Bailielands Irish Glen Of Imaal Terriers and Jack Russells

The Irish Glen was once a legendary working terrier in this part of the world. 

A terrier that no other could match in his swift relentless and silent attack on the badger, the otter and the fox. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Irish Glen was an ordinary man's dog, not the preserve of the rich or the landed.  He was kept by ordinary men for the everday job of controlling predators. 

It is only in the last 10 years Ireland has become the shining sucess story of Europe.  For hundreds of years, we were among the poorest and most wretched of European peoples. 

There was no room for luxuries in Ireland past, the Glen was kept when he was of use and not kept if of no use. 

The selection pressures upon the Glen were of the most functional and basic.  He must be worth his keep.  Today's modern Irish Terriermen are still very practical in this way, either it works and works to an acceptable level and is kept, or it is not acceptable and is removed from the gene pool. 

The Glen did not enjoy a rich meaty diet like the hounds and pets of the gentry.  If he was lucky he was fed from the porridge or potato pot and good luck to him if he could catch a rabbit for himself.

The Glen drew the badger from his hole and fought the otter at his holt. 

He was silent and implacable in grabbing hold and pulling for all he was worth. 

His thick well bowed legs braced him step by step as he worked his way backwards towards the light. 

His long heavy claws dug into the earth as he strove with all his might to prevent his foe breaking his hold. 

His heavy square head with huge canine teeth could take hold of his quarry with a force that could only be broken in death, his or his foe. 

His neck was thick and his chest quite broad, he could pull like a train.

Silently he would strain except for the huffing and puffing of his breath and the scrabbling of his and his quarry's claws, no squealing or yapping or screaming from him no matter what. 

As he strained to drag his quarry into the light, he would brace the top of his back against the roof of the hole when he needed to stop and get his breath. 

When he made it blinking and snorting into the open light and got his sight back he would often release the foe for a fraction of a second, just long enough to seize it across the skull and crush his quarry swiftly into oblivion. 

No baiter or yapper he, just swift implacable death. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Glen was a swift hunter and speedy death to his prey. 

He was brave, calculating, intense.  He was agile and powerful.  He was 35lb maximum working weight at 14" to the shoulder. 

 An animal of greater weight at this height was too bulky to manuever in the closing dark. The sett was 11" wide and his chest needed to fit into this gap and move freely back and forward as he fenced with his quarry.

He fitted the 3 & 5 ratio of height to length or else could not take a 90 degree bend with badger in tow. His loin was very slightly higher than his withers when standing at liberty, at most about 1" higher on the tallest dogs. 

His teeth were not needed to be neat & even, some terriermen praised the 'crocodile mouth', an undershot bite with large irregularly placed incisors, as long as it was strong and efffective. 

Indeed a strong undershot mouth in full grip is VERY hard to displace.....To our modern eyes he was a hardy looking fellow with an arrogant sailor's swagger, certainly not a 'lovely mover' and in excess of 40lb weight like today's show specimens! 

He was hardy and low maintenance, his coat was harsh and repelled the cold and wet.  Otherwise he would die in the cold and the dark from hypothermia with a soft flowing matting coat. 

His prey drive was high, he would awaken instantly at the promise of game. 

He loved his master and family with an intensity until death and he was gentle and loving to children and puppies alike. 

He was wary of strangers until assured of their trustworthiness. 

At home he would lounge around the yard until roused into action by a marauding pest... rat, fox or badger ( yes badgers can take poultry etc.! and foxes surely DO take lambs, beyond doubt) 

The Teastas Misneach would certify his worthiness to other terriermen & determine if he was good enough to be bred in many cases.  But the passing of laws in 1966 brought the end of the Teastas as hunting the badger in any form was outlawed. 

But much of this ancient knowledge of the working glen, the true irish glen has been lost & much of the knowledge of the older terriermen has been lost also. 

But thankfully some of us terrier folks in Ireland (and England) have seen how selection for gameness and ability from the existing stock has reclaimed some of the ancient prowess for our modern dogs.

We have set out to prove our Glens through direct work in the field, to sift out the fact from the fiction and myths, of which there are very very many.

Nowadays we can hunt fox, mink and rat.  But we can use the upper weight and size limits as followed in the days of badger work to prevent our stock decreasing in size.  But todays irish show problem is too much size!! A dog of 35lb weight at 14" is considered rangy in the ring!  Foolishness! These excessively blocky and overweight 'show standard' dogs could never work a sett and certainly are too ungainly to work in the water. 

A 12 1/2" bitch at 25 lb is ideal for fox and mink if game enough.

A 13 1/2" dog is a lovely size at about 30/32lb fit weight. 

Our finest working dog to date, dear sweet Wolfie now lost to lymphoma on Oct 9th 2008 was 13" and 28lb fit weight, his power was out of all proportion to his size.  He strook  like a snake, pulled like a train and was a dead game demon in dog form. 

Bigger is not better with Glens, in fact a happy medium is 'just right' like the 3 bears porridge.

But surprisingly we hear the mainstream show stock in england is too light!  Light of bone, high on the leg, very little bow in the front!  I must say its so hard to judge from those show trims where enormous skirts cover the dogs body unless you can get hands on & assess the dogs build by hand.  Many show dogs i have encountered by hand are shockingly fat also, no definable muscle underhand perhaps this is another illusion of bulk like the featherings! No wonder i despair of show shenanigans, in the field handsome is as handsome does 

The second problem in reclaiming the True Glens was gameness, not dog-dog agression, too many of our early Glens had that and many bloodlines carry it as they are no longer selected against for such a trait. 

Even today many top notch working terriers are mild in temperament above ground, but many are possessive of their quarry when at work, this is not run of the mill dog-dog aggression though. 

