The Modern Kerry Blue Terrier (A Vintage Dog Books Breed Classic)

Violet E. Handy

• Publisher: Vintage Dog Books
• Year: 2011
• eBook ISBN:
  9781446547472
• Print ISBN:
  9781846649981
• Subtopic: Zoology

Ireland's national terrier, the soft-coated blue-grey Kerry was an all-purpose farm dog of the south-west before it took to the show ring. In The Modern Kerry Blue Terrier, Violet E. Handy sets down what every owner and breeder should know of the breed.

First published in 1933, Violet E. Handy's account sets the Kerry Blue Terrier's history and origins alongside guidance on its points and standard, its character, and the everyday work of rearing, feeding and preparing a dog for the show ring.

Long scarce in its original edition, it returns here in a faithful modern reprint for Kerry Blue Terrier owners, breeders and breed historians.

This edition features:

• Traces the origins and history of the Kerry Blue Terrier.
• Sets out the breed's points, character and show standard.
• Practical notes on rearing, feeding, breeding and management.
• Restored from the original text and illustrations.

CHAPTER II.

General Appearance.

In judging the merit of any Kerry Blue Terrier it is of the first importance to take into account his general appearance and the impression that he will make on the mind of the judge. A perfect show dog should be uniform throughout, and should not excel in any one point more than another, although dogs possessing certain strong points are useful for breeding.

What we want is a dog perfectly balanced all over; not a freak, all head or all coat, and nothing else. We must get better bodies, smaller, well-carried ears, shorter backs, better feet and quarters, with good movement fore and aft, and we must remember not to lose the big bone that his ancestors always had, and that is a characteristic of the breed.

The faddist has been responsible for the variations which we have witnessed in the last few years. One breeder has set his mind upon improving heads, for which he has made many sacrifices in the way of long backs, short necks, and other features. Another has been a stickler for bodies, which he has obtained, in many cases, at the cost of heads and fronts. Another has made coats his speciality, and so on. The result is that certain kennels have become noted for heads, others for bodies, or, maybe, fronts, and others for coats, etc. It is probably to the blending of these various strains that we owe the uniformity of the present-day show Kerry. But the blending of opposites does not always produce the happy medium, as would seem to be the natural result. Breeding has not yet been reduced to such an exact science. If it had we should long ago have reached perfection.

Description of the Kerry Blue Terrier.

A Kerry Blue Terrier is a silky-coated, well set-up terrier-like, compact dog, and must convey the idea of activity, muscularity, and gameness. The chief points for consideration are the relative proportions of the skull and the foreface, length of the head, length of neck, height at withers and length of back from withers to set-on of tail. The ideal proportion is reached when the height and length measurements are the same. (See drawing.) A more detailed description of each point follows. This description is only to help novices, and, of course, there is no hard and fast rule. But if a Kerry Blue is as well balanced as this, and has the other essential points, he should be a very good one. His colour may be any shade of blue, from silver-blue to steel-blue; and he should not have any white in his coat or on his nails. His gums should be blue, with almost black rims round his teeth.

Photo., Thos. Fall.

CHAMPION NOFA JACOBIN.

A PERFECT SIX MONTHS OLD PUPPY

The Points of the Kerry Blue Terrier.

Foreface.—Although the foreface should gradually taper from the eyes to the muzzle, and should dip slightly at the stop, it should not “dish” or fall away quickly below the eyes, where it should be full and well boned-up. Both upper and lower jaws should be strong and muscular, and the teeth as nearly as possible level, the lower canines locking in front of the upper.

THE HEAD.—

Correct head, well-balanced, small, well-carried ears, small dark eyes, good expression.

Side view of correct head, showing the right balance, good ear placement, small well-set eyes, clean neck free from throatinese, good expression.

Eyes.—Should be dark in colour, moderately small, and not prominent; full of fire, life, and intelligence; as nearly as possible circular in shape; and neither too far apart nor too close together. A yellow or light eye is most objectionable.

Skull.—The top of the skull should be almost flat, gradually decreasing in width towards the eyes. A “coarse” skull takes the balance arid expression from the head, and should penalise heavily. In a well-balanced head there should be little difference in length between skull and foreface.

Ears.—Should be fairly small and V-shaped, the flaps neatly folded over and dropping forward. The top line of the folded ear should be well above the level of the skull. A heavy ear hanging dead by the side of the head, like that of a hound, is not characteristic of a Terrier, while an ear which is erect is still more undesirable. (See drawings.)

EAR CARRIAGE.—

Correct ear carriage, gives keen outlook, expression, and style.

“Tulip” ears, often seen but objectionable.

“Hound” ears, common fault, void of terrier character.

“Prick” ears, unusual and very objectiona...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• I. The Kerry Blue Terrier
• II. General Appearance
• III. Kennel Management
• IV. The Origin of the Kerry Blue Terrier and the First Winners. By J. H. F. Barlow
• V. Show Kerry Blue Terriers—Past and Present. By the late Mr. Holland Buckley
• VI. Judge’s Remarks. By the late Mr. Neville Dawson
• VII. Judge’s Remarks. By the late Mr. Frank Butler
• VIII. Then and Now. By Miss M. C. Green
• IX. Kerry Blue Terriers in Ireland. By Michael F. Morris
• Breeding Register
• Brood Bitch Register