Kerry Blue Terrier

Temperament:
Vivacious and playful, determined and alert, boisterous and unrepressed, this dog has a way about it that makes people laugh and have fun. They enjoy roughhousing. The Kerry is a good watchdog, but will not attack without real provocation. A loving family dog, he likes to be with his people, and is affectionate with friends of the family. The Kerry Blue generally gets along well with other pets if properly introduced and supervised, but tends to be fairly dog aggressive. This breed is protective and should be extensively socialized, especially with other dogs, or he may be quite a handful. They rarely bark unnecessarily. Kerry Blues require a confident owner and need firm obedience training. These dogs are intelligent, have a very good memory, and are somewhat willful with minds of their own. They have an aptitude for sports such as catch and agility training, but make sure the dog enjoys the challenge. If its lessons are too routine for the Kerry Blue, its stubbornness will show.

Grooming:
Kerries should be groomed every 6 weeks. They also need to have the hair pulled out of the ear canal, as they are prone to ear infections when the ear hair gets too long and wax and dirt have built up. Pet Kerries can be trimmed like a Soft coated Wheaten. Grooming techniques require some training. Your groomer can show you how it do it right. In addition to this, they will need grooming once a week with brush and comb. Dogs for showing will require more extensive grooming. The distinctive blue coat is not only beautiful, but practical as well. The Kerry Blue sheds little to no hair and is odorless, even when wet. Frequent bathing will not dry out the skin as it does in so many other breeds. Bathing and combing every week is a must! It keeps them clean. Without proper care their beard will get smelly and packed with food and dirt. Kerry Blues are considered good for allergy sufferers.

Exercise:
The Kerry Blue is a sporty dog, which needs to be taken out on a daily walk, jog or run.

Living Condition:
Kerry Blues are good for apartment life. They are fairly active indoors and a small yard will do.

Origin:
The Kerry Blue Terrier originated in the 1700's in the mountainous regions of County Kerry from which its name is derived. The Kerry is the national terrier of Ireland (under the name Irish Blue Terrier) and has become a symbol of Ireland. The name comes from color of the coat. No one knows for certain which breeds were used to develop the Kerry Blue, but many believe the Portuguese Water Dog contributed the silky, wavy single coat. Others think the Kerry Blue Terrier was developed from the old black terriers, Spanish (or Russian) "Blue Dog", Soft coated Wheaten Terrier and possibly Irish Wolfhounds and Irish Terriers. There is a writing on dogs in Ireland over a century ago that mentions a Harlequin Terrier that sounds like a breed description of the Kerry Blue. The Kerry Blue has been used as a small game hunter, retriever, herd and farm dog, house guardian, family companion, and even in police work. He can also be used to perform tricks. The United States Kerry Blue Terrier Club, the national breed club, was found in 1922 and the breed was recognized by the AKC two years later. Today the Kerry Blue is primarily a companion and home guardian.