Glen of Imaal Terrier

32-35 lbs
12-14"
Ireland

The Glen of Imaal Terrier is considered to be a somewhat odd looking little dog. He is stocky in body and stumpy in leg. He has a sturdy body and then short legs and stands only about 14 inches tall at the shoulder. He is a feisty dog who has a big heart and loves his family. Originally bred to hunt vermin, badgers and foxes, he loves to dig and to have a job to do. The Glen of Imaal Terrier is a great watchdog and sounds mightier than he really is. He does require training to ensure that his Terrier tendencies do not drive his family crazy. 

purpose Purpose
fox, badger and vermin hunter
history Date of Origin
16th century
ancestry Ancestry
terrier

Glen of Imaal Terrier Health

Sketch of Glen of Imaal Terrier
Average Size
Male Glen of Imaal Terrier size stats
Height: 12-14 inches Weight: 35-40 lbs
Female Glen of Imaal Terrier size stats
Height: 12-14 inches Weight: 32-35 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Usually A Very Healthy Breed
Minor Concerns
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Overeating Tendencies
  • Skin Defects
Occasional Tests
  • Blood Test
  • Eye Examination
  • Physical Examination

Glen of Imaal Terrier Breed History

The Glen of Imaal Terrier’s history is centered around the geographical area of the Glen of Imaal and dates back to the late 16th century. Many of the fanciers of the Glen of Imaal Terrier claim that around 1570, Queen Elizabeth I hired Lowland and Flemish soldiers to help with the trouble England was having in Ireland. Queen Elizabeth I paid these soldiers with tracts of land that were located in the Wicklow Mountains. This area is known as the Glen of Imaal. These soldiers brought their dogs with them into the Glen of Imaal and over time bred these dogs with Irish breeds including terriers and hounds. The breed that eventually evolved was a terrier named for the glen, the Glen of Imaal Terrier. This terrier breed was bred to hunt the fox, badger and other vermin. The Glen of Imaal Terrier Club of Ireland was formed in 1933. The Irish Kennel Club officially recognized the breed in 1934. The Glen, as these terriers are affectionately called, was the third Irish terrier breed to be recognized overall. There are only four Irish terrier breeds overall that are recognized. The breed suffered a slight demise during the wars but saw a surge in the 1970s and the Glen of Imaal Terriers began to be seen throughout Europe. In 1980 England gave the Glen of Imaal Terrier full breed status in its registry. The Glen of Imaal Terrier is thought to have come into the United States in the 1930s by immigrants from Ireland. In the 1960s the first litter of Glen of Imaal Terriers was recorded.

Glen of Imaal Terrier Breed Appearance

The Glen of Imaal Terrier should weigh no more than 40 pounds and stand no taller than 14 inches at the shoulder. This small dog is muscular and alert. He has brown eyes that are constantly watching and small ears that fold over. His tail is generally docked and carried gaily. He is quick and can turn easily which helped him hunt fox and badger. His coat is harsh in texture and a medium length. He does have a double coat and the undercoat is soft and will shed with the seasons. The Glen of Imaal Terrier comes in three distinct coat colors: wheaten, blue and brindle. The wheaten color can be cream to red. Blue coats can range in color from deep slate to silver. A brindle can be any color but usually has more blue. The Glen of Imaal Terrier will require stripping of his undercoat usually twice a year. This requires using a stripping comb or hand plucking the dead hairs. It can be time consuming but is necessary to ensure that his coat is healthy.

Appearance of Glen of Imaal Terrier
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Glen of Imaal Terrier eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Glen of Imaal Terrier nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
gray Glen of Imaal Terrier coat
Gray
brown Glen of Imaal Terrier coat
Brown
red Glen of Imaal Terrier coat
Red
cream Glen of Imaal Terrier coat
Cream
fawn Glen of Imaal Terrier coat
Fawn
blue Glen of Imaal Terrier coat
Blue
silver Glen of Imaal Terrier coat
Silver
white Glen of Imaal Terrier coat
White
sable Glen of Imaal Terrier coat
Sable
brindle Glen of Imaal Terrier coat
Brindle
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Glen of Imaal Terrier wiry coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Glen of Imaal Terrier Breed Maintenance

Overall, the Glen of Imaal Terrier is a low maintenance dog. He does require to be stripped twice a year . This means that his undercoat has to be plucked out either by hand or by using a stripping comb. It can be time consuming to strip him out completely but for overall skin and coat health, it is necessary. Aside from stripping him, the Glen of Imaal Terrier will shed little to no hair around the house. His ears should be cleaned weekly and the hairs in his ears need to be plucked every 2 to 3 weeks. The hair in his ears will trap moisture, dirt and oils that can cause ear infections, therefore it is important to pluck this hair and not simply cut it. Nails should be trimmed every 2 to 3 weeks. The hair between his toes and pads should also be trimmed when he has his nails done. The Glen of Imaal Terrier does not require weekly baths, but should be bathed at least 3 to 4 times a year and on an as needed basis. Since he has a harsh coat, when bathing, use shampoo that is specially formulated for dogs with wiry or harsh coat. 

