Kerry Blue Terrier
Kerry Blues with electric car
A game terrier with 'an open coat' has been in existence in mountainous regions of County Kerry in the South Western region of Ireland since the earliest of settlements. Their non-shedding coat was a of black-blue colour and inclined to curl. These dogs were undeniably game, their boundless energy making them always look alert. As such, they make one of today's most successful show dogs. The story of how the Kerry Blue became an established pure breed is the story of how a group of passionate people demonstrated their political tolerance by founding Irish Kennel Club.
History of Kerry Blue Terrier
Kerry Blue Puppies
An old Irish fable from the late 1700's, tells of how a dark coloured dog that swam ashore from a shipwreck, killed all the male local terriers and mated the bitches. This supposedly produced dogs with dark blue coats. Dismissed as the good story Irish people love to tell, certainly in the old feudal days, peasants were not permitted to hunt with Irish Wolfounds. Consequently, it is reasonable to assume that surreptitious matings would have occurred between the peasants' Terriers and the rich land owners' Irish Wolfhounds.
Kerry Blue Terrier
It is also likely that the blue, wheaten and red Irish Terriers came from common stock. Certainly, game terriers whose coat was inclined to curl were known around Waterford in the south-east of Ireland dating back to the old Vikings' days around 900 A.D. Born black, as the Kerry Blue matures, it becomes a bluish-black slate colour. If darker blotches and patches with tan about the legs and muzzle appear, the dog was called a 'Harlequin Terrier'.[1]
Kerry Blues of differing shades of blue
Today, the Kerry Blue is born black but as it approaches 18 months of age, it gradually acquires its adult blue colour. The accompanying photo shows 6 Kerry Blues of different ages and various shades of blue. Once a Kerry matures, every shade of blue is equally correct.
Admiration of the Kerry Blue Founded the Irish Kennel Club
Kerry Blue c 1922
The first documented evidence of a blue terrier to appear at a Dublin Show was in 1876. Additionally, at Limerick, in 1887 there was a class for silver-haired Irish Terriers where specimens were of a slate-blue colour. At least 20 of these terriers were also exhibited in Killarney in 1916 and in Tralee in 1921.
In 1920, a Meeting of the Dublin Blue Terrier Club was called in Dublin for anyone interested in the Irish Blue terrier. Around 30 people attended. These included several who were to become leaders of a new Irish Kennel Club. Without seeking license from the English Kennel Club, these people were to vote on whether or not to form their own Kennel Club. What was also unbelievable was, after a successful outcome of this one Meeting, dog shows could be held without the permission of the English Kennel Club and have judges appointed from both sides of the political divide!
Kerry Blue Terrier
This outstanding example of political tolerance was amazing because, at that time Ireland was struggling to establish national independence from England. However Kerry Blue enthusiasts from both sides of the violent political divide succeeded in putting their differences aside in the common interest and mutual admiration for Kerry Blue Terrier. This led to the Irish Blue Terrier Clubs uniting the entire Irish dog community who then formed the Irish Kennel Club.
Later that year, the All-Ireland Blue Terrier Club was formed and shortly afterwards the Irish Blue Terrier Club. Both Clubs required the Terrier to hold 'a Certificate of Gameness' before it could become a Champion under the new Irish Kennel Club rules.
The Kerry Blue Terrier becomes a Pure Breed
Kerry with electric car
Although known for a short time as the Irish Blue Terrier, Irish enthusiasts decided to give it the 'Kerry' tag despite being also developed in other Irish counties. In the 'Irish Monthly', 1922, it was described: 'His disposition seems nigh faultless, if a slight tendency to diminish the cat population, be accepted'.[2]
The Kerry Blue Terrier first appeared at Crufts in 1922 when 'Brachill of Baily' won Best of Breed. After the judging Mr Geo Scott called a Meeting where the Kerry Blue Club of England was formed. Mrs Casey Hewitt was the prime mover.
The first Challenge Certificate for Kerry Blue Terriers in England was awarded at the Great Joint Terrier Show to the dog, 'Martells Sapphire Beauty' which ultimately became the first English Champion. 'Belle of Munster' was the first bitch to win a Challenge Certificate under English Kennel Club rules. The Kerry Blue Terrier Club of England was then established and the Breed Standard drawn up. 'Castletown Rose' then became the first English and Irish Champion[4].
