Irish terrier is a medium-sized dog that originated in Ireland during the 1700’s. In Ireland, the dog was used for hunting rats and for fetching game that had been shot. Many Irish terriers were used to carry messages on battlefields in World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945). Today, the dog is kept mainly as a pet. It has a long, narrow head, a short beard, and a wiry red coat. It carries its tail straight up. Most Irish terriers weigh from 25 to 27 pounds (11 to 12 kilograms). See also Terrier.
