Post by charmingnancy on Aug 3, 2009 13:24:30 GMT -5
Kerry Blue Terrier
Group: 4- Terriers
Origin: Ireland
Purpose: Companion, farm dog, guard dog and hunting dog
Description:
The typical Kerry Blue Terrier should be upstanding, well knit and in good balance, showing a well-developed and muscular body with definite terrier style and character throughout. A low-slung Kerry is not typical.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
Coat and Colour: Coat soft, dense, and wavy. A harsh wire or bristle coat should be severely penalized. In show trim, the body should be well covered but tidy, with the head (except for the whiskers) and the ears and cheeks clear.
The correct mature colour is any shade of blue grey or grey blue from deep slate to light blue grey, of a fairly uniform colour throughout except the distinctly darker to black parts may appear on the muzzle, head, ears, tail and feet.
Kerry colour, in its process of "clearing" from an apparent black at birth to the mature grey blue or blue grey, passes through one or more transitions - involving a very dark blue (darker than deep slate), shades or tinges of brown, and mixtures of these, together with a progressive infiltration of the correct mature colour.
Up to 18 months such deviations from the correct mature colour are permissible without preference and without regard for uniformity. Thereafter, deviation from it to any significant extent must be severely penalized.
Solid black is never permissible in the show ring. Up to 18 months any doubt as to whether a dog is black or a very dark blue should be resolved in favour of the dog, particularly in the case of a puppy. Black on the muzzle, head, ears, tail and feet is permissible at any age.
Head: Long, but not exaggerated and in good proportion to the rest of the body. Well balanced, with little apparent difference between the length of the skull and foreface.
Skull: Flat, and narrowing very slightly to the eyes. Cheeks clean and level, free from bumpiness.
Foreface: Full and well made up, not falling away appreciably below the eyes but moderately chiseled out to relieve the foreface from wedginess.
Nose: Black, nostrils large and wide.
Mouth: Teeth strong, white and either level or with the upper(incisors) teeth slightly overlapping the lower teeth.
Eyes: Dark, small, not prominent, well placed and with a keen terrier expression. Anything approaching a yellow eye is very undesirable.
Ears: V-shaped, small but not out of proportion to the size of the dog, of moderate thickness, carried forward close to the cheek with the top of the folded ear slightly above the level of the skull. A "dead" ear, hound-like in appearance, is very undesirable.
Neck: Clean and moderately long, gradually widening to the shoulders upon which it should be well set and carried proudly.
Forequarters: Shoulders fine, long and sloping, well laid back and well knit. Legs moderately long with plenty of bone and muscle. The forelegs should be straight from both front and side view, with the elbows hanging perpendicularly to the body and working clear of the sides in movement, the pasterns short, straight, and hardly noticeable.
Body: Back short, strong and straight (i.e., level), with no appearance of slackness. Chest deep and of but moderate breadth. Loin short and powerful with a slight tuck-up, the ribs fairly well sprung, deep rather than round.
Hindquarters: Strong and muscular with full freedom of action, free from droop or crouch, the thighs long and powerful, stifles well bent and turned neither in nor out, hocks near the ground and when viewed from behind, upright and parallel with each other, the dog standing well up on them. Feet should be strong, compact, fairly round and moderately small, with good depth of pad free from cracks, the toes arched, turned neither in nor out, with black toenails.
Tail: Should be set on high, of moderate length and carried gaily erect; the straighter the better.
Gait: Both forelegs and hind legs should move straight forward when traveling, the stifles turning neither in nor out.
Faults: An undershot mouth should be strictly penalized.
Disqualification:
1. Solid black.
2. Faking or dyeing.
3. Dewclaws on hind legs.
Scale of Points:
Head- 20
Neck- 5
Shoulders and chest- 10
Legs and feet- 10
Body- 10
Hindquarters and stern- 10
Colour- 10
Coat- 15
General conformation and character- 10
Total: 100
Size:
The ideal Kerry should be 18 1/2 in. (47 cm) at the withers for a dog, slightly less for a bitch.
In judging Kerries, a height of 18 - 19 1/2 in. (46-50 cm) for a dog, and 17 1/2 - 19 in (44-48 cm) for a bitch should be given primary preference. Only where the comparative superiority of a specimen outside of the ranges noted clearly justifies it, should greater latitude be taken. In no case should it extend to a dog over 20 in. (51 cm) or under 17 1/2 in (44 cm), or to a bitch over 19 1/2 in. (50 cm) or under 17 in. (43 cm). The minimum limits do not apply to puppies.
Weight - the most desirable weight for a fully developed dog is from 33 - 40 lb. (15 - 18 kg), bitches weighing proportionately less.
