COUNTRY: Ireland
WEIGHT: 35 pounds
HEIGHT: 14 inches
COAT: Medium length, harsh-textured
COLOR: Wheaten or brindle blue
Group:Terrier
Although the Glen Terrier is a new furry face to many dog fanciers, it is actually an old breed that was simply ignored for a long time by the dog fancy. The Glen area, in County Wicklow, Ireland, is a scenic but rather bleak area offering poor soil. Many of the local farmers descended from Lowland and Hessian soldiers who had been given the land in the 16th and 17th centuries for services to the crown. These determined, hard-working people had to eke out a living from the rocks and could ill afford a dog who couldn't earn its keep. The fact that the Glen Terrier flourished under such demanding conditions manifests the breed's attributes equal to that of its masters,
Group:Terrier
Although the Glen Terrier is a new furry face to many dog fanciers, it is actually an old breed that was simply ignored for a long time by the dog fancy. The Glen area, in County Wicklow, Ireland, is a scenic but rather bleak area offering poor soil. Many of the local farmers descended from Lowland and Hessian soldiers who had been given the land in the 16th and 17th centuries for services to the crown. These determined, hard-working people had to eke out a living from the rocks and could ill afford a dog who couldn't earn its keep. The fact that the Glen Terrier flourished under such demanding conditions manifests the breed's attributes equal to that of its masters,
With shorter legs than the other Irish terriers, the Glen Terrier could go to ground for badger and fox—not just to put them to flight, for he is game enough to fight to the death. The rat population around homes and barns was kept to a minimum. Saturday nights found owners gathering at a remote spot to match the feisty Glen dogs one-on-one, accentuated by heated wagering.
Besides being good ratters, varmint dogs and Saturday-night entertainment, Glens served as "turn- spits" on the dog wheel. This device was a treadmill, propelled for hours by an energetic little dog, which turned the meat on the spit as it cooked. Their small size, low fronts and strong rears suited them for this task as cook's helpers, and the Glens trotted for miles going nowhere.
Their size is documented in an old story passed down to a current Irish owner from his father, who owned Glens for over 50 years.