The Glen of Imaal Terrier is a dog breed recognized by global and national dog breeder organizations. Most people shorten the name to the Glen Terrier or use just “Glen” when talking about the breed. The Glen gets its name from a remote valley in Ireland called Glen of Imaal in County Wicklow. The valley was somewhat cut off from the rest of Ireland and today is a military practice range.

Unsubstantiated stories claim the breed originated during the reign of Elizabeth I. She reportedly hired mercenaries to stop a dangerous rebellion that threatened her leadership. The professional soldiers brought dogs that interbred with local terriers. The resulting breed was heralded as a “silent” hunting dog that went after prey rather than point and bark.

Glens are family-friendly and love to run and play. Consequently, they make great family pets because they hunt and seek more than they offer guard dog protection. Though the Glen is small and adequate for apartment living, they are energetic dogs that require physical activity.

Fun Facts About the Glen Terrier:

• The Glen Terrier is short, standing just 14 inches at the shoulders.
• They are intelligent and easily trained.
• Glens are front-heavy with achondroplasia, a condition that causes stunted growth.
• The American Kennel Club uses this front-heavy stance for rating champion specimens.
• The breed was recognized by the Irish Kennel Club in 1934.
• AKC recognized Glens in 2004, as did the Canadian Kennel Club in 2014.
• The breed almost died out because, for many years, Glens were in the “miscellaneous” category.
• Glen Terriers love to dig. The best advice is early training to help them get the digging urge under control as puppies.