кери блю терьер

Kerry Blue Terrier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The Kerry Blue Terrier is a of . In Ireland it is often called the Irish Blue Terrier. Originally bred to control vermin including rats, rabbits, badgers, foxes, otters and hares, over time the Kerry became a general working used for a variety of jobs including herding cattle and sheep, and as a guard dog. Today the Kerry has spread around the world as a companion and working dog. Despite winning (the most important UK dog show) in 2000, it remains an unfashionable , still distinctly uncommon, but not as threatened as some of the other such as , , and .

Philip Doyle with his dog Terri at the Killarney Show,1916.

Some characteristics of the Kerry Blue Terrier include a long head, flat skull, deep chest, and a soft wavy-to-curly coat that comes in several shades of blue (the term for gray in dog coats). Puppies are born black; the blue appears gradually as the puppy grows older, usually up to 2 years of age. The ideal Kerry should be 18-1/2 inches at the withers for a male, slightly less for the female. The most desirable weight for a fully developed male is from 33-40 pounds, females weighing proportionately less.

The coat is the key feature of the Kerry. It is soft and wavy with no undercoat. The texture is similar to that of fine human hair and like human hair does not shed but continues to grow throughout the year. This means the Kerry Blue requires very regular grooming (at least once per week) and clipping an average of every 6 weeks.

Kerry Blue Terriers are strong-headed and highly spirited. They have always been loyal and affectionate towards their owners and very gentle towards children but were often considered downright mean toward other animals including other dogs. In the early days of competitive dog showing the required Kerries had to pass a test, known as certification, before they were deemed worthy of being judged. These tests included catching rabbits and bringing a badger to bay in its set. They are fast, strong, and intelligent. They do well in , , sheep herding, and tracking. They have been used as police dogs in Ireland. Modern breeders have attempted to retain high spirits whilst breeding out aggression.

As a long-legged breed, the activity level of the Kerry Blue Terrier ranges from moderate to high. They require an active, skilled owner who can provide them with early socialization and obedience training. Kerries require daily exercise.

Kerries are fairly healthy, however there are some that are prevalent in the breed. They are prone to eye problems such as (dry eyes), , and . They sometimes get or growths in their skin, but these are rarely . , , have also been reported. (PNA) is also seen. This condition is also referred to as Cerebellar cortical abiotrophy (CCA) or (CA). Another skin-related health issue is . This is a skin disorder that produces abnormally thick hairs that are also called thorns, spikes or bristles. A US breed club survey puts the average lifespan at 9 1/2 years.

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