Irish Terrier Puppy Checklist

Before Puppy Comes Home

Irish Terrier Prep: DNA Tests First, Then Everything Else

Before your Irish Terrier puppy arrives, the most important preparation happens before you commit to a puppy: verifying the breeder's DNA health test documentation. Digital Hyperkeratosis and Cystinuria are both testable genetic conditions specific to the breed — both have meaningful quality-of-life implications for affected dogs, and both can be avoided by buying from breeders who test their breeding stock. Don't skip this step and plan to deal with it later.

Pre-Purchase DNA Test Verification

• Digital Hyperkeratosis DNA test — both parents should be tested and documented as clear, carrier, or affected. A puppy from two clear parents cannot be affected. A puppy from carrier parents can be tested and cleared before purchase.
• Cystinuria DNA test — same documentation standard. Both parents tested, documentation provided.
• OFA hip clearance — for both parents. Hip dysplasia is less common in this breed than in large breeds but documented.
• If a breeder cannot provide these documents, find a different breeder. The Irish Terrier Club of America maintains a breeder referral directory.

Fencing Check

• Minimum 5-foot fence — Irish Terriers are athletic and driven by prey and challenge
• Check all gate latches; a determined terrier will find the weakness
• Check for dig-under vulnerabilities — terriers dig
• Invisible fence is not suitable — the dog-combative instinct and prey drive override corrections in charged situations

Essential Gear Checklist

• Crate — medium size (30–36 inch) with divider for growth
• Orthopedic dog bed or crate mat
• Stainless steel food and water bowls
• Flat collar + ID tag (engrave immediately)
• Harness for leash walks — distributes pull pressure more safely than a collar for a strong terrier
• 4–6 ft leash (6 ft for training; shorter for management on busy walks)
• Slicker brush and fine-tooth steel comb for the wiry coat
• Dog-safe shampoo
• High-value training treats (Irish Terriers are food-motivated when properly engaged)
• Durable toys — Kongs, bully sticks, hard rubber chews; this breed destroys soft toys quickly
• Enzymatic cleaner

First Week Setup

First Vet Visit and Health Monitoring

First Vet Visit (Within 48–72 Hours)

• Full physical exam
• Vaccine schedule verification and continuation
• Parasite prevention
• Microchip if not done by breeder
• Get pet insurance before this appointment or immediately after — Cystinuria risk makes this non-optional

Paw Pad Check

Although Digital Hyperkeratosis typically manifests at 4–10 months of age, establish a baseline paw pad awareness now. Healthy pads should be smooth, firm, and supple — not rough, cracked, or thickened. If you notice progressive thickening or crusting of the paw pads as the puppy grows, raise Digital Hyperkeratosis specifically with your vet even if the parents were tested as clear. The disease can still emerge in tested lines under some circumstances, though it is significantly less likely.

Urinary Signs to Watch For

Cystinuria causes kidney stone formation that can appear at any age in affected dogs. Signs to watch for include straining to urinate, blood in urine, frequent urination with small output, or signs of discomfort when urinating. If these appear at any age, tell your vet you have an Irish Terrier and request that Cystinuria be on the differential diagnosis. Time matters — urinary obstruction is an emergency.

Socialization: Start Immediately

The critical socialization window is 8–16 weeks. For a breed with the Irish Terrier's dog-combative instincts, the socialization window is not optional — it shapes how well the dog reads other dogs, controls its responses, and accepts new situations throughout life.

• Controlled, positive interactions with friendly, vaccinated dogs during the puppy period
• Puppy class: excellent for this — structured, supervised, controlled exposure
• Exposure to different people: children, elderly, uniforms, hats, different heights and builds
• Urban exposure: traffic sounds, crowds, different floor surfaces, moving objects
• Carry the puppy in areas of disease risk rather than skipping socialization while awaiting full vaccination

Training and Management

Building Good Habits With a Terrier Puppy

Terrier-Appropriate Training Approach

Irish Terriers are intelligent but not inherently biddable — they respond well to positive reinforcement and poorly to harsh correction. What works: high-value rewards, short sessions, clear rules established from the start. What produces problems: repetitive drilling, compulsion methods, inconsistent rules.

• Establish core commands from the first week: sit, down, stay, come, leave it
• Loose-leash walking from the first walk — never allow pulling to become habitual. A terrier that has always pulled is much harder to remediate than one that never learned it was effective
• Door manners: sit before going outside, sit before greeting people
• No jumping — manageable at 10 lbs, dangerous at 25 lbs when directed at small children

Dog-Dog Management: The Critical Skill

The Irish Terrier's dog-combative instinct means that safe management of other-dog encounters is a permanent, non-negotiable skill for Irish Terrier owners. Start practicing it with the puppy so it becomes routine rather than reactive:

• Read approaching dogs before contact — body language, posture, energy level
• Cross the street, change direction, or create distance when there's any doubt
• Practice the "let's go" or "this way" redirect so the dog responds to your cue to move away reliably
• Never put the puppy in situations with unknown adult dogs off-leash
• Dog parks are not appropriate at any age for this breed

Exercise Guidelines for Puppies

Follow the 5-minutes-per-month-of-age rule for formal exercise: a 3-month-old puppy gets 15-minute sessions twice daily. Growth plates in a medium breed close around 14–16 months — avoid forced running, repetitive jumping, or stairs on demand until then. Free play and leash walking are appropriate; jogging with the dog waits until after 14–16 months.