The Irish Terrier 493 



Feet and legs. Feet should be strong, tolerably round, and moderately 

 small; toes arched and neither turned out nor in; black toe nails are most 

 desirable. Legs moderately long, well set from the shoulders, perfectly 

 straight with plenty of bone and muscle; the elbows working freely clear of 

 the sides; pasterns short and straight, hardly noticeable. Both fore and 

 hind legs should be moved straight forward when travelling, the stifles not 

 turned outward, the legs free of feather and covered, like the head, with as 

 hard a texture of coat as body, but not so long. 



Coat. Hard and wiry, free of softness or silkiness, not so long as to 

 hide the outlines of the body, particularly in the hindquarters, straight and 

 flat, no shagginess, and free of lock or curl. 



Colour. Should be "whole coloured," the most preferable being 

 bright red, red, wheaten or yellow red. White sometimes appears on 

 chest and feet; it is more objectionable on the latter than on the chest, 

 as a speck of white on chest is frequently to be seen in all self-coloured 

 breeds. 



Size and symmetry. The most desirable weight in show condition is, 

 for a dog twenty-four pounds, and for a bitch twenty-two pounds. The 

 dog must present an active, lively, lithe and wiry appearance; lots of sub- 

 stance, at the same time free of clumsiness, as speed and endurance, as 

 well as power, are very essential. They must be neither "cloddy nor 

 cobby," but should be framed on the " lines of speed," showing a graceful 

 "racing outline." 



Temperament. Dogs that are very game are usually surly or snappish. 

 The Irish terrier, as a breed, is an exception, being remarkably good tem- 

 pered, notably so with mankind, it being admitted, however, that he is 

 perhaps a little too ready to resent interference on the part of other dogs. 

 There is a heedless, reckless pluck about the Irish terrier which is character- 

 istic, and, 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 "The Dare Devils." When "off duty" they are characterised by a 

 quiet, caress-inviting appearance, and when one sees them endearingly, 

 timidly pushing their heads into their master's hands, it is difficult to realise 

 that on occasion, at the "set-on," they can prove they have the courage 

 of a lion, and will fight on to the last breath in their bodies. They develop 

 an extraordinary devotion to, and have been known to track their masters 

 almost incredible distances. 



