By John F. O’Brien, Jr.

Milwaukee’s Irish Fest is the largest Irish such cultural event in the U.S. and an annual party unmatched anywhere in the world. But the breeders, trainers and owners of these diverse groups of Irish breeds are deadly serious when it comes to discussing the heritage and characteristics of these animals. 

Irish Red &White Setter:
"My son has autism. He couldn’t speak much, only mimic others’ speech. We were babysitting for a friend’s dog (a Red & White Setter), and my son spontaneously started talking, for the first time. We looked around at many breeds to find a dog for him but it kept coming back to the Red & White Setter. So we sent a video of my son to a woman who had pups of that breed. She played the video and only two female pups didn’t react [to the movements of the boy]. One even went to the TV screen and tried to calm him down. That is the dog we got. We call her Maggie." – Louise Witt, of Greenfield, WI., owner of Maggie, officially called "Maggie, Erin Witt of Trinity," now 3-years-old.

The Red & White Setter is probably the most misunderstood of the Irish breeds. Many believe it to be bred from the Irish Setter. Actually, the reverse is true. The Red & White originally came from Spain, probably pre-17 century, and is often called "Old Irish Setter." The Red & Whites were exclusively bred to yield only Reds, when, in 1812, the Earl of Enniskillen banned the Red & White and only allowed the Red. The solid red color became the mark of the "more desirable" dogs and the Irish [Red] Setter became so popular that the Red & White nearly became extinct. Only extra effort in the 1920s in Ireland and then by John Kerr in the U.S in the early 1990s saved the breed from being lost in each country. Today, there are approximately 700 Red & White Setters in the U.S., not enough to qualify as an official breed for the Foundation Stock Service of the American Kennel Club (a type of governing and advisory board for breeders, with rules and regulations, standards, judging criteria and guidelines). 

Irish Red & White Setters are high-spirited dogs, intelligent and friendly and make excellent companions. They are also great with children and other dogs, and are easily trained. Their low numbers have led to little notice but they are slowly returning as a viable and valued breed.

Soft Coated Wheaton Terriers:
Tom Traeger, owner of ‘Chapin" [Chape inn], a 10-year-old Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier, has owned Wheatons for over 25 years. He was looking for a non-shedding dog that would be good for his children where he lived in Waukesha, Wis., and went through book after book before falling in love with the gentle, "be with" dog (a term that means the breed does best with one owner and not transferred to another). He has had four adult dogs and 21 puppies over the years.

Wheatons, named for the color of their coat, are full of life, love to give kisses and other shows of affection. They are great watchdogs, love to ride in cars, love lots of people and dogs around them and "are especially fond of popcorn and carrots," according to Traeger. Fully grown dogs are generally about a foot and a half high and weigh around 35 to 40 pounds, females less. The Wheatons were purposely bred to be less aggressive than other terriers and their gentleness was easily evident as child after child came up and played with Chapin and received many kisses in greeting. But the Wheatons still rule the yard in which they live, trapping rats, rabbits, otters and badgers in olden days as well as gophers and moles today.

Having been around since at least the 1800s, Wheatons are believed to be the oldest of the Terrier Breeds (Wheaton, Kerry Blue, Irish and Glen of Imaal). The Kerry Blue Terrier, it is believed, derived from the Wheaton when the Spanish Armada sank off the shores of Ireland. The blue dogs with the Armada swam ashore and eventually mated with the Wheaton. 
Wheaton’s are especially adept at farm and field work, bad weather and fatigue have little effect on them and they are very intelligent, able to understand how to assist their owners but have adapted to be able to handle living in apartments and smaller homes as well, as long as proper care and exercise is given. 

Irish Water Spaniels:
(Shannon Spaniels, Water Spaniels, Rat-Tails or Whip-Tails)
"In Irish mythology, it is said that Prince Paen wanted to teach a leprechaun a lesson and put him inside an Irish Water Spaniel pup for a year. When it came for the leprechaun’s release, he promised the dog that a bit of him would remain forever in the dog and its descendants." (1

Irish Water Spaniels figure that every dog is there especially for them to play with," say Lisa Schaitberger, of New Muenster, Wisconsin, who has owned Beacon (full name: Beacon Bowfield Shining Light), since it was born five years ago. Beacon is an American Champion Tracker, holds Novice Agility title through the American Kennel Club and has been invited to the National Tracking Invitational held in September at the Biltmore in Ashville, N.C. Despite all that seriousness, Beacon is happy all the time and also wants to be working continually, expressed through a lack of attention if not being challenged. 