Dog-dog agression is not desirable in a working terrier or agression towards people either, this is not gameness. 

Many Glens we and many others encountered and took on were too chicken to work  

Afraid of the dark, afraid of going to ground, unable to stay to ground long enough to locate the quarry, quitting half way through you name it! 

This is the lot of the average Glen.  We feared the legendary Glen was long gone.

But two key bloodlines held the real Mc Coy and from these we have lived and learned so much. 

The Cregane line firmly founded on Feohanagh Buachaill Deas & Mutton Jack and the Enrale line have yielded pure gold for us as workers.

So much that flies in the face of what show people will tell you. 

But hey what do people who have never worked a terrier really know about working terriers?  Exactly 

 The Irish Glen Of Imaal Terrier was recently in the news as rarer than the giant panda!

 

 

 

 

 

 

However as a breed it is very distinctive in appearance and character and is not for everyone, but if a Glen is really for you, you will never be without one the rest of your life, yes they are THAT intense!

For a review of the IKC standard etc. see www.irishsportingglens.ie

Glens to us are the quintessential Irish dog, thoroughly Irish in nature and habits!

Glens are simple, they are without deceit, they are direct & honest in behaviour & intention.

Glens are consistent, they will love forever or if seriously offended, they will hold a grudge for ever too.

Glen are brave, they will take a stand when necessary.

Glens are loving, they will lie adoringly at your feet the live long day or gaze at you with teary eyes when you are disapponted in them.

Glens are not robotic, or sycophantic fawning lapdogs like a horse they must be convinced of your credentials to be pack leader or they may have to take over that job themselves.

Glens are intense, everything they do they do 100 %

Not all Glens are created equal and there is a distinct division between original working type Glens and the modern show type Glens. 

The modern breeding of original Working type Glens according to the authentic Irish type, is performance driven, following the lines of dogs known to do best in the field. Such Glens are selected for placid obedient natures, healthy athletic frames, courageous inquisitive temperaments, easy maintenance and high intelligence.

To us the Glen is a very loyal loving companion, with a great sense of fun and fairness. We enjoy their (generally) laid back nature and their readiness to accompany you anywhere.

Glens are easy to keep generally and usually quite hardy and outdoorsy. 

Indoor Glens may be more prone to skin problems.

Glens generally get on well with kids especially so when brought up as part of the family.

Glens live on average about 12yrs and are usually easy to train as they are eager to please.

Glens are powerful dogs and may not tolerate posturing and threatening from strange dogs. 

 

 

Do keep your Glen on a lead in a public place and be aware that while other dogs may rush up and growl and threaten your Glen intending to intimidate him/her but not really intend to fight, your Glen may take him on his word and give him a hiding.

Glens are not vicious or aggressive just straightfoward!

Glens are intense and devoted, and do not mess around if another strange dog threatens them. They will most likely give it back.

You need to remain calm, shouting and screaming does no good and learn how to use a breaking stick.  

Indeed you may have a Glen your whole life and never have to break up a dog fight but in today's litigation conscious and panicky dog unfriendly world it is better to be prepared. When i lived in Dundalk town with Sooty i was careful to have her on an extending lead in the local park unless we were there at 6am & had it to ourselves & Chelsea our rottie. 

You see its not that they are much more difficult than many other breeds but like rotties their potential for serious harm when they get going is so much more than that which could be inflicted by a weak jawed jack russell or even a collie, say....

So you must keep that in mind & be wise.

So why do we forgive these dogs all the misdemeanours they may & sometimes do commit.. 

We forgive them because they are glorious & loving & fantastic.  And we are human & have forgotten how to interpret the body language of the dog that was once so clear to us when we were wolves and hairy men/women huddling against the ice.

So please......

If you are nervous around dogs or timid in your handling of them, do not get a Glen.

If you are out all day and your dog will be alone, don't get any dog at all.

If you don't like hairy dogs and will not be able to comb him thoroughly at least weekly, don't get a Glen.

If you would like to breed Glens, bear in mind they are difficult to breed and mate, have complicated genetics. 

 

Preferrably you already have Glens or know someone with Glens well and know the breed, if not I will help you any way I can to see if they are for you.

Living with Glens is very pleasant especially in the country, where lovely country rambles are indeed rambles with a Glen who rarely hurries and generally loves to stay close by your side, giving a real sense of relaxing 'doggy and owner/owned person time'!

But do not dismay for almost a year I lived in a built up town with Sooty, who behaved impeccably going shopping and I believe was just happy to be where I was, even though it was different to what she knew before.

Glens are very fond of their hugs, and many Glens will snuggle right up close and hold you even putting their butty little legs around your neck and tucking their head into your neck and shoulder, really endearing!

Glens will generally trail around the place with you, ambling along, staying close and keeping a discreet eye on you in case you might suddenly disappear.

Training Glens is generally quite easy as they adore your approval and are quite mortified at your disappointment/displeasure, bless them!  A whole section to Training is coming up for Glens as some methods are quite different to how we would train our livelier, more excitable Jacks.

Glens are not inclined to stray, but an unneutered male dog is always at risk of doing so if not enough company is available, do make sure your Glen is safe and be sure he/she is nearby at all times.

Young Glens can be slow to mature mentally and physically. Although Amhain is very well developed for 12 mths and has just started her first season, unlike many breeds that can be bred from when over a year, she like many female Glens cannot as she is totally a big baby, equivalent in mental development right now to a 5 month Jack!

She is soppy, silly, clumsy and still doing baby talk to other dogs, begging for food and wanting to play all the time.  This is typical  of many Glens and Wolfie is a slow developer too.  Cailin and Bruce were very precocious and developed mentally, very fast, adopting behaviours more typical of a adult dog as early as 10 months, physically they still were developing up to 2 and 1/2 yrs old.