Kerry Blue Terrier

Published A Few Days Ago
ADVERTISEMENT
fast facts

About Kerry Blue Terrier

Weight
33-40 lb
Lifespan
12-15 years
Group
AKC Terrier
Best Suited For
Families with children, active singles and seniors, houses with yards, rural areas, watchdog
Temperament
Smart, independent, stubborn, energetic
Comparable Breeds
Airedale Terrier, Border Terrier
Height
17-20 inches
ADVERTISEMENT

Kerry Blue Terrier Basics

There’s no reason to feel blue when you’ve got a Kerry Blue Terrier! You can say this breed comes with it all – it’s an all-around working, watch, utility and companion dog, all rolled into one amazing pooch. Known for its intelligence, versatility and loyalty to its owners, the Kerry Blue Terrier (also referred to as Kerries or the Blue) loves to spend his time hunting, chasing and exploring.

A wonderful dog for family and active or outdoorsy people, the Kerry Blue Terrier loves to keep active. He boasts a typical terrier personality, so he’ll need daily exercise and firm and patient training. This may not be a well-known breed in North America, but the Blue enjoys a loyal following, thanks to his strong work ethic and loyal companionship. Please read on to learn more about this breed.

Known for its intelligence, versatility and loyalty to its owners, the Kerry Blue Terrier loves to spend his time hunting, chasing and exploring.

Origin

The Kerry Blue Terrier can trace its roots to back to the mountainous regions of County Kerry, near Lake Killarney, Ireland, sometime in the late 1700s or early 1800s. This dog was bred for working purposes – it would tend livestock, hunt small game, kill vermin, and watch over its owners and property. In time, he also became a beloved companion – no wonder he’s the National Dog of Ireland.

Pedigree

ADVERTISEMENT

It’s not known for sure, but many experts believe that the Kerry Blue Terrier’s linage can be traced back to Irish, Welsh, Bedlington and Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers.

Food / Diet

This is an active breed, so you’ll have to ensure that your Kerry Blue Terrier gets enough fuel. Depending on brand, you should feed your Blue 1.5 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day. Whatever food you do go with, make sure that it contains enough calcium and proteins.

The Kerry Blue Terrier is intelligent, but being a typical terrier, he’s also quite stubborn.

Training

The Kerry Blue Terrier is intelligent, but being a typical terrier, he’s also quite stubborn. Being such an observant dog, the Blue will watch to see who is in charge and how they can turn any situation to their advantage. If he senses that you’re not in charge at all times, your Kerry Blue Terrier will gladly take charge. Be consistent and confident when training your Blue and never let him get the upper hand. You’ll find that you’ll make much more progress by using positive training techniques. Come to training prepared with plenty of treats and keep these sessions interesting – your Kerry will lose focus if he gets bored.

After he masters basic obedience training, your Kerry Blue Terrier is ready to move onto advanced obedience, agility and earthdog training. Because this is an intelligent breed, you need to keep his mind stimulated, otherwise he’ll engage in destructive behaviors.

Weight

The Kerry Blue Terrier’s weight ranges from 33 to 40 pounds.

Temperament / Behavior

ADVERTISEMENT

This energetic dog loves to play and be active. He’ll want to be included in all of your family activities. You can take your Blue on hikes, jogs and walks, but you’ll find that he’s happiest playing a game of fetch in the backyard. He likes to play with children, but he should be watched closely when playing with younger children, due to his fondness for rough housing.

The Kerry Blue Terrier is wary of strangers, so this breed makes an excellent watchdog. They will protect their family and home, but aren’t considered an aggressive dog (unless provoked). If you have other dogs in the household, you’ll need to introduce your Blue into the pack as early as possible. Socialization and Puppy Kindergarten class can help familiarize your dog to new people, animals and experiences. Smaller animals should not be kept in the same house as a Kerry Blue Terrier due to their strong chasing and hunting instinct.

Common Health Problems

There are some breed health concerns, but they may not affect your dog. These include ear infections, epidermal or sebaceous gland cysts, skin cysts, dry eye, cataracts, entropion, footpad keratoses, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, missing teeth, patellar luxation and Factor Xl Deficiency (Plasma Thromboplastin Antecedent Deficiency).