Beacon and most Irish Water Spaniels love children, as long as they are socialized with young children from the very start. They can be a shy breed but are often very intelligent. With outstanding stamina, proud and eager, but with a quirky sense of humor, Irish Water Spaniels are "purpose-bred" retrievers, meaning that retrieving, usually bird hunting, is what they are trained and bred to do. They are eager to please because of this style of training. Irish Water Spaniels are distinctively not watchdogs but are considered family dogs and will protect and alarm their family if needed. 

The dogs of this breed go by many other names, all coming from physical characteristics or from the areas where they were found, some as far back as the 7th and 8th centuries. Shannon Spaniels, for those found south of the River Shannon, were recorded in writings as far back as the 1100s. Water Spaniels, Rat-Tails or Whip-Tails were also common names for these dogs. Averaging from 25 to 60 pounds, females less, their breed characteristics stand out; distinctive ratlike tail, with curly short hair at the base and tapering to a thin whip-like end with very short, clipped looking hair the rest of the way, naturally water-repellant double coat, distinctive top knot and a beard at the base of its throat. These distinctive physical traits all make this lovely dark brown (often called "liver") colored animal easy to recognize. 

"The exact origins of the breed remain obscure. Generally, it is thought that Water Spaniels evolved from dogs that originated in Persia and came to Ireland via Spain. The first Irish reference to "water dogs that pursue fowl" dates from 1600, so we know that dogs with waterproof coats were used in Ireland even before the advent of the fowling piece. There is no real evidence of the ancestry of the Irish Water Spaniel except in its most peculiar feature – the rat tail. This feature appears in no similar dog and makes it likely that the modern breed had an indigenous ancestor." (2 

Kerry Beagle:
(Pocadan)
While the Water Spaniel evolved from dogs that originated in Persia, the Kerry Beagle, a breed that is so small in number that it is not recognized as a breed at all by most breeding professionals, seems to have descended from "the old southern hound," a breed almost decimated in the throes of An Gorta Mor (the Great Hunger). Surpassed in years in Ireland only by the Irish Wolfhound, the Kerry Beagle is an expert hunting dog, built for speed and endurance, it is unique from other hounds in that the pack will spread out in a large circle when searching for its prey and then return to the first hound that opens. 

"The most likely outline of the history of this breed is a Celtic hound going back probably to the time of the first Celtic settlements in Ireland, which in the Middle Ages and later centuries was mixed in breeding experiments with other hounds from the continent to produce a very efficient hunting dog. The word Beagle, curiously enough, is thought to be derived from the Irish word "beag" (meaning small), and certainly the beagle is a small hound used to hunt small game like hares, whereas the Kerry Beagle is often used to hunt stag. The current word for the beagle is "Pocadan," which refers to its use as a hunting dog rather than its size. The Kerry Beagle is also known for its speed and endurance and its music (baying) can be heard for miles." (2

There were no Kerry Beagles represented at the Dogs Native to Ireland area at Milwaukee Irish Fest. Other breed owners didn’t really seem to know that they existed, for they had "never heard of them." Hopefully this overlooked breed will not fade from existence, and disappear. The lessons learned from the Red & White should echo here.

Kerry Blue Terrier:
(Kerry Blue, Blue Terrier)
The Kerry Blue Terrier is "well nigh perfect" as a working and companion dog. Its origins are mentioned above, from dogs who swam ashore at the sinking of the Spanish Armada off the coast of Ireland but further study shows more.

"Like the other Irish Terrier breeds, it [is] assumed that the Kerry Blue has been in the country for centuries, but once again, because of its humble beginnings at a rat catcher and all-around farm dog, there are few, if any, references to the breed before the 20th century. The first probable reference to the Kerry Blue dates from 1847. The author describes a bluish slate-colored dog, marked with darker blotches and patches, and often with the tan about the legs and muzzle.

