CéadMíleFáilte

This page is constantly in a state of flux, and was last updated 04/11/03. Please let me know if you find any outdated links. You can find the Irish terrier Club of America and the Soft Coated Wheaten Club of America locations on my links page. If you have any questions regarding the two terriers,or would just like to say Hi, please do not hesitate to e-mail me. Just hit the button at the bottom of one of the pages I do check e-mail 6 out of 7 days a week and it is the best way to contact me. If you are seriously interested in owning any type of purebred dog, I recommend following a few preliminary steps.

1. First, Visit the AKC site and take a look at the material offered on your prospective breed.

2. Find an AKC sanctioned dog show in your area. The easiest way to do this is, again, at the AKC's website. You may have to travel a little to find one, but a show is a good place to find the dog you're interested in. In my opinion, a show is the best place to get first-hand knowledge about a particular breed. You will be able to interact with the dog and the owner and/or handler. There is a good chance a breeder may be at a show also, although with some of the rare breeds, this may not be the case.A word of caution at this point--If the dog is being prepared for the ring (Hint: Dog on a table with a noose around its neck) DO NOT TOUCH.

   Please, be courteous and ask what the best time would be to ask a few questions and take a look at the dog. Take into consideration the Handlers, Breeders and owners at the show have spent many hours on the road, have in some cases been at the show grounds before the sun came up, have many hours to go, are a little stressed out, are trying to keep the dog looking good even though it may be raining, windy, dusty, hot, cold , the dog may be having a bad hair day ,or any combination of these elements. Ninety-nine percent of the people are more than happy to discuss their breeds with you. I would also suggest you talk to several representives of the breed in order to pick up as much information as possible.

   While you're at the show, be sure to watch the dogs in the ring!

3. Go to the library and research the breed. Even if the sources are older they will still have pertinent information concerning this subject. All in all, our four legged friends have not changed drastically since they originated.

4. If you have, at this time, decided, that the breed in question is right for you, now is the time to contact the respective club devoted to that breed. The clubs will be able to point you to breeders that may have pups available, they may have literature on the dogs that they can send you and of course they can answer any questions you may have.

5. Contact a breeder(s).

6. Finally, Be willing to wait. The wait for some puppies may be six months to a year (or more). Responsible breeders do not breed haphazardly and the females can be bred at most once a year(Canine heat cycles are 6 to 9 months apart-Once bred, a female needs to recuperate and, for health reasons, should skip a cycle before being bred again).

   Dogs are a big responsibility and will entail a great deal of time and money to care for. They will be with you for many happy years. If you are not willing to wait for a breed then question whether that breed is really for you. Remember you are adopting another member to your family.
   

   The Terrier (In General)

   . Terriers are not for everyone. As breeds go they are one of the most spirited or animated. Probably the hardest thing, for some, is the inclination of the terrier to be an independent thinker as well as retaining a puppy-like exuberance for the duration of their lifespan. For this reason they can be very difficult to train. There has to be a clear definition of who is in charge, as given the opportunity a terrier can,and will, test all boundaries of allowable behavior. This is part of the charm of the terrier group that also makes them appealing. Terriers, as a rule, are very smart. They can grasp concepts in a very short time, but they also can get bored with a training activity fairly quickly. They are good problem solvers, which includes, deciphering escape routes from enclosed areas, getting food out of cabinets etc..., the list goes on. They quickly learn to refrain from some of their troublesome antics until they are sure no one is watching. They do need room to exercise in order to vent excess energy; otherwise this can lead to some potentially destructive behavior. Which brings me to mention a very important tool for the new dog owner-the crate. Without spending too much time on this issue (maybe later, but there are many good articles already available) Dogs will tend to seek enclosed areas. If a dog has a chew toy and there is another dog around that might want the chew also, it will retreat into a safe area. This usually ends up as under a table and in a corner if possible. Some if small enough will go under the bed. In a dogs view a crate is a safe house, a sort of security (linus) blanket that it can retreat to for protection or to get away from things. They simplify housetraining, as a dog will not soil its own bed and when crate trained, will learn in an accelerated time to "go" outside. The idea is not to keep a dog in a small crate for extended periods of time on a continual basis but to facilitate its well-being. When transporting a dog a crate can act much like a seatbelt and keep the dog from flying about the vehicle and getting injured. Also, in case of an accident, it will keep the dog from running off and possibly getting lost. \

   IT and SCWT, A Quick Overview The Irish Terrier and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are medium sized terriers. They tend not to be as "bounce off the wall 24 hours a day" as the smaller terriers have a tendency to be. They will bark at something when there is a reason to do so. Some things mentioned here apply only to the Irish Terrier. The Wheaten is not as head strong as the Irish, although they will protect their property with unbounded determination just like their Irish counterpart. The two breeds, as a rule, are good with children, and will take much pulling of the ears and other forms of rough play children can dish out. This assumes,of course, that the dogs have been well socialized as puppies. Each and every dog, no matter what breed, should be exposed to as many different environments as possible. This includes areas that have plenty of noise and also the introduction to other people and dogs. A word of caution, socialization outside the home should only be done after the puppy is finished with its series of vaccinations to insure the safety of the puppy. A fenced in yard is a must. Recommended fence height for the Irish Terrier is 5 feet. If you are having a fence installed it is a good idea to get a 6 footer and have one foot buried in the ground to help deter escape by digging. In regards to the Irish Terrier invisible fencing is not recommended, as they can ignore the shock of the collar if they see something they want to get at, such as another animal. Invisible fencing also does not prevent other animals from wandering into the protected area.