Origin / History

Named after a county bearing the same name, the Kerry Blue Terrier is originally from Ireland where it is also called the Irish Blue Terrier. This dog traces its roots back from a breeding process conducted during the late 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century. 1916 was the year that the breed was first introduced in Ireland.

It is a cross between the Wheaten Terrier and a Bedlington Terrier. Back then, this breed was widely used as a working dog for controlling of vermin, as well as for hunting and herding. Today, the Kerry Blue Terrier makes for an excellent pet and watchdog.

Appearance

 The Kerry Blue Terrier is distinctive due to its unique blue color and curly coat. This average-sized dog is muscular by nature. It has an elongated head, which should be in perfect symmetry with the rest of its body. Another unique characteristic of this dog breed is its overly-long whiskers, eyebrows and beard which makes its eyes and face appear to be 'hidden' unless viewed from a close range. They also have long legs and upright tails which are medium in length.

Colour

 This dog breed is born with a black color. However, its color completely changes by the 18th month. The hue ranges from a bluish gray to a darker shade of blue.

Temperament

When mixed with other dog breeds, Kerry Blue Terriers can be quite firey. However, they are gentle towards children and are extremely loyal to their owners. This breed is stubborn by nature, so they should be properly trained so that they can mingle with other animals. These dogs are also naturally athletic, lively, quite mischievous yet fun-loving.

Height and Weight

 They are 43 - 48 cm in height and 14 - 18 Kg in weight.

Exercise Requirements

These dogs are used to physical exertion so they should be taken on a long walk everyday. Jogging, running and playing roughhouse games are also encouraged.

Life Expectancy

 These dogs can live for as long as 12 to 15 years.

Grooming

With its curly, luxuriously blue coat, the Kerry Blue Terrier requires quite a bit of grooming and maintenance. For its coat, daily brushing and trimming every six weeks is ideal. They should be given a bath every week, and regular removal of the hair from the ear canal is required to prevent ear infection. Special attention should be given to keeping their long beards clean, since it is the first part which is most likely to get stuck with food when they are feeding. Due to the human-like quality of its hair which is not prone to shredding, this breed is ideal for those with pet allergies.