THE IRISH TERRIER, CELTIC DEMON.
The Irish Terrier, is a wire-coated dog, usually brick red or wheaten in color. He is a handsome dog, but like the wire-haired fox terrier, his coat must be kept right. For gameness, there are few terriers his equal and he has been rightly named “Daredevil.” The Irish terrier is a trifle larger in size than the fox terrier. He has all of that varminty look, that fiery eye and alert expression, indicative of the dog of quick action, and furthermore, he is a most intelligent animal and makes one of the best dogs for the home that may be imagined. Since the rise in popularity of some of the other smaller terrier breeds, the Irish has fallen somewhat in the estimation of the fanciers, but those who have bred him for years and have a specimen or two about would not part with the fiery Irishman for all of the other terriers combined.
The Irish terrier answers in many respects the call for an all-purpose dog, except that he is not so large as the Airedale and therefore could not hold his own in fighting big game, though for his inches, no better dog ever lived, and I have, on one or two occasions, seen Irish terriers in bear packs which proved to be just as valuable as some of the larger breeds; they were certainly just as game, and being very quick and shifty, they could do considerable damage and still come away uninjured, where a larger dog might suffer the consequences of his temerity. The Irish terrier is essentially the dog for those who do not care to keep an Airedale, but want one as game and as fearless as any dog that lives.
Still another breed that comes between the small terriers and the Airedale is the Welsh Terrier. A dog that in many points resembles the Airedale, particularly in texture and color of coat, although the head is of somewhat different formation. Welsh terriers never became common in this country. Possibly because of the rapid rise of the Airedale and partly because he was not exploited like some of the other breeds. For the person wanting but one dog, however, the Welsh terrier is an excellent companion, a good watch dog with all the terrier proclivities, such as going to earth for game, and just as keen on rats and other small furred animals as the other varieties.
To the uninitiated the Welsh terrier is a miniature Airedale. In height he should be about sixteen inches, but should not have the appearance of being leggy, nor on the other hand, of standing too low on the leg. The markings—that is, color and coat, are similar to the Airedale; black or grizzle saddle, with tan head, legs and underbody. Like in Airedales, the rich deep tan and jet black bodies are most admired. His average weight should be about twenty-two pounds, though a pound one way or the other is not a handicap. While white is not desirable, a small spot on the breast or toes does not disqualify.
A dog that attracted quite a bit of attention at the New York show of 1922, was the Kerry Blue Terrier. There were only half a dozen specimens of the breed shown and as far as this country is concerned, it is a new variety, although it is said that it is one of the oldest of Irish breeds. The dog is essentially an Irish terrier in a blue-gray wire coat. It is said that the modern brick colored or wheaten Irish terrier is descended from the Kerry blue and that by generations of selection in breeding the red coats were finally obtained, but it seems that fashion is again going back to the original colors and that is how it transpires that the Kerry blues are coming into vogue. This terrier has all the good qualities of the more modern reds. To the dog lover wishing to own a dog that is somewhat out of the ordinary, the Kerry blue will appeal, though owing to the present scarcity, it is quite likely that prices will run high.
THE WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER, MOROVA.
A very desirable small terrier which came into vogue twelve or fifteen years ago, is the West Highland White Terrier, one of the border varieties said to be of ancient origin, but brought to his present perfection by scientific breeding and selection. The general appearance of the West Highland white terrier, as we know the breed today, is that of a small, game, hardy-looking terrier, possessed of considerable self esteem, and like all good terriers, has that “varminty” appearance that is such a distinguishing mark of this group of dogs. He is a stockily built animal, showing strength from every angle, short legs, deep in the chest, with ribs extending well to the powerful loin; very strong in quarters and in fact, with all of his strength, he impresses one as having considerable activity, which he really has, for there is no quicker and more nimble terrier on four feet than the West Highlander when it comes to a fight with rats or other “varmints,” even much larger.