Breeds / Medium
Kerry Blue Terrier puppies
Confident, energetic and full of terrier character, affectionate with its people but often argumentative with strange dogs. Born black, the coat clears to blue as the dog matures.
The facts
- Size class Medium
- Country of origin Ireland
- Adult weight 15 to 18.1 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 33 to 40 lb
- Adult height 44 to 50 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Medium wavy
- Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
- Good with children Usually good
- Good with other dogs Careful introductions
Where these come from:
About the Kerry Blue Terrier
The Kerry Blue Terrier is an Irish farm dog from County Kerry that turned its hand to vermin, herding and guarding, and it still has a bit of all three in it. It stands 44 to 50 cm and weighs 15 to 18.1 kg, with a soft wavy coat that puppies are born black in and that clears to blue grey over the first year or two. The character is classic working terrier: confident, busy, comic at home, and ready to argue with strange dogs, which is why its rating for other pets is low.
The coat barely sheds, which means it mats instead, so plan on a thorough brush and comb once a week and a full groom every six to eight weeks. Exercise is a mix of running and thinking, and terrier sports such as barn hunt and obedience suit it well. Barking is above average. It rates fairly well with children, always with supervision and early socialisation. The mistake most new owners make is booking the groomer too late, then paying to have a matted coat clipped off and starting again.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Kerry Blue Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and it will need a job to do long before it needs long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, screened by x-ray evaluation, a test the national breed club recommends
- Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation, also recommended by the club
- Progressive neuronal abiotrophy, a fatal neurological disease detectable by DNA test
- Factor XI deficiency, an inherited clotting disorder detectable by DNA test
- Skin cysts and spiculosis, found by a vet examining the skin and coat
- Ear infections under the hairy drop ear, found by regular ear checks
From Kerry Blue Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/kerry-blue-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Kerry Blue Terrier puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Kerry Blue Terrier.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 15 to 18.1 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other medium breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.