Temperament:
Kerry Blue Terriers are determined, friendly, and enthusiastic. They can be stubborn and like to challenge authority, but are trainable and extremely efficient at their job. They are courageous, spirited, and alert. They make excellent watchdogs and guard dogs. They are aggressive with other dogs, and are not the best breed for being around other pets, but can be trained to do so. They love the companionship of their humans. Kerry Blues are good with children.
Health:
Kerry Blues are unfortunately prone to several genetic disorders. Of these are cerebellar abiotrophy, cataracts, blood disorders, hair-follicle tumors, and tear deficiency. Other health concerns include spiculosis (disorder of the hair), entropion, hip dysplasia and dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca).
Average Lifespan:
12 - 15 years.
History:
Kerry Blue Terriers were developed in the 1700s by Irish shepherds. The first documented records of the breed did not appear until the late 1800s, however. Their name comes from the county of Kerry in south-western Ireland in the Ring of Kerry. Kerry Blues are thought to be related to the Bedlington Terrier, Irish Terrier and Bull Terrier. Some say that the Irish Wolfhound also contributed to the breed. Legend tells of a shipwreck in the Tralee Bay in the 1700s, from which survivors swam to the County Kerry coast. Here, a certain blue terrier survived along with the men. The dog was said to be so vicious that it defeated any opponent in its path, thus earning it the right to start its own breed lineage. That it did, breeding with various local dogs to create pups with a dark blue coat and the temperament of a terrier.
Crossed between the Irish Terrier and Dandie Dinmont Terrier, they were originally used as a companion, farm dog, guard dog and hunting dog. Known to dispatch rats and other barnyard vermin, they were also a good retriever fetching prey from the water. One spectator stated that the Kerry Blue Terrier is the only terrier that "will tackle an otter single-handed in deep water." The Kerry Blue Terrier is one of three of Ireland's long legged terriers.
Joining the show world at Westminster Kennel Club in 1922 as well as the Crufts Dog Show in England, they were officially recognized by both the AKC as well as the British Kennel Club in 1924. The Kerry Blue had four clubs in Ireland by then, making up 25% of all Irish Kennel Club registrations. Soon the breed was set as the mascot for Irish patriots trying to free the country from Britain's rule. In more recent times, Mrs. William Randolph Hearst and heavyweight champion Gene Tunney both owned Kerry Blue Terriers.
Sources:
Kerry Blue Terrier Club of Canada
Puppy Dog Web
Pictures:
Photobucket
Group: 4- Terriers
Origin: Ireland
Purpose: Companion, farm dog, guard dog and hunting dog
Description:
The typical Kerry Blue Terrier should be upstanding, well knit and in good balance, showing a well-developed and muscular body with definite terrier style and character throughout. A low-slung Kerry is not typical.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
Coat and Colour: Coat soft, dense, and wavy. A harsh wire or bristle coat should be severely penalized. In show trim, the body should be well covered but tidy, with the head (except for the whiskers) and the ears and cheeks clear.
The correct mature colour is any shade of blue grey or grey blue from deep slate to light blue grey, of a fairly uniform colour throughout except the distinctly darker to black parts may appear on the muzzle, head, ears, tail and feet.
Kerry colour, in its process of "clearing" from an apparent black at birth to the mature grey blue or blue grey, passes through one or more transitions - involving a very dark blue (darker than deep slate), shades or tinges of brown, and mixtures of these, together with a progressive infiltration of the correct mature colour.
Up to 18 months such deviations from the correct mature colour are permissible without preference and without regard for uniformity. Thereafter, deviation from it to any significant extent must be severely penalized.
Solid black is never permissible in the show ring. Up to 18 months any doubt as to whether a dog is black or a very dark blue should be resolved in favour of the dog, particularly in the case of a puppy. Black on the muzzle, head, ears, tail and feet is permissible at any age.
Head: Long, but not exaggerated and in good proportion to the rest of the body. Well balanced, with little apparent difference between the length of the skull and foreface.
Skull: Flat, and narrowing very slightly to the eyes. Cheeks clean and level, free from bumpiness.
Foreface: Full and well made up, not falling away appreciably below the eyes but moderately chiseled out to relieve the foreface from wedginess.
Nose: Black, nostrils large and wide.
Mouth: Teeth strong, white and either level or with the upper(incisors) teeth slightly overlapping the lower teeth.
Eyes: Dark, small, not prominent, well placed and with a keen terrier expression. Anything approaching a yellow eye is very undesirable.
Ears: V-shaped, small but not out of proportion to the size of the dog, of moderate thickness, carried forward close to the cheek with the top of the folded ear slightly above the level of the skull. A "dead" ear, hound-like in appearance, is very undesirable.
Neck: Clean and moderately long, gradually widening to the shoulders upon which it should be well set and carried proudly.
