Glen of Imaal Terrier

The Glen of Imaal Terrier was actually named after a place where it was developed, a remote valley in the western Wicklow Mountains of Ireland called Glen of Imaal. Its creation is a result of a rebellion in Ireland in 1798.

After Queen Elizabeth I hired French and Hessian soldiers to put a stop to the rebellion, many of the soldiers were awarded lands for their service and settled in the Wicklow area. They brought their low-slung hounds with them that they bred with local terriers to develop what is now a distinct breed known as the Glen of Imaal Terrier.

The breed was originally developed to be a multi-purpose hunter and was utilised to hunt foxes, badgers, and rodents. Its tenacious spirit also took the breed to participate in organised dog fights. As well, the Glen of Imaal Terrier fills the role of a turnspit dog, where it worked a treadmill-like contraption (also called a dog wheel) to turn meat over fires while cooking.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier was recognised by the Irish Kennel Club in 1933, making it the last Irish terrier to be recognised in Ireland. Then in 1975, the British Kennel Club also recognised the breed, while the American Kennel Club followed suite twelve years later in 1987. Today, Glens are gaining popularity as it proves to be an excellent family dog while retaining its traditional role of a silent hunting companion.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier has a short stature, but big in size. It is often referred to as "the big dog on short legs" since its body is longer than its length with a standard height of 30 to 36 centimetres, and a weight of 35 to 40 pounds. Its form is attributed to a structural disorder called achondroplasia (dwarfism). However, this genetic anomaly gives the breed a nice and gentle appearance.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier has a large head, strong foreface, and a muzzle that tapers to the tip of its black nose. This dog breed also has a well-defined stop and medium-sized brown eyes that are set well apart to add to its charming appearance. Its ears are small and are half-prick (folds over) when Glens are happy or alert. Its distinctive feature is its front feet, which are turned out.

When it comes to its coat, the Glen of Imaal Terrier is outfitted with a medium-length double coat. Its topcoat is harsh to touch while the undercoat is soft. The accepted breed colours for the Glen of Imaal Terrier are blue, brindle and wheaten.

When it comes to children, the Glen of Imaal Terrier is good-natured and well-behaved. However, it is important that interaction between the two is supervised to make sure that neither gets hurt unintentionally.

It is well suited to any homes, whether in a large rural home or a small urban home. Glens must be kept on a leash when outside. Some would argue that even a fence will not be able to stop this dog when its prey drive kicks in. With this said, Glens will not hesitate to give chase to smaller animals. Although, it can live with cats and other dogs if they were raised alongside the breed.

One can never be sure about the real nutritional need of a dog unless you consult with a veterinarian. It is important to recognise that each dog has different dietary needs depending on its size, age, health, metabolism and activity level.

For example, a typical daily calorie needs of an adult Glen that weighs 35 pounds.

• Senior and less active: up to 890 calories daily
• Typical adults: up to 1,000 calories daily
• Physically active/working dogs: up to 1,115 calories daily

Owning a dog is not as simple as most people think. Once the excitement of getting a puppy wears off, you will be facing financial hurdles ahead if you did not prepare enough funds to raise it. In the end, you may have to give it up for adoption. This can be prevented if you know how much it will cost to buy and raise a dog. To give you an idea, see an overview of potential costs when buying a Glen of Imaal Terrier puppy.

• Price of a well-bred puppy - £500 (one-off)
• Pet insurance - £20 to £40 a month
• Veterinary costs - £800 a year
• Food costs - £20 to £30 a month
• Dog supplies - £200 (one-off)