Kerry Blue Terrier Picture Gallery

Kerry Blue Terrier Breeders

Kerry Blue Terrier Clubs/Associations

The Full Kerry Blue Terrier Description

The hardworking Kerry Blue has been used to hunt on land and water, to guard homes and farms, to kill rodents, and even to herd and drive sheep and cattle. He has also been used in England as a police dog, for trailing and guarding.

Did you know?

The Kerry Blue Terrier originated in Ireland.
It is mistakenly thought to be from County Kerry in South West Ireland; it is actually from Tipperary.The Kerry is an all-round working and utility terrier. The breed was used in Ireland and England for hunting small game and birds, and for retrieving from land and water.

So you want to own a Kerry Blue Terrier?

The Kerry Blue Terrier is an affectionate dog who is absolutely loyal to his family.
The Kerry Blue Terrier is a friendly, intelligent dog who will live comfortably as a house dog.
The Kerry Blue requires weekly brushing and a professional scissors-trim every few months.

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

Upstanding, well knit and proportioned, well developed and muscular body.

Characteristics

Compact, powerful Terrier, showing gracefulness and an attitude of alert determination, with definite Terrier style and character throughout.
Temperament

Disciplined gameness.

Head and Skull
Well balanced, long, proportionally lean, with slight stop and flat over the skull. Foreface and jaw very strong, deep and punishing; nose black; nostrils of due proportion.

Eyes

Dark as possible. Small to medium with keen Terrier expression.

Ears

Small to medium and V-shaped; carried forward but not too high.

Mouth

Gums and roof of mouth dark with perfect, regular scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Strong and reachy, running into sloping shoulders.

Forequarters

Shoulders flat as possible with elbows carried close to body while standing or moving. Legs straight, bone powerful. Front straight, neither too wide nor too narrow.

Body

Short-coupled with good depth of brisket and and well sprung ribs. Deep chest. Topline level.

Hindquarters

Large and well developed, stifle bent and hocks close to ground giving perfect freedom of hind action.

Feet

Round and small. Nails black.

Tail

Customarily docked. Docked: Set on high and carried erect. Undocked: Set on high of moderate length to give an overall balanced appearance. Thick at the base and evenly tapering to tip, straight as possible and carried jauntily. An excessively gay or curled tail undesirable.

Gait/Movement

Free and powerful. Fore- and hindlegs moving straight and parallel, stifles turning neither in nor out.

Coat

Soft and silky, plentiful and wavy.

Colour

Any shade of blue with or without black points. Tan permissible in puppies, also a dark colour up to the age of 18 months. A small white patch on chest should not be penalised.

Size

Ideal height: dogs: 46-48 cms (18-19 ins) at shoulder; bitches slightly less. The most desirable weight for a fully developed dog is 15-17 kgs (33-37 lbs), and bitches should weigh proportionately less, but 16 kgs kgs (35 lbs) is the most desirable weight to aim for.