Kerry Blue Terrier: a soft, wavy coat with regular full grooming
The Kerry Blue Terrier’s soft, plentiful, wavy coat requires a different approach from maintaining a hard, wiry jacket. Weekly work and regular full grooming are both part of the practical commitment.
Size and the wavy coat
FCI height is 45.5–49.5 cm for males and 44.5–48 cm for females. Male weight is 15–18 kg, with females proportionately less. The earlier UK description instead gives an ideal male height of 46–48 cm and desirable male weight of 15–17 kg, favouring 16 kg; females are described as smaller.
The FCI back is of medium length and level, with a deep chest of moderate width. Its coat is soft and wavy, rather than the dense wiry texture described for Irish or Welsh Terriers.
Allow for the full grooming appointment
AKC care guidance recommends thorough weekly brushing and combing, plus full grooming every six to eight weeks. It describes clipping the head, neck, ears and abdomen and using scissors for the rest of the coat. A breeder or experienced groomer can demonstrate the routine.
The UK overview also lists weekly grooming. AKC includes nail care at least weekly and ear care at least twice monthly. Discuss suitable ear maintenance with a groomer or veterinarian and make room for those smaller tasks between full grooming visits.
Activity and time together
The UK exercise category is up to one hour daily, with a small house, small or medium garden and either town or country. AKC describes shared outdoor play, fetch and activities with the owner, including canine sports.
Plan walks and play you can provide consistently, adapting them to age and condition. Consider the coat routine after outings as well as the exercise itself, and discuss an ordinary dental-care routine with your veterinarian.
Compare texture and work
Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers have their own silky coat and a daily brush-and-comb sequence. Irish Terriers have a dense wiry outer coat and an ideal hand-stripping preference in their care guide. The shared terrier group does not tell you which grooming method suits the dog.
Sources and further reading
Kerry Blue Terrier at a glance
These earlier UK breed guides are starting points for comparison. Details may have changed, and individual dogs vary.
- Breed group
- Terrier
- Size
- Medium
- Daily exercise
- Up to 1 hour per day
- Grooming frequency
- Once a week
- Coat length
- Medium
- Sheds
- No
- Suggested home size
- Small house
- Town or country
- Town or country
- Garden recommendation
- Small / medium garden
- Lifespan
- Over 10 years
FCI breed standard
Standard guidance describes the breed ideal; individual dogs vary.
- Origin
- Ireland
- Group
- Terriers
- Height
- Males: 45.5–49.5 cm; Females: 44.5–48 cm
- Weight
- Males: 15–18 kg; Females: proportionately lighter; no exact figure given
Official FCI standard (PDF)
Standard effective from 2005-04-19; checked 2026-10-15
