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.

Does the Jack Russell terrier make a good pet?

The Jack Russell Terrier 

The Jack Russell terrier is the perfect pet for anyone who wants a small, loyal dog with boundless energy. They come in two types, smooth coated and rough coated.

The Jack Russell is a hunter
With a terrier's basic nature to go to ground (terrier by the way came from the Latin term "terra" which means earth), Jack Russell terriers have a strong instinct to hunt.
An excellent ratter, the Jack Russell  is a good 'housekeeper', quickly dealing with rats and also sometimes snakes. The dog can fit down burrows and in small nooks and crannies to find it's prey. They were originally used to chase foxes out of their dens.

Photo credit morgueFile

A Jack Russell terrier doing agility sports. 

This type of activity will a keep a Jack Russell out of mischief.

Jack Russells are protective
One characteristic of this dog is it's attitude towards strangers. They are very protective of their people and can be somewhat aggressive to strangers if they are not properly trained. This attitude also makes them good  little watchdogs. They were designed specifically to be aggressive to smaller prey animals, so will not do well with smaller pets in the family. Jack Russells are very vocal dogs and are not really suited to apartment or condominium life.

They are not vicious dogs however. But if they perceive a threat, perhaps a stranger coming up to the front door, they will bark and have no problem addressing the  threat. However, once the threat is proved to be no longer, (a friend of the family, perhaps?) the Jack Russell can readily relax and become a companion again.

Be careful around children
This terrier is also a family dog and loves to spend time with it's people. They can be fine with children, however, they do not appreciate rough handling, whether it be intentional or or not, and can react with aggressive behavior. Their aggressiveness is further manifested with their lack of fear towards larger dogs which can unfortunately lead to injuries.

These dogs are noted for their intelligence and high spirits. These characteristics are shown through the terrier's curiosity regarding it's environment. They require plenty of daily exercise and strong obedience training, or they tend to develop destructive behaviors due to boredom. The Jack Russell will enjoy training and do very well with it. Their high energy is very well suited to a number of dog sports, such as flyball or agility and they never tire.

Have a look at Dexter, a Jack Russell living in a big city. Lots of energy......

Jack Russell hits Hollywood!
Hollywood has also recognized the disposition of these little dogs too. Coupled with their feisty nature and compact physical characteristics, this little terrier has already made a name for itself on the big and small screens. If you recognize Wishbone (the tv series), Milo (from The Mask with Jim Carey) and Eddie (from the tv show Frasier) then you'll see why and how this little dog can make a fabulous pet for the right family.

Just be prepared to keep your Jack Russell well stimulated and well exercised.

And yes, contrary to the common belief,

Jack Russells do shed.

A bit about training your terrier

Training your new terrier pup: the basics

It is essential to have a dog that knows how to follow commands and how to behave around other dogs and people. Obedience training is essential.

Many people are under the impression that training a dog is hard work. Hard work for who, you may ask? The owner or the dog? Dog training requires a lot of patience and concentration from your dog. Dogs are intelligent but they are also pack animals, who respond to authority and a hierarchical system. Lets go over some of the basic ideas and methods that come into play when training your terrier.

This mixed breed dog has a harness on, the dog is being trained to walk correctly on a lead.

Photo credit morgeFile.

What is the difference between a submissive dog and a dominant dog?

A submissive will dog normally:

• avoid eye contact.
• roll on it's back, exposing it's belly.
• crouch down, ears back and tail lowered.
• is comfortable on it's back in your arms.


On the other hand, a dominant dog:

• maintains eye contact.
• is unwilling to move from his place on the couch.
• may dislike grooming and petting.
• is possessive of objects, spaces and sometimes people.

Training your terrier requires consistency and for you to maintain an air of authority. You are establishing who is in charge. Terriers, like most dogs, respond actively to praise and to food rewards. Positive reinforcement is the popular way of obedience training dogs.

