Glen of Imaal Terrier - GlenTyrs Kennel

           History of the Glen of Imaal Terrier
            (At left 1933 group photo)
       The Glen of Imaal Terrier is an inhabitant of the county of 
  Wicklow, which is on the eastern seaboard of Ireland. This 
  severe, bleak area stretches out in all of its distinction encircled 
  by protective mountains. 
       The glen of Imaal has its own tales and legends of history
  and wars. It was known to be a point of splendid 
  accomplishments and powerful actions of courage.  This wild Irish 
  glen has continued much the same throughout the years, with the 
  exception that there are no permanent inhabitants there today.

This uncultivated Irish valley fairly teemed with game, heather, fern, and bracken. It was here in this valley,
in an unfrequented area, with impoverished soil, that was presented to the Lowland and Hessian soldiers in
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries for service to Queen Elizabeth the First.
The farmers that eventually descended from these soldiers found they had to use all of their faculties and
expertise as well as all of their instincts to persist in this bitter locality. Every resource was utilized by
these farmers who had to manage a livelihood from this land. Their hard working determinations helped them
pry out an existence from the unyielding ground. Their inborn bullheadedness assisted them in forcibly
securing an existence from the unyielding earth. Any animal that was unable to help support itself could not
be tolerated.
This was the region that bred into the Glen of Imaal Terrier all of the qualities of the much larger canines
that they were bred down from, and these were the traits that were so necessary to enable them to serve
their owners tough existence. This small companion was as important to his friend, the farmer, as was the
food that was necessary for the livestock.
The fact that the Glen of Imaal Terrier positively thrived under these demanding circumstances
demonstrates in the breed a disposition of toughness equal to that which was the same as the personality
of its first owners.
For as long as the people of Eire can remember, the terriers from that section of the earth have been,
and still are, notable for their toughness and courage, they had to be for they were being used to go to
ground to hunt badger and other vermin. First and foremost, a farming and hunting animal, the Glen of
Imaal Terrier earned a reputation for gameness.
Of all the indigenous Irish breeds of terriers seen today, the Glen of Imaal Terrier is the least identified,
still it is the single type bred out of Ireland that is low enough to the earth to enter and challenge the
badger in his den.
Whatever the precise date of the inception of the Glen of Imaal Terrier, he always has been typically
portrayed as a working terrier, and has been bred for this purpose.
Part of his history is also known to have been spent with numerous hours at the dog-wheel as the
turnspit. This contraption was a treadmill that rotated the meat on a spit as it cooked. It was propelled for
hours by this energetic little dog. Their small size, low fronts, and strong rears made then ideally matched
to this chore, and earned for them the nickname the 'Turnspit Dog

     One of the other early written accounts of what may have 
  been an early Glen of Imaal Terrier is found in the book entitled 
  Shaw's BOOK OF THE DOG (circa 1890) in the segment on Irish 
  Terriers there is a description of a breed show that provoked   
  much controversy. It was held in Dublin in 1876, and the text 
  reads  as thus, `Long, low, and useful dogs were held up for 
  admiration,' also, `Long, and useful, if you like' writes the reviewer,
  but never low for an Irish Terrier.' There are words to the effect
  that the judging was anything less than balanced.Apparently 
  there was no effort to judge conformation according to type; all 
  forms were shown indiscriminately,thick, short skulls and long,

slender ones, hard coats, soft coats, long legs, short legs all were represented and were judged together.
Almost as if the four terriers of Ireland as we know them today, were being shown together in one ring.
Definitely, a Glen of Imaal Terrier can be described as short legged, with a thick, short skull. It certainly
makes one wonder.
A second turn of the century publication, THE TWENTIETH DOG, written by, HERBERT COMPTON,
refers to a terrier from the County Wicklow as preserved distinct and highly prized for a century, that was long
in body, short in leg and blue black in color."' That aptly describes our friend.
Another book of the late nineteenth century, MODERN DOGS, by RAWDON LEE, refers to County
Wicklow and mentions that is recognized for its terriers. The author comments, "There is a glen, Imaal, in the
Wicklow mountains that has always been, and still is, celebrated for its terriers."Knowing this as the locale
and origin of our Glen of Imaal Terrier, we can only assume he is speaking of the breed.
Many of the past older generations remember that their grandfathers kept these dogs and recall that the
breed has changed little since then. In DOGS IN BRITAIN by C.L.B. HUBBARD, there is a photograph of a
group of Glen of Imaal Terriers and their owners taken in 1933. (Pictured above) The animals in this picture
are surprisingly similar to the Glens that are found today.
Before the Glen of Imaal Terrier became recognized at dog shows, he had already developed into the
tough, strong, sturdy dog that we know today. This stout hardy breed had to hunt badger, fox, and rat. It has
not been unheard of for the Glen to head into the water after otter or mink.
The Glen of Imaal Terrier was certainly the last of the four terriers to gain recognition upon his native soil.
In 1933 the Glen of Imaal Terrier was exhibited for the first time in Ireland on Saint Patrick's Day, in Dublin.
They were next recognized by the Kennel Club of England in 1975, the States Kennel Club of America in
1987, and the United Kennel Club (U.K.C.) in 1994