How long does a Irish Terrier live?

The listed lifespan for a Irish Terrier is 13–15 years.

How tall is a Irish Terrier?

The listed height for a Irish Terrier is 18 in.

Is a Irish Terrier good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Irish Terrier is 5 out of 5.

What is the energy level of a Irish Terrier?

The AKC energy score for a Irish Terrier is 3 out of 5.

Terrier Group

Irish Terrier

Irish Terrier is a medium dog in the Terrier Group. Adult weight is 27 lb (male), 25 lb (female), height is 18 in, and the listed lifespan is 13–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Bold, Dashing, Tenderhearted.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Irish Terrier dog — Photo: Ron Armstrong from Helena, MT, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan13–15 years

Weight27 lb (male), 25 lb (female)

SizeMedium GroupTerrier Group

Height

18 in

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

2 / 5

Grooming

1 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 59 single-size medium breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 14 years is about 0.7 years longer than the 13.3-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 26 lb is about 8.1 lb lighter than the 34.1 lb average for those medium breeds.

The listed origin is Ireland. The coat is described as double, wiry, medium. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.6 points below the group average of 3.6 for the Terrier Group. Shedding scores 2 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 1 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 1 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 149 in 2025.

AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: No recommended health tests. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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