Kerry Blue Terrier
| Size at withers | 44-49 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight range | 15-18 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12-15 years |
| Size class | Small–Medium (10–25 kg) |
| Normal resting vitals | Heart rate 70–120 bpm · Respiration 15–30/min · Temperature 38.3–39.2 °C |
| Temperament | Spirited, intelligent and alert; devoted to family but can be dog-aggressive |
| Common health issues | Hip dysplasia; progressive neuronal abiotrophy (cerebellar); hypothyroidism; entropion; skin cysts |
| Exercise needs | High - 60+ min/day |
| Climate & housing suitability | Moderate - the soft non-shedding coat is low-dander but requires frequent clipping; keep the dog cool in hot weather. |
| Owner notes | Born black, the coat matures to blue-grey by around 18 months. |
Origin and purpose
Terrier (AKC); FCI Group 3. Origin: Ireland (County Kerry); all-round farm, vermin and herding terrier.
Born black, the coat matures to blue-grey by around 18 months.
What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the owner's job is to give it somewhere to go.
Temperament and training
Stated temperament: Spirited, intelligent and alert; devoted to family but can be dog-aggressive
Reward-based training from the day the puppy arrives, with the socialisation window (roughly three to sixteen weeks) treated as the priority it is — what happens in those weeks shapes the adult dog more than anything you do later. Short, frequent, positive sessions. See Parts IV and IX.
Conditions this breed is predisposed to
Entropion
Hip dysplasia
Hypothyroidism
Health screening — what to test, and when
| Screen for | Test | When |
|---|---|---|
| Entropion | Eye examination | Annually |
| Hip dysplasia | Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring) | Once at 12–24 months; earlier if lame |
| Hypothyroidism | Thyroid blood panel | On unexplained weight gain, coat loss, or lethargy; annually in predisposed breeds |
Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.
For breeders — test before you mate
- Entropion — Eye examination
- Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
- Hypothyroidism — Thyroid blood panel
Feeding
The most forgiving size to feed. A good-quality complete diet appropriate to the life stage, measured with a cup or scales rather than judged by eye, split into two meals a day. Weigh the food; guessing is how dogs get fat. Treats counted within the daily allowance, not added on top.
Exercise and enrichment
Stated requirement: High - 60+ min/day
A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.
Climate and living conditions
Stated suitability: Moderate - the soft non-shedding coat is low-dander but requires frequent clipping; keep the dog cool in hot weather.
Ageing and senior care
Life expectancy: 12-15 years. This dog is a senior from around 8–9 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Watch for the gradual onset of arthritis, dental disease, and the endocrine conditions of middle age. Senior care →
Before you take one home
- Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
- Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.
