Kerry Blue Terrier - Diet | Profile | Traits | Care

These cute and versatile Irish dogs are lively, playful, and loving with family members, however, they’ll get scrappy with different dogs. The Kerry Blue Terrier (also called the Irish Blue Terrier), because the name suggests, originates from the Emerald Isle and particularly from County Kerry, within the south-west of Ireland.

Kerry Blue Terrier Profile

They are a putting wanting medium-sized terrier that has baggage of attraction and fun-loving nature. They are energetic and vigorous and revel in chasing around, swimming, and having a boisterous play.

Their inquisitive nature and finely tuned senses mean they adore the prospect for a nostril round and love exploring outdoor.

They are renowned for his or her lovely wavy ‘blue’ colored coat, which is surprisingly smooth and silky. However, they aren’t born this color and are in reality born black – solely altering to blue as they attain maturity.

True to their terrier roots, these dogs are sensible, feisty, and filled with character. Like different terriers, they’re expert hunters. Aside from chasing wildlife, they love being around people and make affectionate and constant companions.

The Kerry Blue Terrier is a well-mannered companion and can be a loyal member of your family, welcoming associates of the family with an unmatched fervor.

However, on account of their guarding instincts, they are often cautious of strangers however can be quick ‘won-over’ with a play or some fuss. Sadly, they aren’t as welcoming to different pets and may exhibit anti-social and aggressive behavior in direction of different dogs.

History

The Kerry Blue Terrier is believed to originate from County Kerry in Ireland and dates back to around the 1700s. As a member of the terrier family, Kerries (as they’re fondly referred to) is renowned for his or her retrieval skills (over land and water) and their potential to hunt most issues that transfer. This displays their unique function, like a fox, badger, and rabbit hunter.

They had been additionally used as farm dogs, on account of their herding skills. Today, they’re nonetheless used for rat and rabbit looking, herding sheep and cattle, discipline trials, and, final however not least, as a faithful companion.

Outside of Ireland, this putting breed was a late bloomer and remained unknown for a few years, till lastly gaining recognition by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1922.

It was around this time that it made its first look within the English and American dog present circuit, the place it shortly drew a keen following. This delay is believed to be a result of the unkempt look of the first few generations of this breed.

However, as soon as launched to the wonders of the grooming parlor, this ugly duckling was swiftly reworked into the attractive swan of a dog that we’re accustomed to at this time.

Kerry Blue Terrier Appearance

Key Characteristics of Kerry Blue Terriers

AKC Group: Terrier
Height: 17.5–20 inches
Weight: 33–40 pounds
Life Expectancy: 13–15 years

Kerry Blue Terriers are medium-sized dogs with small, darkish eyes and V-shaped ears that fold over.

The tail is straight, set high, and normally docked, although tail docking is against the law in components of Europe for non-working dogs.

Despite the “Blue” on this breed’s name, the smooth, wavy coat is available in:

Black
Blue
Blue and black
Blue and gray
Blue and silver
Silver
Silver blue
Slate blue
Gray

At birth, a Kerry Blue Terrier’s coat is black, however, the coloration normally fades over time into its last coloration around 18 months of age.

Kerry Blue Terrier puppies are all born with a black coat that at around 9-24 months of age modifications to grey-blue or blue-grey. It is alleged that the timing of this transformation in coat color offers a sign of how light their coat will ultimately go.

For instance, those who change to blue earlier can be a lot lighter. Also, it isn’t unusual for the muzzle, head, ears, tail, and feet to be barely darker within the adults of this breed.

Characteristically, their coat is smooth, dense, and wavy and shouldn’t be coarse.

This breed has a long however proportional head and small darkish beady eyes, that are described as carrying a ‘keen terrier expression. They have small V-shaped ears which are carried forwards and folded in order that they sit above their skull.

Kerries even have a long sturdy neck and a well-muscled body that sits on 4 long legs. Finally, their quick tail is held proud and straight, giving the looks that they’re all the time alert and raring for motion. This breed is described to maneuver with a ‘fluid-like movement.

Kerry Blue Terrier Character & Temperament

The Kerry Blue Terrier is a clever, unbiased, and playful breed. They love being a part of the family and their sense of fun makes them fantastic playmates and companions for kids.

This breed isn’t in need of some ‘Irish charm’ too and their cheeky and mischievous terrier antics may preserve the entire family entertained.

However, to keep away from discovering your cat or home rabbit the undesirable recipient of your Kerry’s looking skills, this breed ought to ideally be the one pet within the family.

These dogs are sensible, lively, playful, and adapt simply to completely different conditions.

Although they often have a lovable temperament, they’ll get snappy with different dogs and should not tolerate cats and different small animals.

Properly introducing new animals to your Kerry Blue Terrier in a managed setting will help. Supervise the dog’s interactions with different animals.