Brushes for Glen of Imaal Terrier
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Glen of Imaal Terrier requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Glen of Imaal Terrier Temperament

The Glen of Imaal Terrier is spunky and intelligent. Even though they are high spirited, they can be well-behaved and calm when properly trained. He makes a great family companion and loves playing with children and toys. He should be monitored when playing with other animals and never leave him alone with small pets such as hamsters, ferrets, rabbits and mice. He is a digger and will dig just to pass the time. Do not leave him unattended in your yard for long as he can quickly excavate the yard or even dig under the fences. He is also a great watch dog but if left to his own devices, he can become a nuisance barker. The Glen of Imaal Terrier can be an intense dog when he is working and loves to focus on a job. The Glen of Imaal Terrier is excellent at dog competitions such as earth dog tests, agility and obedience. Be careful with any water sports such as dock diving as the Glen of Imaal Terrier is not a strong swimmer due to his short legs and stocky body. He loves to please and also loves to hear that he did a good job.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
8 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Glen of Imaal Terrier Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.5 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.75 - $2.25
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$52.50 - $67.50
food bag monthly cost

Glen of Imaal Terrier Height & Weight

6 Months
Sketch of Glen of Imaal Terrier at six months
Male Glen of Imaal Terrier size stats at six months
Height: 10.5 inches Weight: 27.5 lbs
Female Glen of Imaal Terrier size stats at six months
Height: 10.5 inches Weight: 17.5 lbs
12 Months
Sketch of Glen of Imaal Terrier at 12 months
Male Glen of Imaal Terrier size stats at 12 months
Height: 11.5 inches Weight: 35.0 lbs
Female Glen of Imaal Terrier size stats at 12 months
Height: 11.5 inches Weight: 30.0 lbs
18 Months
Sketch of Glen of Imaal Terrier at 18 months
Male Glen of Imaal Terrier size stats at 18 months
Height: 13.0 inches Weight: 37.5 lbs
Female Glen of Imaal Terrier size stats at 18 months
Height: 13.0 inches Weight: 32.5 lbs

Top Glen of Imaal Terrier Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable Glen of Imaal Terrier breeders of 2024.
Top Glen of Imaal Terrier breeder Tipperary Farm
Tipperary Farm
McDonald, Pennsylvania
Top Glen of Imaal Terrier breeder Keadeen Glen of Imaal Terriers
Keadeen Glen of Imaal Terriers
Renton, Washington
Top Glen of Imaal Terrier breeder Castle Valley Glen of Imaal Terriers
Castle Valley Glen of Imaal Terriers
Mount Orab, Ohio
Top Glen of Imaal Terrier breeder Parrsons Glen of Imaal Terriers
Parrsons Glen of Imaal Terriers
Burnsville, North Carolina
Top Glen of Imaal Terrier breeder Glen of Imaal Terrier Club of America
Glen of Imaal Terrier Club of America
Salinas, California
Top Glen of Imaal Terrier breeder Powheiri Glen of Imaal Terrier
Powheiri Glen of Imaal Terrier
Denmark, Maine

Glen of Imaal Terrier Owner Experiences

Oscar
1 Year
5 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
I've rescued my Glen from the brink of starvation
2 years, 10 months ago
Toby
12 Weeks
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Hike
He is nice friend and loves cuddles
4 years, 7 months ago
Lucca
3 Years
1 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Smartest and most loyal dog I've ever owned. Non aggressive. He is a barker though.
3 years, 9 months ago
Rusty Rsquet Brown
12 Years
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Rusty is my best friend
3 years, 8 months ago
Animal Expert Question Icon
Question - Other
Question

I have a dog and am trying to determine the breed I know it’s a terrier but the exact type not for sure I have a picture or two if needed

Answer
Animal Expert Question Icon
Question - My pet
Question

I am trying to find my dogs breed, the glen of imaal is the closest looking I can find, but I’m sure he’s not a pure breed. I have researched the glen but he has some different tendencies compared to what the glen is known for. If I were to send a photo is there any chance you would be able to inform me if he’s breed? Thankyou for any help

Answer
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd