The history of the Glen of Imaal Terrier dog breed dates up to hundreds of years in the Wieklow county, city Gleen of Imaal from where comes the name. It was recognized by the Irish Kennel Club in 1933 and it was used for hunting foxes, pests and badgers.
The Glen of Imaal Terrier is a small dog, more long than tall and strong. The head is proportional to the body with a prominent forehead, nose shorter than the head and black. The eyes are medium sized, spaced, round and dark. The ears are small, spaced, folded back at rest and high worn half full or careful. The tail is short, carried high up and cut. The coat is double, with a first layer that is fluffy and an extremely intense second layer which consists of a medium length hair, thick, dense and shaggy. The color is dark gray with lighter stripes, straw or brindle. It has a height of 32 to 35 centimeters and a weight of 12 to 18 kilograms.
The personality of a Glen of Imaal Terrier is intelligent, less irritating than other terriers, brave, balanced, playful and lively. It is affectionate, devoted to his master and gets along well with children. Foreigners are welcome but he is also reserved with them. Some dogs tend to dominate over other dogs, but have no problems with other animals if they were socialized with them. The coat must be combed thoroughly 2 times a year to not break.
The Glen of Imaal Terrier breed is versatile and can live in both a free environment, and in an apartment. It has a low activity level and feels good and next to a less active owner. He needs training and socialization. Training this dog is easy but sometimes it can be a bit tricky as he is stubborn and has a dominating temperament. Training must be consistent and playing must be alternate with training exercises. The Glen of Imaal Terrier is rarely used for hunting and more as a pet. They make wonderful companions for the less active and will appreciate the simple presence of a human.