Forequarters: Shoulders fine, long and sloping, well laid back and well knit. Legs moderately long with plenty of bone and muscle. The forelegs should be straight from both front and side view, with the elbows hanging perpendicularly to the body and working clear of the sides in movement, the pasterns short, straight, and hardly noticeable.
Body: Back short, strong and straight (i.e., level), with no appearance of slackness. Chest deep and of but moderate breadth. Loin short and powerful with a slight tuck-up, the ribs fairly well sprung, deep rather than round.
Hindquarters: Strong and muscular with full freedom of action, free from droop or crouch, the thighs long and powerful, stifles well bent and turned neither in nor out, hocks near the ground and when viewed from behind, upright and parallel with each other, the dog standing well up on them. Feet should be strong, compact, fairly round and moderately small, with good depth of pad free from cracks, the toes arched, turned neither in nor out, with black toenails.
Tail: Should be set on high, of moderate length and carried gaily erect; the straighter the better.
Gait: Both forelegs and hind legs should move straight forward when traveling, the stifles turning neither in nor out.
Faults: An undershot mouth should be strictly penalized.
Disqualification:
1. Solid black.
2. Faking or dyeing.
3. Dewclaws on hind legs.
Scale of Points:
Head- 20
Neck- 5
Shoulders and chest- 10
Legs and feet- 10
Body- 10
Hindquarters and stern- 10
Colour- 10
Coat- 15
General conformation and character- 10
Total: 100
Size:
The ideal Kerry should be 18 1/2 in. (47 cm) at the withers for a dog, slightly less for a bitch.
In judging Kerries, a height of 18 - 19 1/2 in. (46-50 cm) for a dog, and 17 1/2 - 19 in (44-48 cm) for a bitch should be given primary preference. Only where the comparative superiority of a specimen outside of the ranges noted clearly justifies it, should greater latitude be taken. In no case should it extend to a dog over 20 in. (51 cm) or under 17 1/2 in (44 cm), or to a bitch over 19 1/2 in. (50 cm) or under 17 in. (43 cm). The minimum limits do not apply to puppies.
Weight - the most desirable weight for a fully developed dog is from 33 - 40 lb. (15 - 18 kg), bitches weighing proportionately less.
Temperament:
Kerry Blue Terriers are determined, friendly, and enthusiastic. They can be stubborn and like to challenge authority, but are trainable and extremely efficient at their job. They are courageous, spirited, and alert. They make excellent watchdogs and guard dogs. They are aggressive with other dogs, and are not the best breed for being around other pets, but can be trained to do so. They love the companionship of their humans. Kerry Blues are good with children.
Health:
Kerry Blues are unfortunately prone to several genetic disorders. Of these are cerebellar abiotrophy, cataracts, blood disorders, hair-follicle tumors, and tear deficiency. Other health concerns include spiculosis (disorder of the hair), entropion, hip dysplasia and dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca).
Average Lifespan:
12 - 15 years.
History:
Kerry Blue Terriers were developed in the 1700s by Irish shepherds. The first documented records of the breed did not appear until the late 1800s, however. Their name comes from the county of Kerry in south-western Ireland in the Ring of Kerry. Kerry Blues are thought to be related to the Bedlington Terrier, Irish Terrier and Bull Terrier. Some say that the Irish Wolfhound also contributed to the breed. Legend tells of a shipwreck in the Tralee Bay in the 1700s, from which survivors swam to the County Kerry coast. Here, a certain blue terrier survived along with the men. The dog was said to be so vicious that it defeated any opponent in its path, thus earning it the right to start its own breed lineage. That it did, breeding with various local dogs to create pups with a dark blue coat and the temperament of a terrier.
Crossed between the Irish Terrier and Dandie Dinmont Terrier, they were originally used as a companion, farm dog, guard dog and hunting dog. Known to dispatch rats and other barnyard vermin, they were also a good retriever fetching prey from the water. One spectator stated that the Kerry Blue Terrier is the only terrier that "will tackle an otter single-handed in deep water." The Kerry Blue Terrier is one of three of Ireland's long legged terriers.
Joining the show world at Westminster Kennel Club in 1922 as well as the Crufts Dog Show in England, they were officially recognized by both the AKC as well as the British Kennel Club in 1924. The Kerry Blue had four clubs in Ireland by then, making up 25% of all Irish Kennel Club registrations. Soon the breed was set as the mascot for Irish patriots trying to free the country from Britain's rule. In more recent times, Mrs. William Randolph Hearst and heavyweight champion Gene Tunney both owned Kerry Blue Terriers.
Sources:
Kerry Blue Terrier Club of Canada
Puppy Dog Web
Pictures:
Photobucket