IRISH GLEN OF IMAAL TERRIER

IRISH GLEN OF IMAAL TERRIER

FCI-Standard N°302/ 25. 04. 2001 / GB

ORIGIN : Ireland.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD : 27.01.2001.

UTILIZATION : Like all other terriers, this small, tough breed had to hunt badgers and foxes, and to keep the rat population to a minimum. Now he is a gentle and docile family dog.

CLASSIFICATION FCI : Group 3 Terriers.
Section 1 Large and medium sized Terriers.
Without working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : Like many dogs in the Terrier group, not really appreciated by gentlemen sportsmen before the middle of the 19th century, the Irish Glen of Imaal is an old breed which was simply ignored for a long time, rather than the result of later breed experiments. He is very much a local dog, confined to the bleak area of the Glen of Imaal. The farmers of this area, who were descended from soldiers given land in the 16th and 17th centuries as payment for service rendered to the British Crown, had to utilize their natural cunning an dexterity to survive in this harsh terrain. A dog, who could not pull his weight in the day-to-day struggle for existence would not be tolerated. So he had to spend long hours propelling dog wheels and was often pitted against other dogs in the dubious sport of dog fighting, customs now disappeared. Before the Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier became known at dog shows, he had evolved through generations of hard work into the strong sturdy dog we know today. The Irish Kennel Club gave official recognition to the breed in 1934 and a club to promote its interests was soon formed.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Medium sized with medium length coat, great strength with the impression of maximum substance for the size of the dog.

IMPORTANT PROPORTION :
Body longer than high and low to the ground.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Active, agile and silent when working. Game and spirited with great courage when called upon, otherwise gentle and docile, who oozes personality; his loyal and affectionate nature makes him a very acceptable house dog and companion. The Irish Glen of Imaal is said to be less easily excited than other terriers, though he is always ready to give chase when called on.

HEAD

CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Of good width and of fair length.
Stop : Pronounced.

FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Black.
Muzzle : Foreface of power, tapering to the nose.
Jaws : Strong.
Teeth : Teeth sound, regular, strong and of good size. Scissor bite.
Eyes : Brown, medium size, round and set well apart. Light eyes should be penalised.
Ears : Small rose or half pricked when alert, thrown back when in repose. Full drop or prick undesirable.

NECK : Very muscular and of moderate length.

BODY : Deep and long, and longer than high.
Topline : Level.
Loin : Strong.
Chest : Wide and strong, ribs well sprung.

TAIL : Docked. Strong at root, well set on and carried gaily. Pups
tails docked to half length. A natural tail (undocked) is allowed for in countries where docking is banned by law.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS :
Shoulders : Broad, muscular and well laid back.
Forelegs : Short, bowed and well boned.
Feet : Compact and strong with rounded pads. Front feet to turn out slightly from pasterns.

HINDQUARTERS : Strong and well muscled.
Thighs : Well muscled.
Stifle : Well bent.
Hocks : Turned neither in nor out.
Feet : Compact and strong with rounded pads.

GAIT/MOVEMENT : Free, not hackneyed. Covers ground effortlessly with good drive behind.

COAT

HAIR : Medium length, of harsh texture with soft undercoat. Coat may be tidied to present a neat outline.

COLOUR :
Blue brindle but not toning to black.
Wheaten, from a light wheaten colour to a golden reddish
shade.
Puppies may be born coloured Blue, Wheaten, or Reddish. Lighter coloured pups usually have an inky blue mask, and there may also be a streak of Blue down the back, on the tail, and on the ears. The darker markings will clear with maturity.

SIZE AND WEIGHT :
Height at the withers : Dogs : 14 inches (35,5 cm) is the maximum.
Bitches : accordingly less.
Weight : Dogs : 35 lbs (16kg).
Bitches : accordingly less.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Hound ears.
Undershot bite, overshot bite.
Too short in body.
Straight front.

ELIMINATING FAULTS :
Aggresive or overly shy.
Black & Tan colour.
Narrow foreface.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

NOTE : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.