Mary Allen
The Kerry Blue Terrier is a small terrier from Ireland that was used specifically for hunting otters and badgers. He is a good watchdog and a loyal companion to his owner. Unfortunately, the breed is only known to a very limited extent outside of Ireland. He has official recognition in the FCI standard, where he has the FCI Group 3 Terriers Section 1 Long-legged Terriers. Without work test. With the standard number 3. It is still used today for hunting, but can also be found in many family households.
Kerry Blue Terrier Dog Breed Information
Size: 44-50cm
Weight: 15-18kg
FCI Group: 3: Terriers
Section: 1: Long Legged Terriers
Country of origin: Ireland
Colors: Blue, Blue Black, Silver, Slate Blue, Black, Grey
Life expectancy: 13-15 years
Suitable as: house and family dog
Sports: –
Temperament: Spirited, strong-willed, attentive, loyal, gentle, affectionate
Leaving requirements: high
Drooling potential: low
The thickness of hair: low
Maintenance effort: rather high
Coat texture: soft, lush, wavy
Child-friendly: rather yes
Family dog: rather yes
Social: rather no
Origin and Breed History
The Kerry Blue Terrier is a hunting dog from Ireland, formerly known as the Irish Blue. The small dog is a versatile working dog, bred specifically for hunting otters in the water and for small animal burrows. It probably has its origins as a farm dog and faithful pied piper among the farmers and shepherds of Ireland. Unfortunately, there are no exact records of the origin of the breed.
The first proper lore describing a dog like the Kerry Blue Terrier was not written until the mid-19th century, showing the dog’s widespread distribution in Ireland. The animals were probably bred primarily in County Kerry and distributed from there as gifts to other counties. At that time the Kerry Blue Terrier was already being used by hunters and fur trappers for hunting badgers and otters. The slightly curly coat protects the dog from cooling down in the water and its upright and loyal nature quickly made it a people’s favorite. Breeding was soon promoted according to a uniform standard and in 1913 the breed was presented for the first time as an independent breed at an exhibition. It soon became known abroad and the Kerry Blue Terrier was recognized in the FCI standard in 1922.
He is now mostly a house and family dog and is only rarely used for hunting. Rather, it is valued by many people because of its very allergy-friendly fur.
Nature & Temperament of the Kerry Blue Terrier
The Kerry Blue Terrier is a typical terrier. His character shines through his self-confident appearance, despite his small size. He is affectionate and cuddly towards his owner, but he is more alert and skeptical towards strangers. Indoors, he can tend to be territorial, undaunted by any potential danger. As a family dog, he is very adventurous and loves long walks with his people and exploring new paths.
Since he has a high hunting instinct, you should always pay attention to good training and, if necessary, a tow line should be attached for safety. He is an intelligent dog who learns quickly and enjoys working with his owner. But he needs consistent training because as a real terrier he often wants to go his own way. Due to his alert nature, he can also tend to bark and reliably reports every new arrival in his home.
Despite its small size, the Kerry Blue Terrier is a very robust dog that has a high need for exercise and always brings a breath of fresh air into the house with its energy. This also makes it a good playmate for children. He is very patient with children and can control his temper.
Due to its self-confident appearance, other dogs can get into a fight, but the Kerry Blue Terrier does not have any aggression and is a completely normal dog with good socialization, who likes to play with other dogs from a young age. In old age, he is less playful and usually treats dogs neutrally.
The Appearance of the Kerry Blue Terrier
The Kerry Blue Terrier has a very individual appearance. Measuring 45.5-49.5 cm in males and 44.5-48 cm in females. With a weight of 15 to 18 kg, he is a robust dog with a defined physique. His coat is characteristic of the Kerry Blue Terrier. It is blue to gray in color and has waves and small curls all over its body. In the standard for the Kerry Blue Terrier, all shades of blue are allowed for the coat. Smaller black markings, for example on the snout, are also permitted. The eyes should be dark hazel in color and set in gaze.
The ears are set very close to the head and are rather small to medium-sized in relation to the head. Typical of Schnauzer-like terriers, the ears point straight ahead and fall forward. The rod used to be copied, this is now forbidden and has been removed from the standard. His gait should be straight, with no excessive deflection when running.
How Big Can a Kerry Blue Terrier Get?
Because the Kerry Blue Terrier was used for hunting in burrows, it tends to be a small to medium-sized dog. As with most dogs, males are slightly larger and more powerful than females. The male is about 45.5-49.5 cm tall and females are usually between 44.5 and 48 cm.
Training and Husbandry of the Kerry Blue Terrier – This is Important to Note
The Kerry Blue Terrier is still used for hunting, which is why it needs a very consistent and dog-experienced person for private ownership. As a real terrier, he is used to making his own decisions and advancing courageously on his way. It is advisable to take the Kerry Blue Terrier to a dog school for early socialization and help with training. With the necessary patience and positive reinforcement, the Kerry Blue Terrier learns quickly and becomes a reliable companion. For this, it is important that the owner builds a good connection between himself and the dog because only then is the idiosyncratic terrier willing to work with his owner and enjoys learning.
When training, special attention should be paid to the dog’s hunting instinct and instinct to be awake, so that this does not become a problem for the owner of the Kerry Blue Terrier. In addition to a good upbringing, sufficient exercise and activity are important so that the terrier has a balanced personality. Dog sport is a very good activity, especially active sports such as agility or lunging. In order to utilize its hunting instinct, the Kerry Blue Terrier can be utilized with search games or dummy training.
With enough activity and exercise, the terrier can also live out its gentle and affectionate side, it is a loyal companion and enjoys the attention of its family. He gets along well with other people and hectic situations don’t bother the clever dog, so with a good education, he is a great office dog and can be taken to work.
