Friends Letters

Hi Lucy,

Just wanted to say what a delight your site is. So informative and with such lovely pic’s of this lovable breed. I haven't been blessed with one myself but it doesn't stop me admiring other people's dogs.

Thanks so much for sharing - it is much appreciated.

Best wishes

Kati

Dear Mrs Jackson,

I hope you will forgive me for writing to you out of the blue, but we have a rather strange request to ask. This Thursday 14th April I’ll be marrying Conor Mullan. We are the very proud and adoring owners of Brocquy a two year old Irish Terrier. We hoped that you would not mind if my oldest friend read out your marvellous poem ‘Love Song’ during my Wedding service next week. I’m sure that apart from actually getting married it will be the highlight of the service. As a small way of thanks we’d like to take you out to lunch and possibly introduce you to our beloved Brocquy.

With warmest wishes

Emily Fitzroy

Interesting email from Australia

My wife Josephine and I appreciate your newsletters, we have had lots of Irish Terriers over the years, bred them, not long ago we had a collection of five all at the one time, but alas time and tide has taken its toll and we are now left with just one in her twelfth year, Cailin Rua (the Red Colleen).  We have a problem with them here in Australia which fortunately does not apply to you. They actually go hunting for snakes and usually manage a kill, however, they only have to lose once.  We have lost two to snakebite over the years and friends with Irish have lost others.  Careless you may think, but given the nature of the breed and the fact that we live in the country on the coast with endless open space and miles of beaches, the only other alternative would be to keep them confined.  Think they would prefer to have their freedom to run and take their chances.  Of course we have had others that lived to fifteen and sixteen.

Regards,

Vincent Browne

A letter from a regular correspondent, Valentine Duck, who after seeing the film Firehouse Dog wrote to the trainer of the four Irish Terriers to get her impression of the breed. This is Valentine’s letter and the trainer’s response.

I currently have my 3rd Irish Terrier, named Casey.  I think these dogs are wonderful and extremely smart. They make great watch/guard dogs, and I have seen my current dog do some problem solving on his own. I was curious about your impressions of this particular breed and how easy they were to train for the Firehouse Dog movie, especially the scenes involving the obstacle course. Did you see any of the four dogs do any intelligent things on their own without prompting from you or the other trainers? 

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Valentine Duck

Response

Dear Valentine,

I believe the Irish Terrier is an incredibly intelligent dog. They are probably one of the smartest dogs I have had the pleasure of training (and I have trained quite a few). You are correct regarding their problem solving skills and personality. The dogs learned how to run the obstacle course, in only a few weeks of training, as well as many of the dogs in the movie that had spent months and or years doing competitions. Not only that but it was one of their favourite things!
I hope you enjoyed Firehouse Dog and thanks for your email.

Regards,

Lucy

The day finally arrived and we picked up the new addition to the family, 10 week old Aoife; and you’re right, life will never be the same.
 
A little Red Devil with the face of an angel.
 
The cup of tea you've just put down disappears almost in front of your eyes, the cats bomb burst in all directions and the flowers that were in full bloom suddenly loose the heads; and in the middle of all this chaos, with a mouth full of bright yellow petals, sitting serenely in the middle of the lawn is Aoife. With a look on her face that says 'Who me?' 
 
She is certainly living up to her name, as I find that I can't look at her without smiling, no matter what she has done, and it's impossible to walk down the street with her, without seeing smiles on other peoples faces and hearing 'Look at the puppy, it's so cute' or 'mummy can we have one of those?' 
 
She's now 15 weeks old, she's twice the size, her teeth are twice as sharp and she twice the trouble, but I wouldn't change her for the world.               

All the best
Andy, Cath and Aoife