Kerry’s are affectionate with family members but additionally protected, so we suggest thorough socialization and coaching. They make positive watchdogs and infrequently bark except they have a motive.

True to its Irish roots, the Kerry Blue Terrier isn’t in need of a factor or two to say and barking is usually a downside for this breed, so bear your dwelling preparations in thoughts before selecting this breed or spend money on some ear-protectors.

Their willingness to bark does have its advantages when mixed with their protecting intuition, as they make wonderful guard dogs – there’s no need for a burglar alarm with these associates searching for you.

Take care when letting the Kerry Blue Terrier off the lead, as their urge for food for exploration mixed with their heightened looking instincts can get them into all types of mischief. So, all the time guarantee you’re someplace protected before unclipping their lead.

Other much less fascinating traits embrace love for digging, so if you’re green-fingered and worth your garden and flower beds, this breed is probably not a match made in heaven for you.

Importantly, Kerries like to spend time in your company and don’t do properly if left alone for long durations of time, as they’ll endure from separation nervousness. This can result in harmful behaviors creating.

Trainability

Due to the Kerry Blue Terrier’s cussed terrier streak and that ‘mind of their own, they require agency and patient coaching. It’s properly well worth the effort although, as this sensible breed can pick-up new instructions, in addition to more complex duties, shortly as soon as engaged.

Sadly, their recall and obedience can depart lots to be desired (as their looking instincts are likely to dominate), so all the time be sure to have an excellent tasty deal with in your pocket always when out and about!

Kerry Blue Terrier Exercise and Activity Levels

This vigorous breed wants loads of psychological and bodily stimulation to maintain its content. They are an all-around athlete and like to run, swim, chase and retrieve.

Because of this, they are going to need to go on at the very least one long stroll a day (for at the very least 1 hour). They must also be given the chance to burn off a few of their energy with a spirited play session or an opportunity to roam free (when protected to take action, as this breed’s addiction to looking wildlife can get them lost or in hassle).

Need to expel your Kerry’s energy and preserve them entertained? Daily walks and play indoors ought to do the trick. These lively dogs are used to having jobs to do however are simply as comfortable lounging around and taking part in with their family members.

Sensitive to harsh self-discipline, Kerrys need positive reinforcement coaching. This can even assist curb the opportunity of your dog creating small dog syndrome.

Kerry Blue Terrier Health

The Kerry Blue Terrier is a reasonably resilient and wholesome breed with a life expectancy of around 12-15 years. However, they are often predisposed to sure health issues, together with:

Eye Problems

Kerries are susceptible to eye issues, together with entropion, which is when the eyelids flip inwards, inflicting the eyelashes to take a seat in opposition to the eyes.

This can result in power irritation and corneal ulceration, which could be very painful. They are additionally predisposed to Dry Eye (also called Kerato-Conjunctivitis Sicca (KCS)), which is attributable to inadequate tear manufacturing and may require life-long therapy and management.

Hip Dysplasia

This situation happens when the joint created by the hip bone and the end of the thigh bone (femur) don’t sit collectively correctly. This causes the femur to pop out and in the joint throughout the motion.

Over time, this may result in injury to the cartilage and boney constructions inside and across the joint. Long-term, this may result in early-onset osteoarthritis.

Skin Problems

Kerries are affected by a number of skin issues together with cysts, dermal cysts, corns of their pads, in addition to Naso-digital Keratoses (that is when the nostril and pads grow to be dry and cracked).

Ear Problems

Due to their excessively furry ear canals, they’re predisposed to affect by power Otitis Externa, which is attributable to an infection of their exterior ear.

Cerebellar Cortical Abiotrophy

This is a progressive degenerative situation that impacts the nervous system, inflicting limb stiffness and head tremors initially.

As it progresses, it causes these affected to lose co-ordination and stumble and journey before they’re lastly unable to face. This is an illness of the younger and indicators are first evident in puppies aged between 2-6 months with the lack to face occurring at around 1 year of age.

Kerry Blue Terrier Grooming

Brush your Kerry completely as soon as per week. Although the coat doesn’t shed, trim it each 2 months. You can even need to pluck the hairs out of the ears and clear the eyes often — Kerrys are likely to have issues with eye infections.

The Kerry Blue Terrier has a single coat, that consists of a non-shedding top coat. This means you won’t seize the vacuum cleaner at each given alternative and may as a substitute sit back, loosen up and revel in your fluff-free house!

However, this doesn’t imply you’re fully off the hook when it comes to grooming, as this fluffy fella can get knotted and matted and can need combing about twice every week. You can even need to pop them right down to the groomers every month for quick scissoring and form.

Kerries have excessively furry ears and, for that reason, it is important that you just clear them often, particularly if they’re a water-baby! This will assist preserve them free from any filth, wax and scale back the danger of them getting an ear infection.

Kerry Blue Terrier – Diet | Profile | Traits | Care | Behavior