Kerry Blue Terrier

Kerry Blue Terriers have an active, energetic, and intelligent nature. Their energy and endurance comes from their versatile farm dog background, this means they need physical and mental challenges as pets. They have been known to enjoy dog sports such as agility, earthdog trials, flyball, herding, hiking, retrieving, tracking, Frisbee, musical freestyle, and both rally and standard obedience as sport, as well as using their swimming skills by retrieving items such as tennis balls and floating toys. They may also bond with owners by being good jogging companions or as service dogs in law enforcement, search and rescue, and animal-assisted therapy.

Kerry Blue Terrier History:

The Kerry Blue Terrier, developed in Kerry, is the national dog of Ireland. The exact origins of the breed are unknown, however there many legends around. One such legend mentions that when only Irish nobility were permitted to hunt with the Irish Wolfhound, peasants developed the Kerry Blue Terrier in order to poach. The speculation is that the Irish Wolfhound was mated to the basic terrier breed (Irish Terrier or English Terrier) in order to produce the Kerry. Another tale that postulates that the Kerry descends from the Russian “Blue Dog” that swam ashore when a Russian ship wrecked in Tralee Bay in southwest Ireland. The Russian Blue Dog was purportedly mated with local terriers to produce the Kerry Blue. A similar tale supposes that the shipwreck was part of the Spanish Armada.