Kerry Blue Terrier
Breed Group: Terrier Group
Size Group: Small Dog Breeds
Origin: Ireland
Height: F: 17.5-19″, M: 18-19.5″9”-11”
Weight: F: 31-37 lbs, M: 33-40 lbs
Color: Black, Blue, Blue & black, Blue & silver, Blue & gray, Silver, Silver blue, Slate blue
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Temperament: Alert, devoted, intelligent, stubborn
Set Your Pup Up For Success
Overview
Kerry Blue Terriers are sturdy mediums sized pups originally bred to work farms herding sheep and cattle, and hunting rabbits and vermin. While they still love to work, they also love to curl up on the couch and relax. They can be stubborn companions, but in the hands of a patience laidback owner can develop an incredible bond. Kerry Blues can be sensitive, when reprimanding, remember to be kind or your pup might exhibit aggression if he finds the scolding unfair. Kerry Blues need lots of exercise and do not make great apartment dogs.
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Fun Facts
All Kerry blue puppies are born black. Their coat fades into its permanent color somewhere around 18 months.
Health
Kerry Blues are typically quite healthy. Some conditions to be mindful of include hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, entropion, cataracts, dry eye, ear infections, skin cysts, cancer, hypothyroidism, factor XI deficiency, cerebellar abiotrophy, spiculosis, narrow palpebral fissure, distichiasis, congenital heart defect
While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.
Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.
Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.
Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:
- Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
- Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
- Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
- Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
- At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.
Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.
Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.
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Grooming
Kerry Blues’ soft wavy coat needs to be brushed daily to remove matts, tangles, and debris. The coat keeps growing and will need to be reshaped every 6-8 weeks. Bathe your pup when you reshape the coat, or take your dog to the groomer to have it all done for you. The hair that hangs around the pup’s face is called the fall. The fall and the beard will need to be washed daily to remove food. Keep your dog’s ears and eyes clean and clear of debris. Clip your pup’s nails regularly and brush his teeth several times per week.
Exercise
Kerry Blues have an exceptional amount of energy and need a place for it to go. Be prepared to spend at least an hour a day on brisk walks, hiking, jogging or playing fetch with your pup. When on walks be sure to keep your pup leashed as their terrier instinct to follow prey is often stronger than the will to respond when called. If you have a backyard area, make sure it is fenced in securely going at least 18 inches into the ground. Kerry Blues are known to dig, so consider adding a sandpit to create a place for your pup to follow that instinct.
Nutrition
On average Irish water spaniels consume about 2.5 cups of food per. As with all dogs, the amount of food your dog requires will vary based on age and activity level.
We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.
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Training
As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other dogs is essential. Kerry Blues tend to be aggressive towards other dogs. If they are going to be in the same home with them, it is imperative to socialize them as early as possible. If you plan on having your dog interact with other dogs at a dog park, you will need to keep a close eye on your dog’s behavior.
You need to set a firm pack order in your home or your Kerry Blue will begin to sense it is the alpha. Be direct, firm, and fair with your training. Keep your sessions fresh with new tasks and full of positive reinforcement.
Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!
Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.
Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.
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Supplements
A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.
Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.
Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.
Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.
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