MEET THE KERRY BLUE TERRIER: DEFINITE TERRIER STYLE AND CHARACTER THROUGHOUT
"Della" BIS GCH Hotlicks Stardust Afternoon Delight At Blujac
Dignified, determined, and draped Jordan has surpassed in a shimmering blue coat, the Kerry every goal set for him. He Blue Terrier was developed in Ireland has realized the potential to hunt small game, guard farms, and we believed he could achieve. He even herd livestock. Its dense, wavy finished his Championship ownerhandled with all Specialty majors, coat is hypoallergenic and requires including one at the Montgomery regular grooming, but its true beauty County National Specialty lies in its intelligence and versatility. at 18 months. Handled by “Kerrys” are loyal, headstrong, and Alfonso Escobido and Ashlie protective of their people. They excel Whitmore, he won many in recreational sports but are also Groups, Specialty Bests of happy in homes that keep their sharp Breed, and multiple Bests in minds engaged and their spirited © HAN Show. His even temperament, extraordinary movement, and the nature appreciated. Blujac elegance have set him apart in the show ring. Today he has become a wonderful companion and is shown occasionally by Carl, sharing the spotlight with his half-sister Della.
The first authenticated mention of a “silverhaired Irish Terrier” was made by Allan Lewis in a “journal newspaper” in 1887. These dogs were seen at a dog show in the southern part of County Kerry. This is also the earliest reported dog show in which Kerrys appeared. But it was not until after the formation of the Irish Republic that Kerrys began to appear in shows throughout Ireland, encouraged in part by their association with General Michael Collins, “The Big Fella,” who was an early Kerry owner and exhibitor, and whose name and story is so intrinsically entwined with the creation of the Republic.
In 1921, Michael Collins sponsored an Act of the Oireachtas in the Dail Eireann (Irish Parliament) to recognize the Irish Blue (or Kerry Blue) as the National Dog of Ireland. However, with the death of General Collins, the initiative died as well. Nineteen twenty-two was the watershed year for the Kerry Blue. In that year, the breed was formally recognized by the Irish Kennel Club, the English Kennel Club, and the American Kennel Club. This was also the year that the Dublin Kennel Club held the first Championship show for Kerrys, drawing 257 entries. That year was also the first appearance of Kerrys at Crufts and at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
“The Kerry Blue Terrier” by Richard Basler SHOWSIGHT January 2019
Please visit showsightmagazine.com to learn more about the Kerry Blue Terrier.