The Kerry Blue Terrier
Today, we’re going to tell you all about a very special breed of dog. Everyone who sees them can’t help but admire their beautiful coats. We’re talking about the Kerry Blue Terrier. Want to know more about this breed? Well, we’ll tell you everything you want to know!
Everything you need to know about the Kerry Blue Terrier
History and origin
As the name suggests, this breed belongs to the terrier family. In fact, these dogs originated from Kerry, Ireland. However, this breed isn’t considered very old because literary references don’t appear until the 19th century.
However, the breeders who created the Irish terriers also claim to have bred Kerry Blue Terriers. People believe that this breed was isolated to retain their purity until their talent as fighting dogs became known. Then, breeders crossbred them with the Bedlington terrier and the bull terrier.
On the other hand, there is lots of speculation regarding this breed. Some people claim that this dog arrived in Tralee Bay on a shipwreck in the late 18th century. Then, they crossbred it with blue-coated terriers. Yet another hypothesis is that this breed arrived in Ireland in the 16th century with Spanish naval ships. What’s the real story? We might never know.
However, what we know for sure is that by the 20th century, this breed was booming in Ireland. In fact, this breed accounts for 25% of the Kennel Club records. Then, by 1924, people recognized this dog as belonging to Irish people who wanted independence from England.
Physical characteristics of the Kerry Blue Terrier
This is a medium-sized dog that can be from 1.5 to 1.6 feet. Their weight can range from 30 to 45 pounds. However, the ideal weight for this breed is around 35 pounds. In fact, any weight over this amount is considered overweight.
These dogs have large heads and prominent snouts. Compared with their heads, their ears are small, pointy, and bent down. They are also ‘V’-shaped and thick. This breed also has short tails high up on their bodies. While their tails are straight while resting, they are erect when they’re vigilant.
This breed has a typical coat for terriers. Their fur is wavy, thick, but soft, unlike some other terriers. However, they have lots and lots of fur. The coloring is usually bright. In fact, they’re usually a bluish color. Their fur is usually all one color, but slightly darker on the ears. However, when they’re born, they’re usually black. They start to turn a bluish color when they’re about a year and a half.
Kerry Blue Terrier temperament
You need to socialize these dogs from a young age. This is because terriers usually have strong, gruff personalities. However, if you show them who’s boss from the beginning, this can actually help them relate to other people and animals. Ultimately, you’ll have a friendly, nice dog.
These dogs are brave and very intelligent. However, they can also be stubborn and difficult. Also, be careful, because people say that this breed is able to manipulate their owners to get what they want. Despite these traits, it’s a noble breed, affectionate, and ideal for being around children because of their protective instinct. Also, they don’t like being alone and love being around people.
Special tips for this breed
The Kerry Blue Terrier is a very active dog, which means that they require daily exercise. They also need daily hair care since they frequently get knots. If you’re not sure how to treat this kind of hair, consider using hair stripping to remove excess hair.
Their ears need to be set when they’re puppies while the cartilage develops. This is to ensure that they develop correctly and that the puppies don’t harm themselves unintentionally. Once the dog develops, you can remove any treatment.
Did you like learning more about the Kerry Blue Terrier? Maybe this could be the perfect pet for you!