Irish terrier advice please

[ScienceRocks]

Hello wise mners,

I am after some advice. DH and I are thinking of getting a dog, and an irish terrier seems to fit our criteria (I won't be allergic to it, not too big or too small, good with children, not too barky, ok in suburban areas). However, I have never owned a dog before and am keen to get as much advice as possible. I work from home so will be able to provide company but won't be able to devote all my time to it, will that be ok? Is the coat stripping as difficult as it is made to sound? How much exercise do they need? And so on...

Thank you!

She had the speed and stamina of a collie and wanted to be in the middle of any dog fight if there was one going (even if it was at some distance and completely unrelated to her) and killed things with gay abandon. She did learn not to chase the chickens though, so not completely out of control

Miniature poodles aren't all that small btw, toy ones are the small ones, mini are the medium ones.

Some people find sighthounds better as far as allergies go - but I'd check first when you narrow down breeds by spending some time with one if you can.

Have you considered a Miniature Schnauzer? Supposedly terrier looks without the terrier temperament. I say supposedly because I was in exactly your shoes, DC 4 & 6, novice dog owner who loved the look of terriers.

I say 'supposedly' because I got a lemon and my Schnauzer is actually a terrier, she appears not to have read the same info I did! But I understand that most are not like that at all!

They are also a non-shedding breed so might be ok with your allergies and blokes tend not to be as prejudiced against them as they are poodles.

Mistlethrush :) my old girl was the same and chased a hare Nd got up alongside and then her recall kicked in! I miss her so much :(

BUT BUT, they are dogs that inspire devotion and love. I adore my Finnegan and I was a total novice.
The stripping is no big deal. I don't do it, having researched it. I just take him to our local fab dog groomers.
He has no road sense and is naughty and mad, but so gorgeous.
Have a look at Irish terrier Facebook pages. We are all besotted.

I would suggest a mini schnauzer too...we have one and he is amazing, and they shed very little hair :) you can strip their coat or just get it clipped, which is nicer IMO and much softer.

My heart sunk when someone suggested gundogs....PLEASE be careful to not get a spaniel or lab from working gundog stock. They are (obviously with exceptions) not for beginners, and you would need to change your lifestyle considerably. My parents have had 2 working cocker spaniels and although they suit their lifestyle, they don't calm down and become sane until about 3 years old. Working cockers are now really fashionable and I've met sooo many people in our area who regret getting one....even one lady who tried to give me her dog!

We'll have to agree to differ misspilly I don't think I've met a mini schnauzer I liked (yet another one went for dpup yesterday...) whereas I have a fabulously chilled working gundog breed and have just spent a lovely afternoon with dpup's best friend, a working golden retriever

Yes Basildon my experience of mini schnauzers has not endeared me to them overly.In over 10 years of dog walking and boarding only one was a really nice ,uncomplicated and not yappy fella.And the most neurotic dog we ever boarded was a wheaten terrier.And don't get me started on fox / lakeland terriers!But admittedly much as I love dogs I'm not a terrier fan.Should be re- named terrorist in some cases.We have two working Springers and although only 6 months are so chilled already between walks,but our lifestyle means they are rarely not with us and get loads of variety and stimulation as well as walks.

Gosh, I wouldn't have said Wheatens were neurotic, that's not at all typical for the breed. They're usually ott friendly and rambunctious. Not that I am at all biased having had one for 14 years.

Mind you, a less terrier-like Wheaten than my girl I have yet to meet and I do think she was unusual for her breed, she was so easy to train and had her gold award a couple of months after she turned 1 year old.

Can someone explain all the stripping coat thing to me
What it means
What happens if you don't?
I have never heard it before

Those Irish retiree whoppers. Now they're a handful!

Stripping means that when the coat gets long, wild and slightly loose, you pull out the old coat. You use a small knife, a little knifey tool with teeth (in between a knife and a comb) or just your finger and thumb. It takes quite a while to do, and some dogs do hate it, as it can hurt a bit, particularly on sensitive areas like ears. It used to take me a few days or more to do my last dog, and the walks when he was half done were rather embarrassing....Strange skinny dog with huge head, or the reverse, a tiny thin head poking out of a big woolly body like a starved sheep.
It is an art really, and takes a while to learn. Many groomers don't hand strip as it takes so long. It is a complete pain actually, but nothing will make a wire-haired dog as smart as hand stripping. If you cut them the coat becomes soft, less weatherproof, and far paler in colour. It loses the proper wire texture.

What about a Border Terrier? Yes, I'm at it again

They are most definitely terriers, probably not ideal if you want a dog that never moves but a fabulous fun. They are often considered to be the most easy going of the 'proper' terriers. I hasten to add that by proper, I mean the type of terriers who exhibit the kind of behaviour people asscociate with terriers. They are loving, playful, high energy but willing to learn. They will push and are independent but not impossible for a novice (as long as you like a cheeky dog!)

Owlady - stripping is removing the dead top coat . Most BT's you see are stripped...left they look like little scruffy ewoks! It is easy to do, you just flick it up and then literally just pull the top coat out in the direction of growth. It comes out very easily when the coat is ready to strip. Chalk makes it easier on your fingers. I'm not the expert on whether this is true as I have always 'rolled' ny BT (small amounts stripped regularly) in the main so his coat have never truely blown but people say a fully blown coat parts and loses some of its weather proofing. I keep his face and legs scruffy though.

They are pretty much self cleaning. I have been on muddy walks with a family spaniel who is like a sponge holding mud whereas my BT looks clean and dry by the time you get home! They are low allergy too, which is why we first looked at them.

I think we might go to a local rescue and talk to the staff about our requirements and see what they recommend. Allergies plus small children plus being a newbie seem to restrict things somewhat.

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.

Be careful what one you go to - some just want the dogs off their hands and aren't trying to get the right home for the dog and vice versa. You definitely need a rescue that will give back-up for life (ie if something goes terribly wrong and you can't look after the dog anymore, they take it back).

Yes, definitely mistle. I'll keep my wits about me.