Kerry Blue Terrier: temperament, size, care and health

About the Kerry Blue Terrier

The Kerry Blue Terrier is a tall, muscular terrier standing about 17.5 to 19.5 inches, with a long head, a full beard, and a crisp, wavy coat. Puppies are born black, and the coat gradually lightens to a blue-gray over the first year or two. The dog's silhouette is upright and square, and it carries its tail high.

Its home is County Kerry in Ireland, where it worked as a farm dog: killing vermin, herding, guarding stock, and retrieving. The modern Kerry Blue is kept as a companion and watchdog by people who admire its presence, its non-shedding coat, and its sharp intelligence.

Temperament and family life

The Kerry Blue is loyal and often reserved with strangers. It tends to bond closely with its household and is protective, which makes it a watchful guard. With children it is usually affectionate once raised with them, but it needs a firm hand and supervision because of its strength.

Same-sex aggression toward other dogs is a well-known trait, and Kerry Blues often do not tolerate dogs they do not know. Small animals may be chased. Socialization should begin early and continue throughout life. A bored Kerry Blue can become noisy and destructive, and it dislikes isolation.

Exercise and training

The breed needs an hour of daily exercise at least, including time to run. Long walks, hiking, agility, and retrieving suit it. It is happiest in a home with a fenced yard and an owner who spends time with it.

Kerry Blues are very intelligent and can be trained to a high level, but they are stubborn and quick to test a handler's resolve. Calm, consistent leadership, early obedience, and positive reinforcement are the keys. Harsh training can provoke defiance. Leash manners and impulse control are critical, because the dog is strong.

Grooming and shedding

The Kerry Blue sheds almost nothing, but its coat grows continually and needs substantial work. Plan to brush and comb the dog several times a week and to have it clipped by a groomer every four to six weeks into the traditional trim. The beard and legs mat easily.

Clean the face after meals and check the ears, where hair can trap moisture. Trim the nails. Some dogs have sensitive skin. Grooming costs are a long-term budget item.

Health

Kerry Blues are generally healthy but have recognized conditions. Cerebellar abiotrophy is an inherited loss of balance and coordination that appears in young dogs, and a DNA test is available. Factor XI deficiency, a bleeding disorder, is also testable. Hip dysplasia, hereditary cataracts, skin cysts, and entropion are reported. Reputable breeders test for the available DNA markers and screen hips and eyes.

This is general information; for any particular Kerry Blue Terrier, a veterinarian is the person to ask.

History

The Kerry Blue is named for County Kerry in southwestern Ireland, where it was supposedly most common as a working dog of country people. It later became closely linked with Irish national feeling, and the revolutionary leader Michael Collins is said to have tried to have it adopted as Ireland's national dog. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1922. Its blue coat is the distinctive trait that breeders have preserved.

Is the Kerry Blue Terrier right for you?

A Kerry Blue suits experienced owners who want a smart, protective, low-shedding dog and have time for grooming, exercise, and training. It is a poor match for people who want an easygoing dog, who have other dogs that will not tolerate it, or who live in a small home.

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has a similar coat and a softer temperament, and the Irish Terrier is a bolder, wirier relative. The Bedlington Terrier is another curly-coated terrier.