A Detailed Comparison of the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier.

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Glen of Imaal Terrier Versus Irish Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and for the Irish Terrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Glen of Imaal Terrier or the Irish Terrier.

Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Irish Terrier

Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Irish Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Glen of Imaal Terrier is a tiny-sized dog while the Irish Terrier is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier are Terrier Dogs. This means both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Irish Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Glen of Imaal Terrier to the Irish Terrier based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier

Factor Glen of Imaal Terrier Irish Terrier
Does NOT Shed 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 12 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 16 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 1/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 2/5
General Health 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 2/5
Weight Up to 35 pounds 25 to 27 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 14.0 years
Price Range No Data $1000 – $1500
Average Price No Data $1280
Temperament Score 66.7 percent 80.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • CONE ROD DYSTROPHY
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Must have an eye examination performed by an AVCO opthalmologist (or equivalent in foreign countries) beginning at 2 years of age and repeated every 2 years until age 8
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 168 118

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Glen of Imaal Terrier in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Irish Terrier. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Glen of Imaal Terrier is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Irish Terrier is 78 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Glen of Imaal Terrier is a better pet than the Irish Terrier. So, you should get the Glen of Imaal Terrier!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier are most different:

  • Glen of Imaal Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, Irish Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Glen of Imaal Terriers are very easy to train. However, Irish Terriers are not easy to train.
  • Glen of Imaal Terriers are very easy to groom. However, Irish Terriers require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Glen of Imaal Terriers have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Irish Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • The Similarities Between the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier

    The Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier are most similar:

  • Both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier are very playful.
  • Both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Irish Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier.

    Glen of Imaal Terriers weigh Up to 35 pounds when fully grown. Glen of Imaal Terriers are 12 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Irish Terriers weigh 25 to 27 pounds when fully grown. Irish Terriers are 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Irish Terrier

    The lifespan of Glen of Imaal Terriers is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Glen of Imaal Terriers is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of Irish Terriers is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of Irish Terriers is 14.0 years.

    Irish Terriers live longer than Glen of Imaal Terriers.

    Temperament of the Glen of Imaal Terrier Versus the Irish Terrier

    The Irish Terrier has a better temperament than the Glen of Imaal Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Irish Terrier is 80.0 percent while the temperament score for the Glen of Imaal Terrier is 66.7 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 66.7 percent, the Glen of Imaal Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 80.0 percent, the Irish Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 3 Glen of Imaal Terriers and 10 Irish Terriers.

    The Popularity of Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Popularity of Irish Terrier

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Irish Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Glen of Imaal Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Irish Terrier is 118 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Glen of Imaal Terrier is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Glen of Imaal Terrier

    Popularity of Glen of Imaal Terrier

    Popularity of Irish Terrier

    Popularity of Irish Terrier

    Year Glen of Imaal Terrier Popularity Rank Irish Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 167 123
    2014 162 125
    2015 168 113
    2016 180 115
    2017 158 114
    2018 174 116
    2019 168 119
    2020 169 120

    Tolerates Being Alone: Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Irish Terrier

    Glen of Imaal Terriers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Irish Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Glen of Imaal Terriers shed more than Irish Terriers?

    Glen of Imaal Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Irish Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Glen of Imaal Terrier or the Irish Terrier

    Glen of Imaal Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Irish Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Glen of Imaal Terrier or the Irish Terrier?

    Glen of Imaal Terriers are very easy to groom.

    Irish Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Glen of Imaal Terrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Terrier?

    Glen of Imaal Terriers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Irish Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Glen of Imaal Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Irish Terriers?

    Glen of Imaal Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Irish Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Glen of Imaal Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Glen of Imaal Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Irish Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Glen of Imaal Terrier vs. Irish Terrier

    Glen of Imaal Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Irish Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Glen of Imaal Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Glen of Imaal Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Irish Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Glen of Imaal Terrier or the Irish Terrier?

    Glen of Imaal Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Irish Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Glen of Imaal Terriers good family dogs? What about Irish Terriers?

    Glen of Imaal Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Irish Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Glen of Imaal Terriers and Irish Terriers?

    Glen of Imaal Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Irish Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Glen of Imaal Terrier Easier to Train than the Irish Terrier?

    Glen of Imaal Terriers are very easy to train.

    Irish Terriers are not easy to train.

    Is the Glen of Imaal Terrier Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Terrier?

    Glen of Imaal Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Irish Terriers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Glen of Imaal Terrier or the Irish Terrier?

    Glen of Imaal Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Irish Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Glen of Imaal Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Glen of Imaal Terrier that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Glen of Imaal Terrier:

  • Australian Terrier (79 percent match with Glen of Imaal Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Irish Terrier vs Australian Terrier.
  • Silky Terrier (79 percent match with Glen of Imaal Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Irish Terrier vs Silky Terrier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Irish Terrier that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Irish Terrier:

  • Hovawart (75 percent match with Irish Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Glen of Imaal Terrier vs Hovawart.
  • Lakeland Terrier (79 percent match with Irish Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Glen of Imaal Terrier vs Lakeland Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Glen of Imaal Terrier and how the Irish Terrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Glen of Imaal Terrier and of the Irish Terrier to other breeds:

    Glen of Imaal Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Black Russian Terrier     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Shih Tzu     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Whoodle     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Miniature Poodle     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Chinook     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Komondor     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Newfoundland     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Mastiff     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Standard Schnauzer     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Cockapoo     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Italian Greyhound     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Lakeland Terrier     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Havanese     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Papillon     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Irish Water Spaniel     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Miniature Schnauzer     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Bullmastiff     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Papillon     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Yorkipoo     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Lakeland Terrier     Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Manchester Terrier     

    Irish Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Terrier versus Airedale Terrier     Irish Terrier versus Leonberger     Irish Terrier versus Peek A Poo     Irish Terrier versus Maremma Sheepdog     Irish Terrier versus Havanese     Irish Terrier versus Briard     Irish Terrier versus Mastiff     Irish Terrier versus Bulldog     Irish Terrier versus Australian Kelpie     Irish Terrier versus Alaskan Malamute     Irish Terrier versus Cockalier     Irish Terrier versus Beagle     Irish Terrier versus Pomchi     Irish Terrier versus Afghan Hound     Irish Terrier versus King Shepherd     Irish Terrier versus American Eskimo Dog     Irish Terrier versus Miniature Schnauzer     Irish Terrier versus Borzoi     Irish Terrier versus Lhasapoo     Irish Terrier versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Irish Terrier versus Shih Tzu     Irish Terrier versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Irish Terrier versus Pomsky     Irish Terrier versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Irish Terrier versus Komondor     

    Conclusion: Glen of Imaal Terrier versus Irish Terrier. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Irish Terrier better suits you and your family.