How to Groom Irish Terrier Dogs

Irish terriers are wiry-haired, non-shedding dogs that are endowed with a dense, reddish double coat. Grooming the wiry hair requires hand-plucking, as clipping diminishes the vibrant color of the coat and makes it soft and fluffy, thus losing its water- and dirt-resistant characteristics. You must pay special attention to cleaning the other body parts of your Irish terrier, as well, as part of a holistic grooming regimen.

Things You'll Need

  • Hand mitt
  • Wet cloth or paper towel
  • Cotton wool
  • Dog ear cleaning solution, tea tree oil or witch hazel
  • Meat-flavored dog toothpaste
  • Toothbrush, finger cap or soft cloth
  • Nail clippers
  • Nail file
  • Styptic pencil
  • Blunt-edged scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Commence stripping your Irish terrier̵7;s coat at 5 months of age. Use the services of a professional groomer to strip your dog twice a year. Its hair will take up to 10 weeks to grow to a full coat.

    • 2

      Massage your dog̵7;s body gently with a rubber hand mitt every day. Move the hand mitt all over the body, in the direction of the hair growth. Pull out any loose dead hairs that you come across while using the hand mitt.

    • 3

      Examine your dog's eyes daily for an accumulation of dirt. Clean and wipe the corners of its eyes where debris accumulates with a wet cloth or paper towel to prevent bacterial infection.

    • 4

      Clean your dog̵7;s ears every week with cotton wool and a dog ear solution. Place a few drops of the ear-cleaning solution, tea tree oil or witch hazel in your dog̵7;s ears and gently massage the area with a cotton wool ball to loosen any wax deposits.

    • 5

      Brush your dog̵7;s teeth on a weekly basis. Place a little meat-flavored dog toothpaste on a toothbrush, finger cap or soft cloth, and brush your dog̵7;s teeth with it.

    • 6

      Use nail clippers to carefully trim your dog̵7;s nails. Buff rough nail edges with a nail file. In case bleeding occurs, use a styptic pencil to stop it.

    • 7

      Trim overgrown hairs between your dog̵7;s foot pads and around the ears on a weekly basis with a pair of blunt-edged scissors. Examine the pads for cuts, scrapes and foreign objects such as weeds and burrs.