Among the largest of AKC terriers, the Kerry Blue Terrier is famous for his show-stopping blue coat. Named for the Irish county of his birth, this onetime farm dog is today an alert, adaptable, and animated watchdog and family companion.
Terrier
Smart, Alert, People-Oriented
Of course, we begin with the show-stopping coat that turns heads wherever Kerries go. It comes in shades of blue—from a deep slate to a light blue-gray—and is so soft that it’s as pleasing to the touch as it is to the eye. The dense coat covers a muscular, well-developed body standing below 20 inches at the shoulder and weighing up to 40 pounds. A sporty beard and dark, keen eyes accentuate the nobility of the long terrier head.
The Kerry is named for its home county. The mystery of its beginnings gave rise to charming blarney about leprechauns, shipwrecks, and other fanciful origin tales. We do know that Kerries were hardworking all-around farm dogs, cherished for their versatility. The breed was a mascot for patriots in the struggle for Irish independence, and since the early 20th century they’ve been top winners in the show ring. A Kerry named Mick was among the great show dogs of the 2000s.
The typical Kerry Blue Terrier should be upstanding well knit and in good balance, showing a well-developed and muscular body with definite terrier style and character throughout. Correct coat and color are important. A low-slung Kerry is not typical.
The Kerry Blue Terrier should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.
Kerries do not shed, so their coat must be thoroughly brushed and combed once a week to avoid matting. Combined with regular brushing, a full grooming every six to eight weeks will keep the coat manageable. The head, neck, ears, and abdomen are done with clippers, but the coat is trimmed with scissors. Your breeder or another Kerry owner is your best resource when trying to learn how to trim your dog. There are excellent charts and guides available on the website of the United States Kerry Blue Terrier Club , and videos on YouTube. Trim the nails at least once a week, and clean ears at least twice a month.
Kerries have two speeds: They enjoy getting exercise through outdoor play, playing fetch, or jogging alongside their owner. They also love one-on-one time sitting by their owner as the family watches TV or sits around the fireplace. Most Kerries essentially want to be with their owners, engaging in whatever the activity is at the time. The breed especially enjoys exercising mind and body by participating with their human partner in a number of canine sports, including obedience, herding, dock diving, and barn hunt.
Kerries are very smart, and most enjoy participating in agility, obedience, rally, barn hunt, herding, and even dock diving. Keeping their mind and body engaged will help develop a happy and well-adjusted member of the family. Socialization is important, as is a beginning obedience class with an instructor who has worked with Terriers. It is always a good idea to take your puppy to a puppy training class and to consider earning an AKC Canine Good Citizen title. Regular outings—although not to dog parks—contribute to a well-rounded, well-socialized dog.
Kerries are a healthy breed. Responsible breeders are constantly monitoring new tools, including new DNA tests, that are available to help ensure the absence of hereditary defects in their breeding programs. Ask your dog’s breeder for his or her recommendations about health testing. Many breeders do basic DNA testing as a best practice, and will make you aware of test results. The website of the United States Kerry Blue Terrier Club is a good resource for the latest breed health information.
The typical Kerry Blue Terrier should be upstanding well knit and in good balance, showing a well-developed and muscular body with definite terrier style and character throughout. Correct coat and color are important. A low-slung Kerry is not typical.
The ideal Kerry should be 18½ inches at the withers for a dog, slightly less for a bitch. In judging Kerries, a height of 18 to 19½ inches for a dog, and 17½ to 19 inches for a bitch, should be given primary preference. Only where the comparative superiority of a specimen outside of the ranges noted clearly justifies it should greater latitude be taken. In no case should it extend to a dog over 20 inches or under 17½ inches, or to a bitch over 19½ inches or under 17 inches. The minimum limits do not apply to puppies. The most desirable weight for a fully developed dog is from 33 to 40 pounds, bitches weighing proportionately less. A well-developed and muscular body. Legs moderately long with plenty of bone and muscle.
Long, but not exaggerated, and in good proportion to the rest of the body. Well balanced. Eyes - Dark, small, not prominent, well placed and with a keen terrier expression. Anything approaching a yellow eye is very undesirable. Ears - V shaped, small but not out of proportion to the size of the dog, of moderate thickness, carried forward close to the cheeks with the top of the folded ear slightly above the level of the skull. A "dead" ear, houndlike in appearance, is very undesirable. Skull - Flat, with very slight stop, of moderate breadth between the ears, and narrowing very slightly to the eyes. Foreface full and well made up, not falling away appreciably below the eyes but moderately chiseled out to relieve the foreface from wedginess. Little apparent difference between the length of the skull and foreface. Jaws deep, strong and muscular. Cheeks-Clean and level, free from bumpiness. Nose - Black, nostrils large and wide. Teeth - Strong, white and either level or with the upper (incisors) teeth slightly overlapping the lower teeth. An undershot mouth should be strictly penalized.
Neck - Clean and moderately long, gradually widening to the shoulders upon which it should be well set and carried proudly. Back short, strong and straight (i.e., level), with no appearance of slackness. Chest deep and of moderate breadth. Ribs fairly well sprung, deep rather than round. A slight tuck-up. Loin short and powerful. Tail should be set on high, of moderate length and carried gaily erect, the straighter the tail the better.
Shoulders fine, long and sloping, well laid back and well knit. The elbows hanging perpendicularly to the body and working clear of the side in movement. The forelegs should be straight from both front and side view. The pasterns short, straight and hardly noticeable. Feet should be strong, compact, fairly round and moderately small, with good depth of pad free from cracks, the toes arched, turned neither in nor out, with black toenails.
Strong and muscular with full freedom of action, free from droop or crouch, the thighs long and powerful, stifles well bent and turned neither in nor out, hocks near the ground and, when viewed from behind, upright and parallel with each other, the dog standing well up on them.
Correct coat is important it is to be soft, dense and wavy. A harsh, wire or bristle coat should be severely penalized. In show trim the body should be well covered but tidy, with the head (except for the whiskers) and the ears and cheeks clear.
Color is important. The correct mature color is any shade of blue gray or gray blue from the deep slate to light blue gray, of a fairly uniform color throughout except that distinctly darker to black parts may appear on the muzzle, head, ears, tail and feet. Kerry color, in its process of "clearing," changes from an apparent black at birth to the mature gray blue or blue gray. The color passes through one or more transitions-involving a very dark blue (darker than deep slate), shades or tinges of brown, and mixtures of these, together with a progressive infiltration of the correct mature color. The time needed for this "clearing" process varies with each dog. Small white markings are permissible. Black on the muzzle, head, ears, tail and feet is permissible at any age. A black dog 18 months of age or older is never permissible in the show ring and is to be disqualified. Disqualification - A black dog 18 months of age or older is to be disqualified. (White markings on a black dog 18 months of age or older does not constitute clearing or mature color and the dog is to be disqualified.).
Full freedom of action. The elbows hanging perpendicularly to the body and working clear of the sides in movement; both forelegs and hind legs should move straight forward when traveling, the stifles turning neither in nor out.
A black dog 18 months of age or older is to be disqualified. (White markings on a black dog 18 months of age or older does not constitute clearing or mature color and the dog is to be disqualified.).
