years. Glens can grow up to 12 to 14 inches tall and weighs approximately 35 pounds. The coat is medium in length which is coarse to touch and comes in the shades of wheaten, cream, red, silver and brindle.[1] [2]

The breed began when Queen Elizabeth hired Flemish and Lowland soldiers to eradicate the uprisings which were happening in England in 1570. As a reward, she gave them land in the mountains of the Glen of Imaal in County Wicklow, Ireland. Eventually, the settlers there began to bred a dog that would help them with everyday work, act as a hunting companion and get rid of vermin. The Glen of Imaal Terrier became the perfect dog in that remote area of the world. [2] The breed used to be popular but for some reason, it’s population dwindled in the past decades and today, the Glen of Imaal Terrier is considered to be the rarest domesticated dog breed. The breed population is extremely low and it is impossible to repopulate it in a sensible time frame. The Glen of Imaal Terrier is, sadly, likely to go extinct in the next ten years. [3]