This blackish-blue Irish terrier was supposed to be prevalent in Kerry but it has been developed in other counties as well. … The Kerry Blue became quickly so popular as a sort of mascot for Irish patriots. … By 1928, this impressive balanced terrier with it’s beautiful soft blue coat became popular worldwide and it’s reputation as an excellent working and companion dog agreed with …" the above mentioned breed assessment as "well nigh perfect." 

Having first been noticed around its namesake, Co. Kerry, the Blue Terrier has an especially keen and sharp expression – always ready for action. It’s blue-black coat does not shed, is soft, wavy and grows very closely together - meaning it matches well for many people with pet allergies. The Kerry Blue has been and is used in Ireland for pursuing and retrieving such small game as rabbits, birds, "tackling otters in deep water, to engage badgers underground and hunt vermin."  They are also used with great success in herding sheep and cattle.

The dogs were thought to be bred as a comeuppance to the local nobility, who bred the great Irish Wolfhounds to protect their precious hunting grounds from those of lesser standing. So those pushed out developed the Kerry Blue to allow them to silently work the nobility’s hunting grounds, out of sight of the Irish Wolfhound trained to protect it. The first Kerry Blues came to the U.S. in 1918-1919. 

"I wanted an Irish dog, non-shedding. Keely is spontaneous and likes to steal things. He likes to learn things and do the agility [exercises and training] and shows he’s bored when he doesn’t. He’s wonderful with kids too." – Brigitte Mikush, owner of 16-month-old Kerry Blue Terrier, Keely.

Irish Setter:
(Setter, Red Setter, Red)
"The origin of the Irish Setter is not known. However it is reasonable to believe that it evolved from some combination of land spaniels. These land spaniels were imported to Ireland from Spain when the Spaniards helped the Irish in their rebellion against the British. 

"The breed, established as early as 1800, was not originally a solid color, but a combination of red and white. Through selective breeding, the rich mahogany red color we know today was derived.

"Irish Setters were originally used to ‘set’ game, hence the name ‘setters.’ They found upland birds and crouched down close to their find so that the hunter could come and throw a net over dogs and birds. When firearms were introduced, this practice was discontinued as the hunter wanted a dog that pointed, flushed game and hunted with an upright stance." (3

This change in desirable function, plus the breeding of the dogs for beauty only, led to the breeding of two very different types of Irish Setters. There is an effort underway to reunite the field and bench dog and dual champions are being seen regularly now. The Irish Setter is recognized around the world for its beauty and abilities.

"The Irish Setter was developed in Ireland as a working dog for hunting game. The breed is derived from the Red & White Setter and an unknown solid red colored dog [possibly a mix or proportion of the Irish Water Spaniel, Irish Terrier, English Setter, Spaniel, Pointer and/or the Gordon Setter. It is not a part of the Red & White Setter Breed but a separate and distinguished breed unto itself]. The Irish Setter has evolved over the years as a hardy, healthy, intelligent dog, possessed of excellent working ability and great stamina. Keen, energetic, affectionate and loyal." (2 

The breed is very athletic, kindly and a great family dog, caring and protective of children. The rich chestnut hair (described as mahogany, as well), kindly disposition, graceful lines and expressive personality has led to the breed often being called the most beautiful dog in the world. It averages 23 to 27 inches in height and about 70 pounds, females less. The breed is slightly longer than it is tall.

Judy Huffman, owner of Brefney Irish Setters, of Racine, Wis., a breeder of Irish Setters for more than 30 years, spoke of the outgoing and friendly personalities and abilities of the Irish Setter breed, emphasizing their loyalty and family friendly dispositions and how they get along well with people and other breeds.

Randy Wojcik, of Port Washington, Wis., owner of three setters; Bailey (5, called Singing Winds Turbulence), Riley (4 - called Brefney’s Be Reliable) and Quinn (2 - called Anamacara’s Kiss Me Quick), talked about the distinguished accomplishments of his setters and the long lineage that is very carefully traced. The father of Riley and another Setter at the festival, Lisa (4 - called Brefney’s So Blest), was called Courtwood Innkeeper and was champion Rom, earning a Register of Merit and American and Canadian recognition. The mother or "dam" was also a champion, called Kerrie or Eire Kachina. Riley, Quinn and Bailey also have obedience titles and hunting titles.