Because of his hunting instinct and his stubborn head, which is typical of terriers, he is not suitable for beginners. An experienced handler or a family that has had dogs and is involved in sports make ideal Kerry Blue Terrier owners.
Diet of the Kerry Blue Terrier
The Kerry Blue Terrier is a very hardy dog that rarely suffers from stomach problems. Due to his insensitive stomach, he can tolerate both wet and dry food and only very rarely has allergies to feed. Dry food is easier to confirm the dog’s training, while wet food is closer to the dog’s natural feeding style. However, the cans of wet food cause a lot of additional waste. Regardless of what the Kerry Blue Terrier owner chooses, it is important to pay attention to the amount of food, because the terrier tends to be overweight. This is usually a result of a lack of exercise and too much food. It is also important to adapt the dog food to the needs of the dog and to give it puppy food up to the age of 12 months and to switch to senior food from the age of seven.
When is a Kerry Blue Terrier Fully Grown?
Since it is a rather small to medium-sized dog, the Kerry Blue Terrier is fully grown very early, the animals are fully grown at the age of six to seven months, although they are still young dogs that are still very playful and full of energy. The terrier is only fully grown up at the age of about one year and also becomes calmer in character.
Healthy – Life Expectancy & Common Diseases
The Kerry Blue Terrier is a healthy breed with few known breeding problems. This includes a slight tendency to skin diseases and joint problems in old age. The joint problems often come from a lack of exercise and too much weight, which quickly becomes noticeable with lameness or stiff legs, especially in old age. With a healthy lifestyle and choosing a good breeder, the Kerry Blue Terrier can live a long and healthy life. On average, the dogs live between 12 and 14 years. Since the Kerry Blue Terrier tends to be overweight, it is very important to pay attention to the amount of food and to offer the animal sufficient exercise.
How Old Can a Kerry Blue Terrier Get?
Like many other smaller terrier breeds, the Kerry Blue Terrier has a fairly long life expectancy and can remain fit and agile into old age if in good health. On average, Kerry Blue Terriers live 12 to 14 years. But there were also reports where the dogs were 15 and even 16 years old.
Grooming the Kerry Blue Terrier
Due to the special coat of the Kerry Blue Terrier, grooming the dog is much more complex than with other terrier breeds. The curly and wavy coat needs to be brushed every day after every walk and cleaned of small twigs and dirt that has settled in the coat. If this is not done, the coat can become matted quickly and skin diseases and parasites can afflict the dog.
In addition to regular brushing, the terrier’s coat needs to be clipped every three months as it sheds very little hair and it grows permanently, much like a poodle’s. It sheds very little fur, even when molting, which is why the Kerry Blue Terrier is considered an allergy-friendly dog.
Do Kerry Blue Terriers Shed Hair?
The Kerry Blue Terrier loses very little hair, similar to the Poodle, its coat is considered allergy-friendly and therefore requires more effort to care for. Daily brushing and clipping of the coat must not be neglected, otherwise, the dog’s beautiful coat will become matted.
Kerry Blue Terrier Activities and Training
As a passionate hunting dog, the Kerry Blue Terrier needs plenty of exercise and activity. He bonds closely to his owner yet has a mind of his own, so early training and good socialization are important. Anyone who is seriously interested in an animal of this breed should be prepared to spend a lot of time on the animal. Dog sport, daily training, and long walks are compulsory. He should be able to walk at least three times a day for an hour and do dog sports once a week.
Various types of sport are suitable as a dog sport since the Kerry Blue Terrier is a very intelligent dog and can be used for tracking work and searching for people. With a good upbringing, he can also be a reliable companion on horseback or on a bike. For this, however, the terrier’s hunting instinct must be under control. Retrieving and dummy training are also very good ways to keep the agile little dog busy.
Good to Know: Special Features of the Kerry Blue Terrier
Outside of Ireland, the Kerry Blue Terrier is only known to enthusiasts of the breed. It is a very special hunter, originally intended for hunting otters in the water and badgers in their burrows. He is an excellent swimmer and, despite his small size, has tremendous courage. Anyone who deals intensively with the breed and takes the time for a good bond between dog and owner will get a loyal and very affectionate four-legged friend who shows good obedience.
How Many Puppies Does a Kerry Blue Terrier Have?
The Kerry Blue Terrier has about four to eight puppies per litter. It is very rare that there are more than eight puppies in a litter.
Cons of the Kerry Blue Terrier
Probably the biggest disadvantage of the Kerry Blue Terrier is its pronounced hunting instinct, which is why it is only suitable as a companion for experienced dog owners. As a real terrier, he also has a mind of his own and needs a very consistent owner who has the patience to train the dog well and to keep it busy enough. Another point is the intensive care of the coat, for which the owner also has to take the time and invest money for regular shearing of the coat.
Is the Kerry Blue Terrier Right for Me?
The Kerry Blue Terrier is best suited to people who have already had experience with terriers and hunting dogs. He is a sporty dog and loves to be out and about in the forest, his new owners should take this into account and offer him the necessary exercise. You should be interested in a dog sport and ideally also have a large garden so that the little dog can let off steam at home. However, he can never be kept in a kennel or similar and absolutely needs a family connection. He loves spending time with his owner and can be very cuddly and affectionate. The Kerry Blue Terrier gets along very well with children and can show patience and friendly nature.
He is quite suitable for seniors if they are still active and fit and can keep the dog busy and busy. It is best if they still have experience with terriers and can also offer the dog a solid education. Otherwise, he feels most comfortable in a rural environment, but can also be kept in the city if his owners regularly drive into the countryside and give him the necessary exercise.
How Much Does a Kerry Blue Terrier Cost?
Since this is a fairly rare breed, it is difficult to find a breeder at all. With a good and reputable breeder, a puppy can cost between $1400 and $2000.