Kerry Blue Terrier

33-40 lbs
17-19"
Ireland
Irish Blue Terrier

The Kerry Blue Terrier is known for its loyalty, intelligence and sometimes funny playtime antics. It is a dog of medium build but is quite solid and muscular and needs to be supervised during play especially around young children. They can be moody, even reserved if not socialised fully as a pup, and need a strong owner who is fair in their handling and consistent with training. They respond best to praise and reward rather than strict, harsh training. They are surprisingly sensitive to unjust treatment and can become aggressive if they decide that any treatment is unfair. They are energetic but do make good inside dogs even in apartments although they always need a good daily walk to burn off their energy. When out walking, they need to be kept on a leash as their hunting instincts are very strong and they will chase any small animal as they see fit. They can also be aggressive with other dogs, always wanting to assert their dominance. While their coat is lovely and soft and great for allergy sufferers, the coat does need weekly brushing. Their beards a regular wash or it can become smelly from old trapped food. Usually, these dogs need a bath once a week and clipping every six weeks. But they have low or no smell, don’t drool and be devoted and loyal to their family. They can become a bit of a barker unless you train them to stop after the first bark – this needs to be taught right from puppyhood!

purpose Purpose
ratting, hunting, farm dog, companion
history Date of Origin
1700s
ancestry Ancestry
portuguese water dog, spanish blue dog, irish wolfhound, irish terrier

Kerry Blue Terrier Health

Sketch of Kerry Blue Terrier
Average Size
Male Kerry Blue Terrier size stats
Height: 18-19 inches Weight: 33-40 lbs
Female Kerry Blue Terrier size stats
Height: 17-19 inches Weight: 33-40 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • PNA
  • Cerebellar Abiotrophy
Minor Concerns
  • Cataract
  • Spiculosis
  • Narrow Palpebral Fissure Distichiasis
  • Congenital Heart Defect
Occasional Tests
  • Eye
  • Hip
  • X-Rays
  • MRI
  • Eye Examination
  • Physical Examination

Kerry Blue Terrier Breed History

The Kerry Blue Terrier originated in the 1700s and got its name from the County Kerry in Ireland where it originated. The blue refers to the dogs dominate coloring of their coat. The Kerry is the national Terrier of Ireland where is known as the Irish Blue Terrier. These dogs were developed to hunt small game and vermin and retain those strong instincts. However, it is also good down on the farm herding sheep and cattle. The use as a companion dog led to the formation of the United states forming its own Kerry Blue Terrier club, with the breed being recognised by the AKC in 1924. The credit for the single silky wavy coat is said to be from the Portuguese Water Dog. There has been some debate on the Kerry Blue’s ancestry with some crediting the old Black Terrier, Spanish Blue Dog, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and others, including the possibility of the Irish Wolfhound or Irish Terriers. Writing in the history books of dogs in Ireland that are over a century old, mentions a Harlequin Terrier that sounds just like the Kerry Blue. Unlike other breeds, there is no absolute proof of where they came from, but one thing is certain, wherever the Kerry’s lineage came from, it is a very pleasing well-proportioned breed.

Kerry Blue Terrier Breed Appearance

Best described as a medium sized dog, although they have a muscular body with a long head that is in good proportion to the body. The skull is flat and boxy, with a slight stop. The eyes of the Kerry Blue Terrier are small, dark and alert. The nose is black with wide nostrils, and blends with its overall color. They have small V-shaped ears that are carried forward on the head. They possess a long neck that widens towards the shoulders. With their soft wavy dense coats that can range in color from a deep black to dark blue and shades of blue gray or even a tinge of brown, the Kerry is an attractive looking dog. They carry themselves with a sense of pride, standing tall and erect. The tail is high set and straight, and docked to a medium length, although this is illegal in most parts of Europe. If you are showing your dog, the correct color for a mature dog is from slate blue to light gray. Often the Kerry Blue Terrier has black or deep blue points on the head, muzzle, feet and tail. The color usually lightens as this breed matures, although the points may remain. While they maintain a dignified pose, they can be animated and playful, sometimes even a bit ‘goofy’, making people laugh. 

Appearance of Kerry Blue Terrier
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Kerry Blue Terrier eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Kerry Blue Terrier nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
gray Kerry Blue Terrier coat
Gray
blue Kerry Blue Terrier coat
Blue
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Kerry Blue Terrier wavy coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Kerry Blue Terrier Breed Maintenance

While the soft wavy coat does not shed much at all, the coat is considered high maintenance. It continues growing all year and if not clipped can become a problem with matting. The coat is soft and silky with no undercoat, almost with a texture of human hair and wool mixed. The Kerry Blue Terrier needs regular brushing and clipping. Bathing should be done on a weekly basis, especially around the moustache (for food particles) with clipping every six weeks. They also need the hair removed from within the ears to prevent ear infections from wax and dirt build up. The Kerry Blue is good for allergy sufferers as it sheds little to no hair and is odorless even when they are wet to the skin. Brushing the teeth will keep their mouth healthy, regular ear checks prevent trouble (smelly ears indicate an infection), and plenty of exercise for these energetic, active dogs will keep them content. Regular training beginning from when they are very young is advisable, along with plenty of socialising so that they can adapt to strangers and prevent an overprotective attitude.
Brushes for Kerry Blue Terrier
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Dematter
Dematter
Deshedder
Deshedder
Clipper
Clipper
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Kerry Blue Terrier requires daily brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Kerry Blue Terrier Temperament