Irish Terrier
"Ireland has produced four Terrier breeds, all of which are markedly different from terriers on the continent and in England. The dog now officially called Irish Terrier is possibly the oldest of the Irish terrier breeds but records are so scarce that it would be difficult to prove this conclusively. Before the 1880s the color of the Irish Terrier had not been settled. Apart from red they were sometimes black and tan and sometimes brindle. 

"At the end of the 19th century, efforts were made to breed out the black and tan and the brindles so that by the 20th century all Irish Terriers showed the red coat. The Irish Terrier's reputation was enhanced during the First World War when they were used as messenger dogs in the terrifying noise and confusion of trench warfare, thus proving both their intelligence and their fearlessness." 92 These brave and loyal dogs received medals for the service mentioned above.

"The temperament of the Irish Terrier reflects his early background: he was family pet, guard dog, and hunter. He is good tempered, spirited and game, show[s] fire and animation. There is a heedless, reckless pluck about the Irish Terrier which is characteristic, and which, coupled with the headlong dash, blind to all consequences, with which he rushes at his adversary, has earned for the breed the proud epithet of ‘Daredevil.’ He is of good temper, most affectionate, and absolutely loyal to mankind. Tender and forebearing with those he loves, this rugged, stout-hearted terrier will guard his master, his mistress and children with utter contempt for danger or hurt. His life is one continuous and eager offering of loyal and faithful companionship and devotion. He is ever on guard, and stands between his home and all that threatens.

"The Irish Terrier, while being game and capable of holding his own with other dogs, is remarkably loyal, good tempered and affectionate with mankind, but once he is attacked, he has the courage of a lion and will fight to the bitter end. 

"Though the terrier may be fierce when the circumstances call for it, the Irish Terrier is easily trained and a gentle pet, living up to his early description as ‘the poor man's sentinel, the farmer's friend and the gentleman's favorite.’" (2

Country or city, large farm or small apartment, blazing hot or icy cold, the Terrier thrives in all environments and loves company, especially children, and likes to join in their games. This gentle side is in marked difference to the times that the Terrier is "at work." Targets of his hunts include woodchucks, rabbits and other small game and the water provides no protection for those the Terrier has marked. The Terrier is at home on either land or chasing into the water. The average Terrier is 18 inches high and 27 pounds, females less.

According to Don Pierce, who inherited his love of Terriers from his father, who had them in the 1920s and now owns Caitlin, a 5-year-old Terrier, this breed is one of the few dogs encountered at Milwaukee Irish Fest that does not play well with other dogs.

Owning Irish Terriers for more than 47 years has given Mary Best special insight into their personalities. "They are a challenge to train, stubborn and opinionated. They will do [what you ask], then do it a second time because you asked, but if asked a third time, will give you a look." Best is on the Board of the Irish Terrier Club of Chicago and the Irish Terrier Club of America and pointed out that there are 12,000 Black Labs registered a year, Irish Terriers about 120. This is not because they are not desired or available. 

Instead, through very careful breeding practices, these dogs are kept to very high health and "true to the breed" standards. Because of this careful breeding, there are no known instances of inheritable diseases among the breed. "The breeder will examine you as much as you examine the dog," [for suitability] Mary explains. "We don’t make puppies, we breed only to improve the breed. They generally have only three litters."

Irish Wolfhound
(Irish Dogs, Greyhounds of Ireland, Wolfdogs of Ireland, Great Hounds of Ireland, Big Dogs of Ireland)

"Lambs at home, Lions in the Chase."

Irish Wolfhounds are the largest dogs in the world. Standing well over seven feet tall, when on hind legs, they tower over the biggest of men. On all fours, the dogs average 32 to 36 inches high and 120 to 160 pounds (with the obligatory stipulation, females less). Its hair is course and long, especially over the eyes and under its jaw, an adaptation made over centuries, probably due to the inclement Irish weather. The most highly seen colors "are shades of grey and white but brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn or any other color that appears in the Deerhound" (2 is prevalent. 