Life Expectancy

The Kerry Blue Terrier has an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years.

Exercise Requirements

Can you keep up with the Kerry Blue Terrier? He needs lots of physical and mental stimulation to keep him in tip-top shape. Just when you think that they’ve had enough, they will hit their second wind. The Blue does best in a house with a yard or in a rural area. Be prepared to give your dog about an hour of vigorous exercise every day – this can include walks, jogs, hikes or playing in the yard. To keep both his mind and body active, consider agility and earthdog training.

This energetic dog loves to play and be active.

AKC

The American Kennel Association says this about the breed: “Intelligent and game, the Kerry Blue Terrier is truly an all-purpose dog. Originally bred to hunt and retrieve, Kerries can be found today in the show, obedience, agility, herding and earthdog rings.” The AKC first recognized this breed in 1922.

Coat

The Kerry Blue Terrier sports a soft, dense, and wavy coat. Coat colors are blue or gray, and range in shades from dark to light. As puppies, coats are black, but will lighten as they get older. Black and white markings may be present.

The Blue is a light shedder, but you’ll still need to brush him daily in order to prevent tangles and mats.

Puppies

Socialization is especially important with this breed. The Kerry Blue Terrier is wary of strangers and other animals, so you need to introduce your Blue to as many people and animals as you can – the sooner, the better.

Photo credit: Eponimm/Wikimedia; Alofok/Wikimedia

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

You May Like

Can De Palleiro

The name Can de Palleiro translates literally to ""haystack dog"" and this breed is extremely rare. This dog is known for his protective instincts.

Best Cat Weight Gain Supplements

Does your cat need to put on a few pounds? It''s not as easy as it sounds. Here are our picks for the best cat weight gain supplements.?

Thrianta Rabbit

The Thrianta rabbit breed was created in honor of the royal House of Orange. It has a signature fiery red coat, with no other body markings.

New Noms: Cricket-Based Dog Treats Packed With Protein

Care to crunch on a cricket? The newest dog treat craze involves a delicacy you can find hopping around in your backyard!

Cat or Dog? Only His Groomer Knows For Sure.

Is he a dog or is he a cat? Only his groomer knows for sure... which is a good thing, because his groomer happens to be his mom.

Arabian Mau

The Arabian Mau is one of the oldest of all of the natural feline breeds. These kitties are so friendly, they will get along great with just about anyone.

Red Masked Parakeet

Red Masked Parakeet is known for its friendly personality- they have a reputation of being very playful and intelligent birds.

Cats on Laps Shelter Animals Bring Senior Citizens Special Love

An animal shelter in Bangor, Maine is using adoptable cats to bring lots of furry love to seniors who aren''t able to have pets of their own.

Belly Flop! Flynn Makes A Splash As This Week’s Wet Wednesday Winner

This is our last pick for our Weekly Wet Wednesday Winner, and Flynn certainly does make a splash with his entry. Flynn can’t enough of the water. Just…

Top 10 Healthy Vegetables For Dogs

Mom was onto something! No matter how you slice and dice it, you''ll want to add these top 10 healthy vegetables for dogs into your pooch''s diet.

Giant Spitz

The Giant Spitz lives up to its name with his classic, spitz-like characteristics and his large size. These dogs were traditionally used for guarding.

Chiweenie

A cross between a Chihuahua and Dachshund, the Chiweenie is one cute pooch. Long and small, this adorable hybrid is picking up in popularity.

A Pet Parent’s Guide To Heartworm Treatments

Is your dog safe? Let''s go over the basics about what heartworm is, how and why you should protect your dog, and the heartworm treatments available to you.

Snowshoe

The Snowshoe has a reputation for being a mellow cat with a sweet, affectionate personality. They like being with people and other pets, and with children.

Cranberry Pumpkin Christmas Dog Treat Recipe

I love the holidays – everything about them fills me with merriment and feelings of fa la la. I especially love baking, because the house smells so won…