MyDogBreeds
Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla is originated from Hungary but Kerry Blue Terrier is originated from Ireland. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla may grow 13 cm / 6 inches higher than Kerry Blue Terrier. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla may weigh 32 kg / 71 pounds more than Kerry Blue Terrier. Both Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla and Kerry Blue Terrier has same life span. Both Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla and Kerry Blue Terrier has almost same litter size. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla requires Low maintenance. But Kerry Blue Terrier requires Moderate maintenance
In the 1930’s some breeders noticed that the Hungarian Vizsla produced some dogs with more water, cold weather and ground cover protection because they had a much thicker coat than most of the breed. One breeder decided to cross one of these females with a German Wirehaired Pointer, thus producing the first Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. There were now three types of Vizsla – the smooth coated, the longhaired, and the wirehaired. The longhaired is very rare and can be either smooth or wirehaired. It is also believed based on anecdotal evidence that the original Wirehaired Vizsla was also mixed with the Bloodhound, Pudelpointer, and Irish Setter during World War II. Many kennels started breeding the Wirehaired Vizsla at this time.
This rare longhaired is not recognized by any official club or organization while the smooth and the wired are recognized as two separate breeds. There are only a few longhaired Vizsla and they are only found in Europe. The Wirehaired Vizsla was recognized in 1986 by the FCI in Europe and in 2014 by the AKC (American Kennel Club).
Like their cousins the smooth Hungarian Vizsla, the wirehaired version is a natural hunter and easily trained. They are great retrievers as well as pointers in the water or on the land. Their wirehair coats offer them more protection than their smooth coated cousins. They love to swim and are very good at it and will even use your back yard pool if it is available to them.
The wirehaired Vizsla came to North America in the 1970’s and was recognized by the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) in 1977, The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) by 1986 and in 2006 by the United Kennel Club (UKC). The Australian Nation Kennel Council offered recognition in 2007 prior to their entrance into the AKC Foundation Stock Service. They began showing the breed at AKC events in Performance and Companionship, prior to their full AKC recognition in 2014.
These gentle hunting dogs became great family dogs as they love children and just want to be with their people. Falconers have recently taken up the breed because their temperament is suited to this work as well. There are only about 400 to 450 Wirehaired Vizslas left in the United States and few thousand across the globe.
The Kerry Blue Terrier hails from Ireland, with the name of the dog coming from a place known as County Kerry, and Blue being the color of the dog's coat.
The Kerry Blue was originally bred to control rats, rabbits and otters and was actually a working dog for a host of different jobs.
It was in 1922 that the United States Kerry Blue Terrier Club was founded and recognized by the AKC in 1924.
Very much like his cousins, the Wirehaired Vizsla is a noble looking breed. He is lean and muscular with a noble head and moderate skull line. Their muzzle is just a little shorter than the skull and the end is squared. They have powerful jaws and a broad, wide nostrils. The nose is brown, and the eyes are slightly darker than the dog’s coat color.
Low set ears are long and hang near the cheeks. With a strong, long neck and muscular shoulders, the Wirehaired Vizsla certainly looks the part of a hunting dog. Her chest is a little deep and the breastbone is prominent. She has round paws with short nails. Of course, her coat is wiry and dense. The undercoat is water repellent. He has an intelligent and lively facial expression.
Their ears are long but proportionate to the head and body. Their upper teeth overlap the lower teeth. Finally, the tail is thick and usually 1/3 docked. The tail is mostly carried in a horizontal position while walking or running.
The Kerry Blue is a small dog standing at between 44 to 51cm and weighing anything between 15 and 18kg. He has dark eyes which give him that typical alert Terrier expression.
The ears are small and are carried up before flopping down. The high-set tail has always been customarily docked, giving him a compact, jaunty appearance but these days, the tail tends to be left long, curling somewhat over the back.
He has a coat which is quite wavy or curly and comes in different shades of grey or blue, while the puppies are born black, gradually becoming more blue. The dog is considered to be hypoallergenic as it doesn't shed a lot.
Kerry Blue Terriers are strong willed dogs, but with training and socialization they respond well to instructions such as sit, come, lie-down and stay. As a Terrier breed he is feisty, lively, strong-willed, stubborn, independent and impulsive. They are loyal and affectionate towards their owners and are amicable with children and pets in the home.
Training and socialization develops a balanced attitude around his human family, other animals in the home and around strangers. He is an active dog too so whether he lives in the city or the countryside, he will require a lot of exercise as he is full of life.
You can’t just put him in the backyard and forget about him. He is an intelligent, social dog who will only do well when he is counted in as a family member.
Very good with children as long as he gets enough exercise.
Very athletic
A puppy could live in an apartment in the city, but the adult dog needs a yard and is better off on a farm.
Very smart, very responsive, high learning ability.
When you bring a Kerry Blue Terrier into your home and your life, you’re going to have a jaunty, lively, comical pet in your home, as he certainly has the reputation of making people laugh.
He is such an intelligent dog too and has no difficulty with learning new tricks. He takes his role of watchdog seriously too, as he loves his human family and wants to be looking out for them.
When you bring a Kerry Blue Terrier into your home, you can be assured of jolly good fun from a true canine companion.
Mostly healthy but the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla does have some inherited dispositions to:
You aren’t going to be running to the vet often with your Kerry Blue as he is a healthy dog breed. However there are some common dog diseases that even the most healthiest of dogs can succumb to.
Always feed your dog the very best food there is so that he has a strong immune system that can fight off disease.
This is the inward rolling of the eyelid which can irritate the dog’s eye and even cause vision loss. Surgery can treat the problem.
Every dog can succumb to cancer. You may well find a lump or even detect a sore that won’t heal. Treatments for cancer can include medicines, chemotherapy and surgery.
This is an inherited condition to do with the hip joint. It can result in pain for your dog and even lameness. When you discover your pet no longer wants to play and he battles to get up after lying down, he will need to go to the vet. Dogs with this debilitating disease should never be bred.
Feed high quality food for medium to large breed puppies. Feed 3-4 time a day 1-2 cups.
Feed high quality food for adult medium to large dogs. Feed 2x a day 2-3 cups.
Great stamina and very athletic breed.
The Wirehaired Vizsla is a working dog and needs serious daily exercise. He will be full of energy and excitement if he doesn’t get enough mental and physical stimulation. He needs a family that can walk a mole or two every day or jog with him. He easily becomes neurotic and high-strung if his energy is not dissipated. Excels at Field Trials, Competitive Obedience, tracking and Barn Hunt.
The Kerry Blue’s coat doesn’t shed a lot but it’s a curly coat that will require brushing at least twice a week. He will also require clipping and trimming if you want to keep the coat manageable.
Nutrition is a key part of a healthy Kerry Blue Terrier and instead of just plonking down a bowl of dry kibble every day, make his mealtimes something to look forward to, more sustaining and more interesting.
Top quality kibble is good every now and then but try mixing in some cooked chicken, brown rice, pasta and vegetables occasionally as well as a little bit of raw meat. You will be rewarded with bright eyes, a wet nose, bushy, wagging tail and less trips to the vet.
Make sure there is always a supply of fresh, cool water for him.
Active and lively, your Kerry Blue will need lots of robust exercise – a daily walk as well as ball games which ensure his muscles are kept strong and toned. Not only that, this exercise is important for keeping him fit and also mentally alert.