Breed List

Kerry Blue Terrier

The Kerry Blue Terrier is an intelligent, active, and resourceful breed. These Irish natives have served in nearly every working role there is. Today, they make wonderful family pets.

Illustration courtesy of the Swedish Kennel Club

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Quick Facts

Height

Male:: 18-20in
Female:: 17-19in

Weight

Male:: 30-40lb
Female:: 26-36lb

Fun Fact

It is believed that the Kerry Blue Terrier was developed by the Irish peasantry to stealthily hunt the nobility’s hunting grounds.

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About this Breed

The Kerry Blue Terrier is all terrier. These guys were bred in County Kerry, Ireland, as working dogs. Like most terriers, they were used for hunting small game and birds while helping clean up any kind of rodent problems around the property. They also made great guard dogs. Kerrys even took to herding sheep quite nicely. Eventually the breed entered the show circuit and was recognized by the The Kennel Club, England’s version of the AKC. This is an active breed that loves to chase, dig and bark. Lots of daily exercise is the best way to combat these behaviors. Kerrys possess a wonderful non-shedding, hypoallergenic coat that needs brushed weekly to maintain its health. These dogs are very intelligent, but can have some strong-willed tendencies. Kerrys absolutely love people and enjoy being fully invested in all family activities. They can display signs of aggression towards other dogs due to their original uses, so careful monitoring and socialization is key. At the end of the day, these are great companions for active families.