While such pitiful blunders in the awards were an every show occurrence, it was rather a wonder the breed did not deteriorate instead of only standing still. To-day I may safely say they rival in popularity the oldest established breeds, and to the man who values qualities above looks, I would repeat that for a good-tempered and game dog, a rough-and-ready tyke that will fight anything and fear nothing there is no better than the Irish Terrier.

Irish Terrier Club's Code Of Points

Disqualifying Points

Nose, cherry or red. Brindle colour.

Descriptive Particulars

Head

Long; skull flat, and rather narrow between ears, getting slightly narrower towards the eye; free from wrinkle; stop hardly visible, except in profile. The jaw must be strong and muscular, but not too full in the cheek, and of a good punishing length, but not so fine as a white English terrier's. There should be a slight falling away below the eye, so as not to have a greyhound appearance. Hair on face of same description as on body, but short (about a quarter of an inch long), in appearance almost smooth and straight; a slight beard is the only longish hair (and is only long in comparison with the rest) that is permissible, and that is characteristic.

Teeth

Should be strong and level.

Lips

Not so tight as a bull-terrier's but well-fitting, showing through the hair their black lining.

Nose

Must be black.

Ears

When uncut, small and V-shaped, of moderate thickness, set well up on the head, and dropping forward closely to the cheek. The ears must be free of fringe, and the hair thereon shorter and generally darker in colour than the body.

Neck

Should be of a fair length, and gradually widening towards the shoulders, well carried, and free of throatiness. There is generally a slight sort of frill visible at each side of the neck, running nearly to the corner of the ear, which is looked on as very characteristic.

Shoulders And Chest

Shoulders must be fine, long, and sloping well into the back; the chest deep and muscular, but neither full nor wide.

Bach And Lorn

Body moderately long; back should be strong and straight, with no appearance of slackness behind the shoulders; the loin broad and powerful and slightly arched; ribs fairly sprung, rather deep than round, and well ribbed back.

Hind Quarters

Well under the dog should be strong and muscular, the thighs powerful, hocks near the ground, stifles not much bent.

Stern

Generally docked, should be free of fringe or feather, set on pretty high, carried gaily, but not oyer the back or curled.

Feet And Legs

Feet should be strong, tolerably round, and moderately small; toes arched, and neither turned out nor in; black toe-nails are preferable and most desirable. Legs moderately long, well set from the shoulders, perfectly straight, with plenty of bone and muscle; the elbows working freely clear of the sides, pasterns short and straight, hardly noticeable. Both fore and hind legs should be moved straight forward when travelling, the stifles not turned outwards, the legs free of feather and covered like the head, with as hard a texture of coat as body, but not so long.

Coat

Hard and wiry, free of softness or silkiness, not so long as to hide the outlines of the body, particularly in the hindquarters, straight and flat, no shagginess, and free of lock or curl.

Colour

Should be 'whole coloured," the most desirable being bright red; next wheaten, yellow, and grey, brindle disqualifying. White sometimes appears on chest and feet; it is more objectionable on the latter than on the chest, as a speck of white on chest is frequently to be seen in all self-coloured breeds.

Size And Symmetry

Weight In Show Condition, From 161b. To 241b. say 161b. to 221b. for bitches and 181b. to 241b. for dogs. The most desirable weight is 221b. or under, which is a nice stylish and useful size. The dog must present an active, lively, lithe, and wiry appearance; lots of substance, at the same time free of clumsiness, as speed and endurance, as well as power, are very essential. They must be neither "cloddy" nor "cobby," but should be framed on the "lines of speed," showing a graceful " racing outline".

The subject of the illustration is Spuds (K.C.S.B. 6846), bred by Mr. George Jamison, Newtownards, Ireland. Spuds has won the following prizes: Cork, 2nd prize, 1876, Mr. Ridgway, judge; Newtownards, 1st prize and special cup for best in four Irish terrier classes, Mr. Skidmore, judge; Brighton, 2nd prize, Mr. Sam Handley, judge; Lisburn, 1877, 1st prize, Mr. Skidmore, judge; Newtownards, 1877,1st prize and special cup for best in two Irish terrier classes, Mr. J. J. Pirn, judge; Agricultural Hall, London, 2nd prize, Colonel Cowen, judge; Bristol, 1st prize, Mr. Percival, judge; Alexandra Palace, 1st prize, Mr. Handley, judge.