It's also possible they're regional. You asked for input from Connemara (Connacht) speakers, but the author of that book is from Munster.

Redwolf

Exactly! That's why the input is so necessary. Joyce lists words and phrases from various counties and regions, but none from Connemara (wish there was a book on Connemara words/phrases from the same time period--although it sounds like most of the people were monolingual Irish speakers at the time).

By 1910, I'd say that most of the people would have been either English speakers or bi-lingual. There would have still been some monoglot Irish speakers, probably, in more isolated areas. The Famine and the national school system really did a number on the language.

Redwolf

There's a list of dog commands in this thread from a while back:
http://irishlearner.awyr.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=606&hilit=+dog

_________________
I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

Actually, native Irish speakers in Connemara speak English to their dogs and to the donkey its a strange fact but its true.

Not that they think the English are mongrels or asses or anything.

_________________
Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

No one knows the actual reason some think it could be a slur and disrespect for the English language like its not worth talking to English but only to dogs, some others say because they reckon dogs wouldn't understand Irish which isn't true because dogs understand depending on your tune.

I asked someone from Tory island and they do speak Irish to their dogs I don't know about Kerry.

I seem to remember someone saying either here or more probably at the other place, that in the West of Ireland they would get their dogs used to hearing and responding to commands in English as it was a advantage when it came to selling the dog.
I've had a friend tell me, who lives near the border to Switzerland (I'll be going over there next week) that they bought a male labrador that only understood orders in Swiss French and that she had to go to Switzerland with the dog for a short training course in order to have any kind of control over him.

This character speaks Irish to his dog. So how would you call a dog in Connemara Irish?

Goille!