Although protective, Wolfhounds are generally not a guard dog for their personality is bright and keen but they are not suspicious nor aggressive, by nature. It does best in an environment that provides lots of human interaction and love as well as consistent exercise. Wolfhounds generally live from seven to nine years, with their hearts often giving out as the cause of death. Although swift and powerful, they are also gentle, docile and fantastic with the rough and tumble play of kids. 

These giants have been present and, at times instrumental, in Irish history and mythology. Bred to hunt large game, like stag (which often stood up to six-feet-tall), elk and especially the large wolf population that existed before deforestation, the hound with great tracking abilities, stamina, strength and loyalty, also began to accompany nobles to war.

"Up to the end of the 17th century, Irish Wolfhounds were used for hunting wolves and deer in Ireland. They were also used for hunting the wolves that infested large areas of Europe before the forests were cleared. The Irish Celts were interested in breeding large hounds. These large Irish hounds could have had smooth or rough coats, but in later times, the rough coat predominated possibly because of the Irish climate. The first written account of these dogs was by a Roman consul, 391 A.D. [cited by Roman Consulate Quintas Aurelius, who received seven of the Irish Wolfhounds as a gift] but they were already established in Ireland in the 1st century A.D. when Setanta changed his name to Cu-Chulainn (the hound of Culann). 

"Mention is made of the Uisneach (1st century) taking 150 hounds with them in their flight to Scotland. Irish hounds undoubtedly formed the basis of the Scottish Deerhound. Pairs of Irish hounds were prized as gifts by the royal houses of Europe, Scandinavia and elsewhere from the Middle Ages to the 17th century. They were sent to England, Spain, France, Sweden, Denmark, Persia, India and Poland.

"In the 15th century, each county in Ireland was required to keep 24 wolfdogs to protect farmers' flocks from the ravages of wolves. The Cromwellian prohibition (1652) on the export of Wolfhounds helped preserve their number for a time but the gradual disappearance of the wolf and continued demand abroad reduced their numbers almost to the point of extinction by the end of the 17th century. The revival of interest in the breed accompanied the growth of Irish nationalism in the late 19th century. The Irish Wolfhound became a living symbol of Irish culture and of the Celtic past. 

At this time, one determined enthusiast, Capt. G. A. Graham, set about obtaining some of the few remaining hounds of the Wolfhound type that could still be found in Ireland, and with the use of Deerhound blood and the occasional outcross of Borzoi and Great Dane, he eventually achieved a type of dog that bred true in every generation. The results were ultimately accepted as a legitimate revival of the breed. The Irish Wolfhound now enjoys once again something of the reputation that it had in the Middle Ages. Wolfhounds are now owned and bred in fairly large numbers outside of Ireland." (2

"Besides it being fun, one of the reasons why we come to the festival is to educate people and to show how special they [Irish Wolfhounds] are. They loved to be pet, love human affection and attention" - Victoria Cook, of Cary, Ill., who along with her husband, Brian, has owned four Irish Wolfhounds over the last 11 years and been attending and showing her Wolfhounds, now Jada (Torian’s Jacinth Cornerstone, 1-year-old) and Lucas (Torian’s First Light, 4-years-old) at Milwaukee’s Irish Fest ever since.

Glen of Imaal Terrier
(Turnspit Dogs, Tiny Glen of Imaal)
From the largest dog in the world to the smallest dog in Ireland, the Glen of Imaal Terrier is as distinctive as the great Irish Wolfhound. Although only about 12 to f14 inches high and around 35pounds, the tiny breed is tenacious is work and joyful in play. It has an unusually accurate standard, called 3:5, meaning the length from nose to end of the head is at a three to five ratio to the distance from the back of the head to the tail. The breed is also 40% longer than it is tall and is the only terrier breed not clearly defined by its color. The coat color is usually wheaton, with variations from cream to red wheaton, the blue from silver to deep slate and the brindle is usually a mix of dark and light blue with tan thrown in, all is any combination and amount.

