Plate 084 · British Isles
Kerry Blue Terrier
凯利蓝㹴
“An Irish farm terrier born black that turns slate blue.”
- Origin
- Ireland
- County Kerry
- Region of origin
- Named after County Kerry, where the type was said to be most common; it was also kept elsewhere in Ireland.
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- Probably first described in 1847
- Today
- Companion · Show dog
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
County Kerry
An Irish terrier with a soft, wavy, blue-grey coat, kept as an all-round working dog on farms.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Controlling rats, rabbits and other vermin, and helping with farm work such as driving cattle and sheep.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Show breeders standardized the breed in the early 20th century. The Dublin Irish Blue Terrier Club, whose members included the Irish leader Michael Collins, held Ireland's first show outside the English Kennel Club's authority in 1920; with a second show in 1921, this led to the founding of the Irish Kennel Club in 1922. Collins's own Kerry Blue, Convict 224, was shown in 1920.
04 · Today
Companion · Show dog
A lively companion and show dog, also seen in agility, obedience and herding events.
Personality
- Alert
- Smart
- People-oriented
- Spirited
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Enjoys active play, fetch and jogging, and equally enjoys time beside its people.
- Grooming
- Comb through weekly to prevent mats, with a full trim every six to eight weeks; it sheds very little.
- Training
- Bright and keen on activities; early socialization helps, as some are wary of other dogs.
Living with one
- Size
- Medium
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Soft, dense, wavy coat; puppies are born black and clear to blue-grey by about 18 months
Field note
The breed became such a mascot for Irish patriots that for a short time four clubs promoted it, sponsoring six shows and six field trials between 1922 and 1924.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Terrier Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (Group 3, standard 3), Irish Kennel Club
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Terrier Group, recognized 1922.
AKC registrations: ranked 155 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- Kerry Blue Terrier — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/kerry-blue-terrier/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Kerry Blue Terrier — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry_Blue_Terrier
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · 1847 first description, vermin control and herding cattle and sheep, Irish Kennel Club founding and first registration, Michael Collins.
- Kerry Blue Terrier — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/KERRY-BLUE-TERRIER-3.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Ireland; Group 3; definitive acceptance 2 April 1963.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: Named after County Kerry, where the type was said to be most common; it was also kept elsewhere in Ireland.
