Irish Dog Breeds: Nine Native Breeds and How to Choose a Good Match
In this article
By Dr Duncan Houston
Irish dogs include towering hounds, active gundogs and determined terriers. Their shared country of origin does not mean they share one personality or suit the same home.
Learning about their original work can help you anticipate daily needs, but the individual dog's behaviour, upbringing and health matter just as much as the breed name.
Quick Answer
Ireland has nine native breeds: two hounds, three gundogs and four terriers. Choose between them by considering exercise, grooming, size, prey drive and the time you can provide throughout the dog's life. Breed descriptions are useful starting points, not guarantees of temperament or health.
The nine native Irish breeds
The Irish Kennel Club's native-breed list includes all nine below.
| Breed | Heritage or defining feature | A practical consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Irish Wolfhound | Giant sighthound | Plan for transport, large equipment, secure space and substantial lifetime costs. |
| Kerry Beagle | Irish scent hound | Provide scent-based activities and reliable physical security. |
| Irish Red Setter | Active red-coated gundog | Allow time for exercise, training and coat maintenance. |
| Irish Red and White Setter | Distinct setter breed | Consider an active household that enjoys outdoor activities. |
| Irish Water Spaniel | Curly-coated water-retrieving breed | Budget for coat care as well as physical and mental exercise. |
| Irish Terrier | Wiry-coated terrier | Practise calm handling, recall and appropriate outlets for investigation. |
| Kerry Blue Terrier | Blue-grey coat in adults | Prepare for regular grooming and positive training. |
| Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | Soft, wheaten-coloured coat | Make brushing and professional grooming part of the routine. |
| Glen of Imaal Terrier | Low-set, substantial terrier | Small height does not eliminate exercise or training needs. |
The American Kennel Club's Irish breed overview provides additional historical background.
Compare the commitments before choosing
A setter's enthusiasm may suit someone who enjoys regular outdoor training but overwhelm a household expecting a quiet ornamental companion. A Wolfhound's size affects everything from lifting an injured dog to finding suitable boarding. A terrier may enjoy searching, digging and chasing even when small enough for an apartment.
Assess your ordinary working week, not an ideal holiday schedule. Can someone provide toilet breaks, companionship and training? Can your home safely separate the dog from visiting children, cats or smaller pets when needed? No breed should be assumed safe around other animals without individual assessment.
Health questions worth asking
Request the actual parental screening results recommended for the breed and discuss them with a vet. Registration documents and a broad DNA panel do not replace relevant clinical screening.
The Irish Wolfhound Club highlights heart screening. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club's health resources address protein-losing kidney and intestinal disorders, among other concerns. Ask what testing can establish, what it cannot exclude and what ongoing monitoring is recommended.
Do not buy on a promise of a completely hypoallergenic dog. No breed is entirely hypoallergenic, and lower shedding can still come with substantial grooming.
A sensible selection plan
- Meet adult dogs. Observe size, movement, coat and everyday behaviour beyond puppy photographs.
- Speak with a responsible breeder or rescue. Ask about social experience, health history, support and why this dog suits your circumstances.
- Review records before committing. Check screening, veterinary care and identification, allowing time for questions.
- Cost the full routine. Include food, preventive care, grooming, training, transport and unexpected treatment.
- Prepare the home. Provide secure boundaries, comfortable resting places and a gradual settling-in plan.
Common mistakes
- Choosing entirely by coat colour, heritage or popularity.
- Assuming a short-legged terrier requires little activity.
- Using forceful training because a breed is described as independent.
- Believing health-tested parents guarantee a disease-free puppy.
- Overlooking an adult rescue whose needs and temperament are already better understood.
Routine care and warning signs
Use reward-based training, maintain a healthy body condition and introduce grooming gently. Tailor exercise to age, fitness and health rather than forcing a breed-based quota. A sudden change in behaviour or willingness to move deserves a health assessment. Collapse, breathing distress or a swollen abdomen with unsuccessful retching requires emergency care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Irish breed is best with children?
There is no guaranteed child-safe breed. Consider the individual dog and use active adult supervision and separate rest spaces.
Can an Irish breed live in an apartment?
Possibly, depending on the dog and the care available. Noise, stairs, toilet access and activity needs matter more than floor area alone.
Are terriers difficult to train?
They can learn well with clear rewards and suitable motivation. Independence is a reason to adapt training, not use punishment.
The right match is a dog whose needs you can meet consistently, including when your routine becomes busy.
For help considering health and care questions before choosing a dog, visit ASK A VET™.
