Irish Terrier vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison

Irish Terrier vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed ComparisonIrish Terrier is originated from Ireland but Flat-Coated Retriever is originated from United Kingdom. Irish Terrier may grow 11 cm / 4 inches shorter than Flat-Coated Retriever. Irish Terrier may weigh 24 kg / 52 pounds lesser than Flat-Coated Retriever. Irish Terrier may live 5 years more than Flat-Coated Retriever. Both Irish Terrier and Flat-Coated Retriever has almost same litter size. Both Irish Terrier and Flat-Coated Retriever requires Moderate maintenance.

History

irish terrier - historyThe Irish Terrier is a dog breed from Ireland and one of the many different terrier breeds there are.

Nobody is too sure of the Irish Terrier's history but it is one of the oldest terrier breeds. It appears as if the dog breed was developed from a wheat colored terrier and the extinct black and tan terrier.

It was always a common practice to crop the ears of terriers, but in 1889 the Irish Terrier Club required that the ears remain uncropped. The first Irish Terrier was shown in 1881, and the first Irish Terrier registered with the American Kennel Club was in 1885. The Irish Terrier Club of America was founded in 1896.

flat coated retriever - historyThe Flat-Coated Retriever traces its heritage to 19th century England. A popular gamekeepers’ dog, the actual descendants of the breed are not entirely known. Like so many well-established breeds, there are many lines of thought about the breed line. There is an unverified line of ancestry that includes the St. Johns Water Dog – an extinct breed from North America. Another story has Canadian sailors bringing their Newfoundlands to England and mixing them with Colliers and Setters. This story has more truth to it and it took 20 years to establish the final breed type.

The breed was originally a retriever with two purposes – to retrieve the hunters’ bounty on land and on water.

The Flat-Coated Retriever was then introduced to the United States as a gun dog. By 1873 it was a “stable type” and in 1915 the AKC recognized the breed. After this, their popularity grew quickly until the American public fell in love with the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. Then the Flat-Coated Retriever’s numbers and popularity fell. The irony was that both the Golden and the Labrador credited the Flat-Coated Retriever as an ancestor. The survival of the breed was questionable following World War Two. They were brought back by a specific breeding program in the 1960’s.

Breeders in the ‘60s made sure they bred for both show dogs and companion animals. The Flat-Coated Retriever survived and is less popular than other retrievers, but he has his fans. The breed is more popular in the United Kingdom than it is in the United States in part because of Best in Show wins at Crufts

Description

irish terrier puppy - descriptionThe Irish Terrier is a medium sized dog who stands between 45cm and 50cm and weighs in the region of 11 to 12kg. He has a short, dense, wiry double coat which is a red, golden, sandy, wheaten color.

The ears of the dog are semi-erect/semi-floppy and the tail is held high and curved.The chest is deep and muscular and the front and back legs are strong, long and muscular.

Temperament:

The Irish Terrier is a companion dog today, even though he was once a guard- and hunting dog. He is an amicable dog while also being alert and active. He is also independent and strong-willed so he will require training and socialization as then he becomes obedient and relaxed and much easier to live with.

They're social dogs too, loving all the members of their human family, getting on well with children in the home.

flat coated retriever puppy - descriptionThe Flat-Coated Retriever has a straight and strong topline with unique head, strong jaws, a long muzzle and small ears. His eyes are dark brown almonds with a friendly and intelligent expression. He has an arched neck and a moderately long tail. The Flat-Coated Retriever is more of an athlete, lighter and certainly more elegant than any other type or breed of retriever.

Characteristics

irish terrier dog - characteristicsIrish Terriers are good with people and want to be an active member of their human families.

They are active dogs and will require ongoing mental and physical stimulation. This is a lively dog, but he still loves to spend quiet time indoors with his family.

They’re intelligent dogs with a strong sense of loyalty towards their owner, making excellent family pets.

Children friendliness

flat coated retriever dog - characteristicsThe Flat-Coated Retriever is great with children. Just be careful they don’t knock over small children in their enthusiasm.

Special talents

They are confident great family dogs. They are “thinking dogs” and need something to work for or they will work for themselves. They can be clowns.

Adaptability

They are adaptable although their size might preclude small locations without yards.

Learning ability

Smart, thinking all the time, they are very trainable. However, they are considered the “Peter Pan” of dogs – they never grow up.

Health Problems

irish terrier puppies - health problemsThe Irish Terrier is a healthy dog breed and you won't find yourself running to the vet often with him, but still he can land up with one of the common dog problems.

It is always wise to be aware of hip dysplasia as this is a disease which can occur in all dog breeds and all dog ages. Also look out for eye diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts as these can lead to blindness in your pet.

There is a disease known as cystinuria which is quite a concern with Irish Terriers. It’s an inherited kidney disease where increased amounts of arginine, lysine, amino acids cystine and ornithine are excreted in the urine.