History of Kerry Blue Terriers in Australia
David Roche with Kerry Blue
The Kerry Blue was first introduced into South Australia in 1930 by Dr Kyle Gault. In 1952 David Roche also from South Australia put the Kerry Blue on the map in Australia with the importation of Ch. Berenwode Outrider (imp UK) and Breezehurst Bokita (imp). They in turn produced Ch Fermoy Foggy Knight who won Best Exhibit in Show at one Adelaide Royal and Best Opposite Sex in Show at another. Always immaculately presented, David and his Kerry Blues dominated the show scene across Australia for the next three decades [3].
The Kerry Blue and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Today
At a glance the Kerry Blue and Soft Coated Terrier may look the same breed with just a different coat and colour. But decades of selective breeding to a Breed Standard has now made each of these quite distinct. With their basic construction typical of the long legged terriers, their specific breed characteristics are summarized in the table below:
| Kerry Blue | Soft Coated Wheaten | |
|---|---|---|
| Body Proportions | Short coupled, indicating a shorter bodied dog than the Soft Coated Wheaten | Measuring from withers to base of tail the same or slightly less than withers to ground |
 Kerry Blue |
 Soft Coated Wheaten |
|
| Temperament | Disciplined gameness that makes a showy, impressive dog but must be taught socializing skills especially with other dogs | Good tempered and easy to adapt to social situations with both humans and other dogs |
| Size | With an ideal height of 46-48 cms (18-19 ins) and weight of 15-17 kg (33-37 lbs), the Kerry is slightly smaller than the Soft Coated Wheaten | With an ideal height of 46-49 cms (18-19.5 ins) and weight of 16-20.5 kg (35-45 lbs), the Soft Coated is slightly larger than the Kerry Blue |
 Kerry Blue |
 Soft Coated Wheaten |
|
|
Head |
Skull long and lean with slight stop | Skull moderately long with medium width, muzzle not longer than skull and well defined stop and parallel head planes |
| Ears | Forward carriage like button ears but set not too high | Thin leathers folding level with skull with side placement so the front edge lies close to cheek |
| Eyes | Small to medium and dark as possible | Medium size and dark hazel set under strong brows |
| Mouth | Normal scissors bite with gums and roof of mouth black | Normal scissors bite and black tight lips |
 Kerry Blue |
 Soft Coated Wheaten |
|
| Coat and Colour | The Kerry is a blue coloured dog with a soft silky plentiful coat that stands off from the body lending itself to trimming and shaping | The Soft Coat is a good clear wheaten coloured dog with a soft silky wavy coat that should not stand off from the body but should flow and fall naturally in waves and not be excessively trimmed |
| Pigmentation | Black nose, gums, roof of mouth and nails | Black lips, eye rims, nose and nails |
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References and Further Reading
[1] Maureen Holmes 'The Softcoated Wheaten Terrier' Self published 1990 Printed by Racmo, Meppel ISBN 90-9004200-8 Chapter One 'In Obscurity' Page 1
[2] Mr W J Cotten in Rawdon B. Lee's, "Modern Dogs" of Great Britain and Ireland (Third Edition) London:Horace Cox, "Field" Office, Windsor House, Bream's Buildings, E.C. 1903 Chapter IX, Pages 229 - 230
[3] 'The Native Dogs of Ireland' published by the Irish Kennel Club, Dublin ISBN 0-9509998-1-4 The Kerry Blue Terrier Page 71-72
[4] Violet E. Handy 'The Modern Kerry Blue Terrier' Published by 'Our Dogs Publishing Co' Ltd in Great Britain c 1931 Page 32
[5] David J.K.Roche, 'The History of Purebred Dogs in Australia' The Kerry Blue Terrier published by OzDog Newspaper 1997 Page 204
[5a] Ibid.,Wyn Newson, 'The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier' Page 278
See also Jane Harvey, DVD "Terriers Then & Now" (Rangeaire Vision 2002, 2004) ISBN 978-0-9804296-4-0