"The Irish Glen of Imaal is an old breed which was simply ignored for a long time, rather than the result of later breed experiments. He is very much a local dog, confined to the bleak area of the Glen of Imaal [a valley in the Wicklow Mountains, in the Northern part of Co. Wicklow]. The farmers of this area, who were descended from [Flemish and Lowland] soldiers given land in the 16th and 17th centuries as payment for service to the British Crown, had to utilize their natural cunning and dexterity to survive in this harsh terrain. A dog who could not pull his weight in the day-to-day struggle for existence would not be tolerated. So he had to spend long hours propelling dog wheels and was often pitted against other dogs in the dubious sport of dog fighting, customs now disappeared." (2

The "turnspit" was a wheel used to rotate food over a fire and for churning butter. The tiny Glen’s body build, with longer back legs than front, gave it unique ability to run the wheel that tuned the spit as well as ideally suited the terrier to pulling animals such as the fox and badger, out of their underground dens. It is also ideal for chasing down burrowing rats. Due to the relative remoteness of the Glen of Imaal, this breed is one of the few, if not only, breeds to be essentially the same in characteristics, physical and disposition, as it was centuries ago. The characteristics once common to all terrier breeds are often called "antique" features, and include, for the Glen of Imaal, turned out feet (which help to pull heavy, resisting weight out backward), a unique head with bent over ears, called "rose or half-prick" ears and a harsh but not quite wiry coat with a soft undercoat. 

The Glen of Imaal is tenacious, active and deadly silent in the hunt, but very gentle and not very excitable when not working. Very loyal, very affectionate, the Glen is a very good companion, house and family dog that likes to clown around and appears to always be smiling, happy and ready for fun and games.

Although the Kerry Beagle and Glen of Imaal were not represented at Milwaukee Irish Fest his year, those that were represented gave a wonderful snapshot of the common traits that seem to abound in all of the breed dogs of Ireland - fiercely loyal, great companions and work dogs, great family dogs. Of course all of these characteristics are based upon careful breeding, care, exercise and suitable home environments in which that particular breed can grow, excel and flourish.

As with all distinguished breeds, Irish breeds of Ireland are carefully tracked, on paper, histories, training, characteristics and performances. All of the owners at the festival were able to give detailed histories of their own dog’s lineage, accomplishments and strengths as well as that of others too. Almost all breeders offer (and will readily insist upon) a contract stating that the dog can be returned if things do not work out with the new owners. As mentioned, they are screening you while you are screening the dog and will not hesitate to refuse to sell if they find reason to question the good health potential for the new dog.

There is a very significant cost in time and money to breed any of these dogs and the breeders are very conscious and committed to keeping the breed up to a standard that is hard to achieve and fiercely protected. A rescue program exists to help those dog owners that cannot maintain these fine animals, for whatever reason, and the dogs are "rescued." They then stay at a foster home, until a new owner can be found. This type of rescue program is available for all of the breeds highlighted here. 

Endnotes:
1 From: Irish Water Spaniel Club of America, Welcome! Come ExploreOur Secrets. www.clubs.akc.org/iwsc. 
2 From: Irish Kennel Club. www.ikc.ie. 
3 From: The Irish Setter. Irish Setter Club of America. http://www.irishsetterclub.org.
 

Resources to find out about dog breeds of Ireland:

All Breeds – Irish Kennel Club www.ikc.ie
The Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier Club of America, www.scwtca.org.
Irish Water Spaniels – Lisa Schaitberger, www.sandhillfarm.com
Irish Water Spaniel Club of America, www.ikc.ie/iwsca
Kerry Blue Terrier Club of America, www.uskbtc.com
Irish Red Setter Club of America, www.irishsetterclub.org
Brefney Irish Setters. Breeder: Judy Huffman, Racine Wis. jahuffma@scj.com
The Irish Terrier Club of America, www.irishterriers.com
Irish Wolfhound Club of America, Judy Simon, Secretary. www.iwclubofamerica.org
Great Lakes Irish Wolfhound Association, www.gliwa.org
Glen of Imaal Terrier Club of America, www.glens.org
 
 

Writer John F. O’Brien, Jr., can be reached at John@clevelandirish.org.