All about the Kerry Blue Terrier

What I know about the Kerry Blue Terrier.

The Blue Kerry terrier is one of the most unusual breeds of terriers. They have a distinctive shape and coat and are sometimes called the Irish Blue terrier. They originated in Irish, in the district of Kerry, hence their name and are use as a working farm in that country.

The Kerry Blue legend
Various legends are told in order to explain the unusual appearance of the Kerry Blue terrier breed. Some say that the peasants bred them for hunting purposes since noblemen monopolized the use of wolfhounds. Thus, noblemen hunted with their wolfhounds while peasants poached with their Kerries.

Another legend speaks of a wrecked Russian ship that contained a blue dog. This dog swam to Irish shores and there, was mated with the female wheaten terriers in Kerry. And thus was produced the Kerry Blue terrier.

A classic example of this dog.

Photo credit Eponimm

Whatever the case, this unusual looking blue dog has an interesting history. It started as a working dog, helping hunters bring down vermin and herding sheep and cattle. It would has also been trained as a police dog by the English. Today, it is considered to be a companion and a working dog, one of the more unusual terriers you could own.

This terrier does not shed
The coat of this terrier does not shed, it just continues to grow like human hair. It needs weekly grooming and will require coat clipping about every 6 weeks.These dogs are considered good for allergy sufferers and have a low odour, even when wet.

Characteristics
There are some terrier characteristics of course which may cause a bit of trouble for your dog. Kerry Blues are known to be strong-headed and highly spirited, though they are gentle with children and can be down-right 'mean' to other dogs. Hence the long-legged dog can get itself into fights with other dogs. In order to prevent this, you need to make sure that your terrier is properly socialized and has gone through obedience training.

The Blue Kerry terrier is a smart dog that is easily house trained. It has a very high level of energy and needs daily exercise and will require an active owner. They are always eager to learn and do well in agility and tracking and as a working dog. This bearded dog is also known to have an amazing sense of humour.

This photo shows the distinct beard on the Kerry Blue.

Photo credit Pleple2000

Good with children
This terrier can become an excellent playmate for children, and it enjoys rough housing. They have an excellent memory and can also be taught to perform tricks. The Blue Kerry terrier is also one of the more hardy types of terriers as it has few genetic problems. Before buying one, however, you need to ask for eye certifications and hip x-rays. These are the most commonly afflicted parts of the Blue Kerry terrier.

This is the perfect way to exercise your high energy terrier!

A Blue Kerry terrier is not the pet for everyone as some people may find it a bit too playful and it's exercise requirements too high.  They require a skilled owner who can provide them with early socialization and obedience training.