Canis lupus familiaris
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Featured photoglen-of-imaal-terrier.jpgThe Glen of Imaal Terrier is a Irish Glen-of-Imaal turnspit-dog and ratter — one of four native Irish terrier breeds. The Glen of Imaal Terrier is one of the four native Irish terrier breeds (alongside the Irish Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, and Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier) and is named for the Glen of Imaal in County Wicklow, Ireland — the remote glen where the breed was developed by 16th-century Flemish and Hessian mercenaries who had been granted land in Wicklow by Queen Elizabeth I.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Terrier
- Origin country
- Ireland (Wicklow)
- Origin period
- 16th century (formalized 1933)
- Coat type
- Wirehaired
- Coat colors
- Wheaten (any shade from cream through golden reddish-tan), Blue, Brindle
- Average lifespan
- 10-15 years
- Recognition
- AKC 2004 · FCI 1980 · UKC 2004 · Group 3 — Terriers (Section 1: Large and medium-sized Terriers)
Origin
The Glen of Imaal Terrier is one of the four native Irish terrier breeds (alongside the Irish Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, and Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier) and is named for the Glen of Imaal in County Wicklow, Ireland — a remote, mountainous glen used by the British Army for live-fire artillery practice since 1798 and largely closed to outsiders. Breed tradition holds that the breed was developed by 16th-century Flemish and Hessian mercenaries who had been granted land in Wicklow by Queen Elizabeth I after the Desmond Rebellion (1579-1583); these settlers crossed their continental working terriers with local Irish dogs to produce the modern Glen. The breed was used as a working ratter and as a 'turnspit dog' to power the rotating roasting spits in Wicklow farmhouse kitchens (the spit was connected to a treadwheel powered by the dog). The Irish Kennel Club registered the breed in 1933 and the AKC admitted it in 2004.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 2004, the United Kennel Club followed in 2004, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 302) in 1980. The FCI assigns the breed to Group 3 — Terriers (Section 1: Large and medium-sized Terriers).
Standard
The AKC and FCI standards describe a medium-sized, low-set, working terrier of great spirit and strength, with a mediumly-long body, slightly bowed front legs, and a unique 'great heart' construction — broad through the chest and shoulders. The defining feature is the harsh, medium-length double coat: a soft, dense undercoat under a hard, weather-resistant outer coat. Recognized colours are wheaten (any shade from cream through golden reddish-tan), blue, and brindle. The breed stands 32-36 cm at the withers and weighs 14-18 kg.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
What is the Glen of Imaal Terrier's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the Glen of Imaal Terrier in the Terrier Group. The Terrier Group gathers breeds developed to hunt and dispatch vermin or to go to ground after fox and badger; the name derives from the Latin terra ('earth'). The breed's foundation working role was as a Irish Glen-of-Imaal turnspit-dog and ratter — one of four native Irish terrier breeds.
When was the Glen of Imaal Terrier officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 2004; the United Kennel Club followed in 2004; the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 302) in 1980.
What is the average lifespan of a Glen of Imaal Terrier?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the Glen of Imaal Terrier's average lifespan in the 10-15 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