The Terrier breeds are all similar in temperament, and the Kerry Blue is no exception. Words that come to mind are lively, bossy, scrappy, clever, independent, stubborn, persistent, impulsive, and quick to bark and even quicker to chase. This breed is very proud, although they can be sensitive, and moody with a strong sense of justice. In other words, the Kerry Blue Terrier is not a dog that will meekly accept teasing, unfairness or any rough handling. Because of their inherited nature to chase game, they must be kept on a leash when out walking or they will chase anything that they consider a fair sport. They have a very strong personality and need a strong but fair owner. This dog needs a pack leader who they respect, and although they are lovely pets, they need to be supervised with small children as they are not tolerant to ear pulling and also will not tolerate someone trying to take their food or interfere with them while they are eating. The Kerry Blue needs intense socialising when they are a puppy to get them used to many people, and to see that their place is not as pack leader, but as follower. They respond to fair training, will not cope with severe punishment and may react aggressively. As an active dog, they need plenty of exercise to wear off their abundant energy. They are fine with a small yard but make sure the fence is high, much higher than you would normally think because a fence can be a challenge to this breed and they can become escape artists. The Kerry Blue will become a digger if bored, and may even dig their way out by going under a fence, so ensure you have plenty of toys, exercise, games and attention for this pooch. It pays to be aware that these Terriers are dominant or aggressive with other dogs. If you have small pets such as a cat, you need to introduce them at a very early age, and even then, they need to be supervised especially in play in case it gets a bit rough. While they sound like a handful and they are a bit of a barker unless trained properly, these dogs make lovely loyal companions for an experienced owner and are playful and a lot of fun to have around.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
8 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Kerry Blue Terrier Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.5 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.75 - $2.25
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$52.50 - $67.50
food bag monthly cost

Kerry Blue Terrier Height & Weight

6 Months
Sketch of Kerry Blue Terrier at six months
Male Kerry Blue Terrier size stats at six months
Height: 15.5 inches Weight: 22.5 lbs
Female Kerry Blue Terrier size stats at six months
Height: 14.5 inches Weight: 22.5 lbs
12 Months
Sketch of Kerry Blue Terrier at 12 months
Male Kerry Blue Terrier size stats at 12 months
Height: 16.5 inches Weight: 26.0 lbs
Female Kerry Blue Terrier size stats at 12 months
Height: 15.5 inches Weight: 26.0 lbs
18 Months
Sketch of Kerry Blue Terrier at 18 months
Male Kerry Blue Terrier size stats at 18 months
Height: 18.5 inches Weight: 36.5 lbs
Female Kerry Blue Terrier size stats at 18 months
Height: 18.0 inches Weight: 36.5 lbs

Top Kerry Blue Terrier Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable Kerry Blue Terrier breeders of 2024.
Top Kerry Blue Terrier breeder Kerifield Kerry Blue Terriers
Kerifield Kerry Blue Terriers
Micanopy, Florida
Top Kerry Blue Terrier breeder Kastlekove Kerry Blue Terriers
Kastlekove Kerry Blue Terriers
Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania
Top Kerry Blue Terrier breeder Paxon Kerry Blue Terriers
Paxon Kerry Blue Terriers
Muttontown, New York
Top Kerry Blue Terrier breeder Storm's Kerry Blue Terriers
Storm's Kerry Blue Terriers
Mount Sinai, New York
Top Kerry Blue Terrier breeder Lighthouse Kerry Blue Terriers
Lighthouse Kerry Blue Terriers
Goodyear, Arizona
Top Kerry Blue Terrier breeder Casey Kerry Blue Terriers
Casey Kerry Blue Terriers
Littleton, Colorado
Top Kerry Blue Terrier breeder Friendship Kennel
Friendship Kennel
Garner, Iowa
Top Kerry Blue Terrier breeder True Blue Kerry Blue Terriers
True Blue Kerry Blue Terriers
West Lafayette, Indiana
Top Kerry Blue Terrier breeder Diana's Kerries
Diana's Kerries
Wichita, Kansas

Kerry Blue Terrier Owner Experiences

Penny
10 Months
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Hike
going to pubs with friends
fun training
Long walks
Penny is very energetic, and needs to be mentally stimulated each day to wear her out. She is such a loyal dog, and is my shadow everywhere. I socialised her early and she is very friendly towards other dogs and people and also has great recall (we learnt walking off the lead at 3 months old). She's quite a fussy eater though, which is probably the most frustrating thing!
4 years, 3 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd