Glen of Imaal Terriers are known for their really energy for life! They are extremely high-spirited but also very gentle with 'hoomans'. Unlike other terriers, they are also a lot quieter, which is due to them previously being bred as 'silent' hunters. However, because they are hunters, they have a very large prey drive, so it would probably not be best to bring these little dogs into a house with other small pets such as hamsters and cats! However, after a long day of playing and chasing, they can be very relaxed and are more than happy to chill out with their family. For the right family they make lovely pets and have the potential to provide you with years of happiness!

These dogs, originally bred in Ireland, were used to hunt and control vermin. It's often though the breed were developed as a result of settlers crossing their own dog with local breeds. However, the first recording of a Glen of Imaal Terrier was in a book entitled 'The Noble Art of Venerie and Hunting' in 1575. It's thought they were probably developed to create a dog that was high-spirited and performed duties and tasks to the best of their ability. Originally, they were also called 'Wicklow Terriers', as this is the name of the valley that they were bred in! However, it wasn't until 1978 that these dogs started to resemble how they look nowadays, after an Irish Wolfhound was thought to have mated with local terriers. Although very popular in Ireland, it wasn't until 1982 that they were first exhibited in England. Nowadays, these guys are a little less popular than their other Terrier cousins and often you will need to be put on a waiting list if interested in one of these little guys!