Kerry Blue Terrier
About the Kerry Blue Terrier
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Medium (25-50 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 17-20" |
| Weight | 33-40 lbs |
| Coat Type | Curly |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Regular - 2-3x/week
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,000-$2,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,400/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Kerry Blue Terriers may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Active Owners
- Guard Dog
- Allergy Sufferers
May Not Be Ideal For
- First-Time Owners
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Kerry Blue Terrier
The story behind the Kerry Blue Terrier
The Kerry Blue Terrier developed in the mountainous southwest of Ireland, particularly County Kerry, where a soft-coated blue terrier was known among farming families by the nineteenth century. It was a general-purpose rural dog expected to kill vermin, herd stock, guard the homestead and work small game on land and in water, which explains its size and versatility compared with more specialised terriers. Local folklore attributes exotic origins, but a practical development from Irish working terriers is the more accepted account. Formal recognition arrived in the early twentieth century, and the breed carried nationalist associations in Ireland during that period. Kerry Blues gained a following in Britain and North America and were once fairly fashionable. Numbers have since declined, and the breed is now maintained by a comparatively small body of enthusiasts.
Originally bred for: Vermin control, Farm dog, Herding and guarding. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Kerry Blue Terrier
An active terrier of moderate size eats well on a complete food given twice daily, with enough good-quality fat to keep the soft coat pliable rather than brittle. Watch waistline creep in less active adults, and treat generously only during training sessions.
Watch for: No breed-wide food allergy is confirmed, though skin irritation and ear problems occur in the breed and diet is occasionally implicated alongside environmental triggers. Coat-related dermatitis is often grooming-driven. A veterinarian should direct testing before committing a Kerry Blue to a restricted diet.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Kerry Blue Terrier
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.