Frank Jones is Britains most qualified terier specialist: a former professional handler; owner and breeder; columnist for Dog World, author and international judge.

Having read the preamble according to Robert Leighton (see „Dogs and all about them“ in „Articles“, note J.), the irish terrier temperament is one of uniqueness i quote once again from this well read author; he is above all things a dog for a persons companionship, equally suitable for town or country life, he has a hardy constitution, requires no pampering, and if taught to be obedient and gentlemanly there is no better housedog. He is naturally intelligent and easily trained, an ideal companion for children. His boisterous spirits lead him sometimes to trail his coat and is never found wanting when challenged. A demon for sport, as capable on land as in water, he will tackle anything with four legs and furry shin. Rats are his mortal enemy. A description few could write better.

And then we come to the question that often is put to me at seminars. What comes first...type or soundness...? Devotees and aspiring and established judges should think hard on what this question solicits ... And its implications. No one has yet argued with my answer which is put subjectively. A cross-bred could pass the test of soundness. Then ask the pertinant qestion. Is it of that breed?

Type is misunderstood issue that lies in most breeds. Type; is that, which well exemplifies the characteristics of a breed; a kind; the general character of a breed; the essence....the qualities which make an object what it is. The essence of a breed; the very core or signature, it is like no other. To add further to the confusion, judges my write a critque or state "this dog is not of my type" every breed has type, but the majority of judges are prone to prefer a specific type. Perhaps one they have previously shown themselves, or been education about. Yet all the remainder are actually acceptable, sometimes of outstanding qualita. So what it comes down to is the judges personal prefferende, and his or hers application of the breed standard, which after all is merely a guide line.

Showing or handling each breed differs. Each individual dog differs. Each handler/owner/exhibitor differs in their approach when exhibiting a dog. The rudiments of showing depends on a number of related matters.;self confidence, attitude, knowledge, experiance and training, and the dog on the end of the lead. When in the show ring stringing up (choking) a dog tells me a number of things when judging. Its a difficult animal to control. A bad handling habit has ensued, or the exhibitor has something to hide, perhaps extremely poor movement. Correct training can restore the first two items. No person can improve a dog that moves badly no matter how much they try to do so. I much prefer, as I did in my exhibiting days show a dog on a loose lead, but that can be brought under instant control should this been needed. Showing a dog on a loose lead is an art form, which requires self-confidence, and the understanding of your charge. Which has been trained to your ways. Dogs that are strung up especialy when asked to move, with its front legs lifted of the ground totally unbalances the animal. Its much better to accept and hope the judge is the forgiving one and move the dog naturally, or at least not strung up. A showy dog plainly catches a judges eye.

The matter of what constitutes a correct coat is a subjective matter. A matter which often separates knowledgeable judges from assumptive judges. Showing irish terriers in the shortest of coats. I was once a poacher and now a gamekeeper (pro handler....international judge) and fully aware of all the reasons why many terriers are shown in short coats. Here are just a few. Insufficent time and work put into preparing the dog for show. Lack of correct coat texture, followers of fashion, judges preference. To make a heavy dog appear lighter in construction. Many have to resort to colouring their exhibit, in attempting to deceive the judge. The expert colourist can deceive some of the judges some of the time. However experiance know there are parts that should never be the same colour as the body. In my adjudications, i`m never a follower of fashion. I whant dogs shown in correct length of coat. The mature colouring of the irish terrier is something that the colourist cannot possibly acheive.

Coat preparation deceives many probable fanciers. Stripping and trimming is an art form and in the fullness of time novice owners can acheive the echelons of this craft. But it requires a great deal of patience, tolerance and understanding. As a closing thought. Those at the top today, once started at the grassroots. They had the will to succeed.