Many dog training schools have classes specifically for puppies. Young dogs are taught to tolerate and become accustomed to other dogs and people. However, some dog training centers do not conduct formal obedience training unless the dog is at least half a year old. But a large, exuberant six month old, untrained, can be a danger and a nuisance, so seek out a center that has puppy training available as it's never too early to make a start on training your terrier.


These are the generally recommended ways of training terriers: (And most other dogs.)

1. Repetition

Just like a young child, repetition is the name of the game. Dogs are asked to do a task over and over again to master it. Rewards of praise or food treats are given to encourage the dogs engagement in getting the task right.

2. Persistence

Dog training requires a lot of persistence from the owner. Yes, it might be cold on Saturday morning and you'd rather sleep in, but obedience training your puppy is one of the most important things you can do for him or her. Stick with it!

3. Correction

The dog needs to learn that there will be consequences (an angry voice, "no!", no pats) for any mis-deeds.

4.      Rewards

There are many small, irresistibly tasty treats that can be used as food rewards for dogs. The ultimate aim is to get your dog doing what is required of it without treats, they (and you) will learn how to achieve this by training your dog well.

Terriers are exuberant, energetic and clever dogs and they can make fabulous family pets, but if they are poorly trained, they can be destructive, aggressive and possessive, which is a problematic for you, your family and anyone the dog comes in contact with.

You don't want to have to put this sign up on your front gate....unless it's to discourage people, of course!

Photo credit mourgeFile

Terriers are all different, yet have some strong breed instincts

Looking into the temperament of terriers 

Which terrier is right for you?
From inquisitive little guys to the more aggressive and assertive ones, terrier dogs have a wide spectrum of temperaments and dispositions. Amongst these various characteristics there is a terrier to suit every owner. Take care because as we are seeing, some can be very mischievous while others display distinct hunting abilities. Not all terriers are suitable for all homes.

In times past
In the past, terriers were primarily bred to help hunters catch vermin: otters, foxes, rats and the like. Newer breeds though tend to be bred for softer temperaments, so they are now sometimes included in the companion and toy breeds. The boston terrier, below, makes a lovely companionship dog. This dog was developed in America and is sometimes not considered a true terrier.

A Boston terrier Photocredit morgueFile

As with many other dog breeds, terriers have diverse characteristics that distinguish one type from another. Some owners report terriers to be faithful companions and are always ready to protect their home. Many dogs from this breed are distrustful of strangers...people and dogs.....and can  be somewhat 'assertive' if they think someone is invading their patch.

Attack or protect?
This instinct to attack or protect probably stems from the earlier breeds which were originally used in dog fights. But since the banning of this sport, dog breeders and generally aiming to produce more docile dogs for homes. Some notable terriers in this category this disposition are the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Airedale Terrier and the Bedlington Terrier.

Terriers respond well to training
One of the major features terrier dogs have is their capability to respond well to training. They have a  natural intelligence which makes extremely inquisitive and therefore destructive if left to their own devices.  Many terrier types need lots of activities and exercise to challenge them mentally and use up some of their boundless energy. Obedience training is a must for an energetic terrier.

The most social breeds of terriers, for example the wheaten terrier, should be given lots socialising opportunities as they grow and mature. Other, such as the bull terriers will often try to dominate other dogs when they have come of age.

Bull terrier Photo credit morgueFile

Who's the toughest?
Surprisingly, some of the smallest terriers are among the toughest. Take the case of the Cairn terrier. With it's relatively small size and stocky build, the Cairn terrier is a vermin hunter with strong hunting and chasing instincts. However, they are loyal and protective of their families, and friendly to everyone they meet.

Terriers have strong hunting instincts.
Many dogs of this breed still retain the true terrier instincts of hunting. This means that they may not do so well with other, smaller family pets, rabbits, guinea pigs etc because they see them as prey. While some traits have been softened due to selective breeding, some typical terrier behaviors can manifest whenever the opportunity arises. The neighborhood cat passes by? Off goes the terrier, thanks to it's strong vermin hunting instinct. Yet, they can still make lovely pets for the right family.

There are many things to think about and different aspects to look at when choosing a terrier for your family.