Feeding:
Although Irish Terriers are not usually fussy when it comes to what they eat there are times when they can become very quickly bored if you give them the same food every day, that's why we like to mix it up a bit!
We like to feed them on Fish 4 dogs kibble but add and change things everyday. Chicken, turkey, fish (sardines in fresh water not sunflower oil), pasta, rice, couscous, potatoes, old bread and any leftover you may have from your meal, but always make sure that there is no salt in the food you add, mixing tinned dog food can also be apart of their diet. And don't forget about veggies...carrots, broccoli, peas e.c.t, we also like to give them fruit, apple or banana always goes down well, but make sure you remove the skin off of the apple and any pips. Every now and then we add natural fish oil to their meal, this helps keep their coat and skin healthy.
If they were to catch a rabbit or a mouse they would eat them raw...its natural, so its always a good idea to meet this requirement in their diet by giving them any fatty parts of your steak (raw) or occasionally buying them a piece of cheap steak to meet their desires for this...but don't forget to worm them every 3 months!
In the old days they were fed for hundreds of years on table scraps, so imagine an old Irish stew on a traditional little farm somewhere in the mountains of Ireland and you have the impression how they were fed.
We tried it all, raw feeding, only wet food, only dry food and came to the conclusion they thrive the best on what we feed them now.
Something about drinks:
Fresh water!...it sounds simple but it very important. Until they're a year old we like to give them full goats milks which is great for developing bones and their overall structure. You can also give them this when they are older but we always dilute it with a lot of fresh water...it is a good way to ensure they are drinking enough as well.
Bones:
Dental sticks don't always do the job, for strong white teeth they need to have a proper bone, or a raw hide. So talk to your local butcher and ask him if he can help you out, oxtail is also brilliant. Bones are a great way to keep their teeth in good condition, forget all the terrifying stories you here, otherwise you'll end up at the vets with a bill over £200 just for a clean-up. If you give them a bone always keep an eye on them and check the bone now and then.
Rawhide's are also very good for keeping there teeth clean
if they get soft take them away and give them back when they are hard again so they will last much harder.