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Breed Characteristics
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Kerry Blue Terrier
| Other Names | Irish Blue Terrier |
| Nicknames | Kerry |
| Country of Origin | Ireland |
| Weight | 33 - 40 lbs. (15 - 18 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 18½ - 20 in. (46 - 51 cm) Females: 17½ - 19 in. (44 - 48 cm) |
| Coat | The coat is the key feature of the Kerry. It is soft and wavy with no undercoat. The texture is similar to that of fine human hair and, like human hair, does not shed but continues to grow throughout the year. |
| Colour | Progressive grey ("blue"); puppies may be black. |
| Litter Size | 5 - 8 puppies, average 6 |
| Life Span | 12 - 15 years |
| Origin & History | The Kerry Blue Terrier was first observed in the mountains of Kerry in Ireland, hence the name of the breed. There is a romantic story of a blue dog swimming ashore from a shipwreck: the coat of this dog was so lovely that it was mated with all the female Wheaten Terriers in Kerry (or in all Ireland, according to some), producing the Kerry Blue. Perhaps this story is not entirely myth, as the Portuguese Water Dog is often suggested as part of the Kerry's makeup. Others suggest the Kerry was produced by the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier crossed with the Bedlington Terrier with (or without) some Irish Wolfhound or Irish Terrier blood. The extinct Gadhar herding dog is also mentioned as another possible branch of the Kerry's family tree. One certain fact is the breed became very popular as an all-around farm dog in rural Ireland. National Dog of Ireland; With the development of dog shows in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the breed became standardised and "tidied up" for the show ring. The Irish nationalist leader Michael Collins owned a famous Kerry Blue named Convict 224. Collins even made an attempt to have the Kerry blue adopted as the national dog of Ireland. Love of dogs did, however, cross political divides. The first show of the Dublin Irish Blue Terrier club took place outside official curfew hours and was entered both by those fighting for and against an Ireland republic. The Dublin Irish Blue Terrier Club was so successful it led directly to the foundation of the Irish Kennel Club, and a Kerry blue was the first dog that club registered. |
| Personality | The Kerry Blue is animated, playful and comical. It has a reputation of making people laugh. Affectionate with the family, it likes to be with its owners. Alert, determined and rowdy, it enjoys roughhousing. The Kerry is a good watchdog, but will not attack unless it is really provoked. The Kerry is friendly, getting along with strangers and usually gets along with other pets when properly introduced and supervised. If the humans are not 100% pack leader and lack canine communication skills the Kerry can become dog aggressive. This breed is protective and should be extensively socialized, especially with other dogs, or he may be quite a handful. They rarely bark unnecessarily. Kerry Blues require a confident owner who has a natural air of authority, and need firm obedience training. These dogs are intelligent and can be taught to perform tricks. They have a very good memory. With meek owners they will become willful, testing the owner at every turn. Owners need to be consistent with the rules and more determined than the dog. They have an aptitude for sports such as catch and agility training, but make sure the dog enjoys the challenge. If their lessons are too routine for the Kerry Blue, they will lose interest. |
Care Requirements
| Health | Kerries are fairly healthy, however there are some genetic disorders that are prevalent in the breed. They are prone to eye problems such as Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes), cataracts, and entropion. They sometimes get cysts or tumorous growths in their skin, but these are rarely malignant. Hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, cryptorchidism have also been reported. Progressive neuronal abiotrophy (PNA) is also seen but rare in the population. This condition is also referred to as Cerebellar cortical abiotrophy (CCA) or Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA). Another skin-related health issue is spiculosis. This is a skin disorder that produces abnormally thick hairs that are also called thorns, spikes or bristles. |
| Grooming | Kerries should be groomed every 6 weeks. They also need to have the hair pulled out of the ear canal, as they are prone to ear infections when the ear hair gets too long and wax and dirt have built up. Pet Kerries can be trimmed like a Soft Coated Wheaten. In addition to this, they will need grooming once a week with brush and comb. Dogs for showing will require more extensive grooming. Frequent bathing will not dry out the skin as it does in so many other breeds. Bathing and combing every week is a must! It keeps them clean. Without proper care their beard will get smelly and packed with food and dirt. Kerry Blues are considered good for allergy sufferers. The Kerry Blue sheds little to no hair and is odorless, even when wet. |
| Exercise | The Kerry Blue is a sporty dog which needs to be taken out on a daily walk, jog or run where he is made to heel decide or behind the human holding the lead. In a dog’s mind the leader goes first. If you allow it to walk ahead, whether you realize it or not, you will be communicating to the dog that he is YOUR leader. This can cause the Kerry to become willful as he thinks he needs to tell YOU what to do rather than the other way around. |
| Other Considerations | Kerry Blues are good for apartment life. They are fairly active indoors and a small yard will do. |