In well-functioning kidneys, blood is filtered so as to create urine. Cystine is reabsorbed back into the bloodstream but with dogs affected with cystinuria they cannot reabsorb cystine back in their bloodstream, causing an accumulation in the urine. Dogs with cystinuria suffer inflammation of the urinary tract and can also develop urinary blockage and kidney failure. Immediate veterinary intervention is required.

flat coated retriever puppies - health problemsFlat-Coated Retrievers have their share of health concerns from dysplasia to cancer. The breeds problems include:

  1. Hip Dysplasia – not very common
  2. PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) – can result in blindness
  3. Glaucoma - an eye disease that can result in blindness
  4. Epilepsy – very rare but still seen
  5. Bloat (Gastric Dilatation and volvulus) – fatal if not treated immediately

Cancers

Hemangiosarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Malignant Histiocytosis, and Fibrosarcoma. Studies show that about half of all Flat-Coated Retrievers die of cancer.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

irish terrier dogs - caringThe coat of the Irish Terrier requires a brush twice a week to keep it bright. If you intend showing your dog, the coat will need to be stripped a couple of times a year to maintain the texture and color.

Other Irish Terrier owners take their dog to the groomers to have the coat clipped. The dog doesn't shed a lot and they are referred to as being somewhat hypoallergenic.

As with any other dog breed, other grooming needs with your Irish Terrier will include clipping the nails, checking his teeth for plaque build-up and checking inside the ears for infection.

If you're unsure how to perform these grooming procedures with your pet, simply ask your vet who will explain to you precisely how to ensure your dog remains in tip top condition.

Exercise:

He's a fairly active dog so you want to make sure that you are attending to his exercise needs. Take him for a walk every day, and if you've got a good sized garden, throw a ball for him. If you're a jogger you can count him in.

Diet:

What you feed your Irish Terrier will depend a lot on his age and his activity levels. Every dog is a unique individual and nothing is set in stone regarding their diets. Just like people though, feeding him a lot of junk food will contribute to illness and shorten his lifespan.

He needs quality food. If you buy commercially manufactured food, make sure to read up on how much to feed him. Try and mix in some cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables from time to time as well as some raw meat.

Learn to know what foods are toxic for him. Make sure he has a bowl of fresh, cool water constantly available to him.

Feeding the puppy

flat coated retriever dogs - caringHe will be a medium size dog. Feed puppies 3-4 times a day about a 1/8 cup of high-quality food. Feed a puppy food designed for medium size dogs or specifically for retrievers.

Feeding the adult

Feed 2 times a day about !/2 cups of dry food per meal. Do not overfeed. They have a tendency to be obese.

Points for Good Health

Maintain a healthy weight and avoid exercise before and after meals. The good news is dysplasia and epilepsy are rare in the breed.

Games and Exercises

They are very energetic and need good exercise. Long walks and a yard to run in. Remember they are hunting dogs and will chase to retrieve things so don’t let them off leash outside your yard. They will excel at agility, tracking. Rally, obedience, swimming, hunting, and jogging. They make great therapy dogs.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Sporting dog
Origin:
Ireland
United Kingdom
Height Male:
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
59 - 61 cm
23 - 25 inches
Height Female:
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
56 - 59 cm
22 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
11 - 12 kg
24 - 27 pounds
27 - 36 kg
59 - 80 pounds
Weight Female:
11 - 12 kg
24 - 27 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
13 - 15 Years
8 - 10 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
4 - 8
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Irish Red Terrier
Flatcoat, flatt, Flattie Flatte (Sweden)
Colors Available:
sandy, golden, Red, wheaten
liver and yellow (blonde, black
Coat:
Shortish, wiry, dense
double, glossy and smooth
Shedding:
Minimal
Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. French Spaniel vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  2. Flat-Coated Retriever vs East Siberian Laika - Breed Comparison
  3. Flat-Coated Retriever vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  4. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  5. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison
  6. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Beagador - Breed Comparison
  7. Flat-Coated Retriever vs English Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  8. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  9. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Artois Hound - Breed Comparison
  10. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Curly Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  11. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  12. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Braque Francais (Pyrenean Type) - Breed Comparison
  13. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  14. Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  15. Lagotto Romagnolo vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  16. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  17. Shikoku vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  18. Slovakian Hound vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  19. Small Munsterlander vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  20. Sussex Spaniel vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  21. Kooikerhondje vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  22. Welsh Springer Spaniel vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  23. West Siberian Laika vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  24. Wetterhoun vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  25. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  26. Schnauzer vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Irish Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  28. Irish Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  29. Irish Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  30. Irish Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Irish Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Irish Terrier vs Bedlington Terrier - Breed Comparison
  33. Irish Terrier vs Fox Terrier (Smooth) - Breed Comparison
  34. Irish Terrier vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  35. Irish Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Irish Terrier vs Blue Paul Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Irish Terrier vs Indian Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Irish Terrier vs Irish Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Irish Terrier vs Brazilian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Irish Terrier vs Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  41. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Lakeland Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Jagdterrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Japanese Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Old English Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Scoland Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Skye Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  50. Welsh Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds