The courageous, spirited but docile Glen of Imaal Terrier is a powerful working dog built for hunting foxes, badgers, and rodents. Aside from being a skilled hunter, the Glen makes an affectionate family pet that is loving and gentle with its people.
Named for the remote valley of Glen in Ireland, the Imaal Terrier, with its scruffy, low-slung body, is known for its ridiculously cute look. This compact little dog can adapt to both large homes with yards and condos, or apartments provided it gets enough exercise.
That said, the Glen has a strong chasing instinct and is not an ideal choice if you have small pets like rabbits, hamsters, and cats in the house. Considering its prey drive, high energy level, and independent nature, a novice owner would find it quite difficult to handle a Glen.
The Glen was developed when the soldiers of Queen Elizabeth I, who settled in the Wicklow region, crossed their low-slung hounds with the local terriers
Aside from being used as a hunter and farm dog, the Glens were believed to have been used as a turnspit dog for turning meat over a fire
The breed almost became extinct, but luckily two breeders, Paddy Brennan, and Willie Kane, managed to revive the breed
Recognized by the Irish Kennel Club (IKC)
Given recognition by the American Kennel Club (AKC)
Since the Glens are a little laid-back compared to the other terriers, they can be kept happy and healthy with moderate regular exercise. Because their front legs are slightly curved, avoid rushing them into arduous exercises and try to keep their walks fun and short. You may also allow it to run in a fenced area, chasing a ball or toy.
Make sure to prevent your pup from descending steep stairs, jumping off couches, or engaging in strenuous exercises that put stress on its front legs. Your Glen would also enjoy playing with children, but keep them under supervision because it can be too rambunctious for small kids.
They have a weather-resistant double coat, comprising a rough topcoat and a soft undercoat that requires moderate weekly brushing to avoid matting. You may strip its coat twice or thrice a year to keep shedding minimum.
Since your Glen is a dwarf breed, you may choose to invest in a small grooming table, which would make the grooming process a lot easier. Trimming its overgrown nails and cleaning its ears of excess wax or debris are some of the routine hygiene measures that need to be followed.
A quality dog food made with nutritious ingredients, predominantly meat, fish, as well as fresh veggies and fruits, is what your Glen needs to keep it hale and hearty.
In addition to home-cooked food, you may opt for a commercial dry dog food suitable for your pet’s age and activity level.
As far as commercial dry dog foods are concerned, Wellness Complete and Now Fresh are among the best brands appropriate for your Imaal Terrier.
Glen of Imaal Terriers are intelligent and versatile dogs that enjoy learning. Therefore, training your Glen will become reasonably easy if you can keep it short, fresh, and interesting. Repetitive training will make it bored and may trigger its stubborn streak.
Since it can be aggressive to other pets, early socialization and obedience training are recommended. Also, teach it basic commands like ‘stop’ and ‘quiet’ to keep it from becoming an overly noisy breed.
