Breed library

Kerry Blue Terrier

Kerry Blue Terrier photograph.
Kerry Blue Terrier.jpg - Peter Kumpert, Germany. CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kerry_Blue_Terrier.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en. License: CC BY-SA 3.0 de.

Breed overview

The Kerry Blue Terrier or Irish Blue Terrier (An Brocaire Gorm) is an Irish breed of dog of terrier type. It was originally bred to control vermin including rats, rabbits, badgers, ferrets, foxes, otters, hares, deer and wolves, but later became a general working dog used for a variety of jobs including herding cattle and sheep. A Kerry Blue won "Best In Show" at Crufts in 2000. In the twenty-first century it is an endangered breed.

  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.

Breed facts

  • With the development of dog shows in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the breed became standardised and "tidied up" for the show ring.
  • The Irish nationalist leader Michael Collins owned a famous Kerry Blue named Convict 224.
  • Collins even made an attempt to have the Kerry Blue adopted as the national dog of Ireland.
  • The first show of the Dublin Irish Blue Terrier Club took place outside official curfew hours and was entered both by those fighting for and against an Irish republic.
  • The Dublin Irish Blue Terrier Club was so successful it led directly to the foundation of the Irish Kennel Club, and a Kerry Blue was the first dog that club registered.

Size and appearance

Some characteristics of the Kerry Blue Terrier include a long head, flat skull and a deep chest. Dogs usually stand about 46 - 48 cm at the withers and weigh some 12 - 15 kg; bitches stand about 44 - 46 cm and weigh 10 - 13 kg. The coat is thick, soft and wavy. It may be any shade of blue, either with or without black points.

  • Body mass reference: 10 - 13 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 10 - 13 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: 12 - 15 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 12 - 15 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: 15 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. minimum.
  • Body mass reference: Up to 18 kgBreed reference body mass. maximum.
  • Height reference: 44 - 46 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 44 - 46 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: Up to 48 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum.
  • Height reference: 44.5 cm or moreBreed reference height. female, minimum.
  • Height reference: 46 - 48 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 46 - 48 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 45.5 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum.
  • Height reference: Up to 49.5 cmBreed reference height. male, maximum.
  • Coat texture: wavy
  • Height category: medium
  • Weight category: medium

Personality and behavior

Care planning: record what your dog enjoys, how they greet visitors, and how they respond to new places. Add notes after walks and training so you can see their habits over time. Where this profile includes behavior research, use the same named measures when comparing your shortlist.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat texture: wavy

Health and lifespan

Care planning: keep your dog's veterinary records, health-check dates and agreed care plan together. Add reminders for appointments and record changes you want to discuss at the next visit. Use the linked breed organizations and original references to explore their current health resources.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

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Compare supported adult height and weight ranges, matching research measures and sourced coat and care categories.

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Breed history

The Kerry Blue is first documented in 1847, when it was described as bluish slate in colour, marked with darker blotches and patches, and often with black about the legs and muzzle. These dogs were supposedly more common in Kerry, but were also seen elsewhere. With the development of dog shows in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the breed became standardised and "tidied up" for the show ring. The Irish nationalist leader Michael Collins owned a famous Kerry Blue named Convict 224. Collins even made an attempt to have the Kerry Blue adopted as the national dog of Ireland.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Kerry Blue Terrier - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Kerry Blue Terrier, revision 1369441372. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kerry_Blue_Terrier&action=history
  2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  4. File:Kerry Blue Terrier.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Kerry Blue Terrier.jpg - Peter Kumpert, Germany. CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kerry_Blue_Terrier.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.