Kerry Blue Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison

Kerry Blue Terrier is originated from Ireland but Bull and Terrier is originated from United Kingdom. Both Kerry Blue Terrier and Bull and Terrier are having almost same height. Both Kerry Blue Terrier and Bull and Terrier are having almost same weight. Both Kerry Blue Terrier and Bull and Terrier has almost same life span. Both Kerry Blue Terrier and Bull and Terrier has almost same litter size. Kerry Blue Terrier requires Moderate maintenance. But Bull and Terrier requires Low maintenance

History

kerry blue terrier - historyThe 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.

The Bull and Terrier is a blend between a number of Old English Terriers and the Old English Bulldog. It is believed that this extinct dog was the start of breeds such as the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

They were excellent for hunting rats and weren’t a true breed. The dog was popular in the British Isles and in the United States in the 19th Century. They became rare as different varieties of Bull and Terrier were bred and standardized.

Most terriers have a good deal of Old English Bulldog blood in them so as to provide them with the courage to fight and hunt prey, while the English Terrier blood provided a feisty temperament and longer legs for speed.

Around 1860, the Bull and Terrier breed split into 2 categories – the pure white Bull Terrier and the ones of color. The Bull and Terrier was never recognized as a standardized breed by any of the kennel clubs.

Description

kerry blue terrier puppy - descriptionThe 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.

Temperament:

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.

There isn’t too much detail and information on the Bull and Terrier but we can be sure that with the cross between the Old English Bulldog and the Old English Terrier, he would have been a small to medium sized compact, muscular dog, standing roughly between 38cm to 50cm in height and weighing anything in the region of 11 to 22kg.

He would have had a big head, and most of the dogs had a medium to long tail. His coat was of many colors such as white, fawn, tan or brindle and would have been short and smooth.

As far as temperament goes, the Bull and Terrier would certainly be courageous, feisty, independent, strong and energetic. Socialization wasn’t available in those days but with training, this intelligent breed would be affectionate with his human family.

Characteristics

kerry blue terrier dog - characteristicsWhen 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.

Nobody seems to be 100% sure when the classic Bull and Terrier dog became extinct but it is strongly assumed that it was some time between 1890 and 1920.

People believe that there are actually surviving breeds that could be considered Bull and Terriers. One thing is sure, when you consider that the Bull and Terrier is actually made up of several breeds such as the Bull Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier and American Pit Bull Terrier then you can imagine the character of the dog – brave, hardy, intelligent, feisty, bold, confident and fearless. He was a dog who loved his human family and would have been both friend and protector.

These dogs have been popular around the world, and have had a strong influence in the development of a number of other breeds. Even today, breeders are always looking at ways to develop new breeds based on the descendants of the Bull and Terrier.

Health Problems

kerry blue terrier puppies - health problemsYou 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.

Entropion:

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.

Cancer:

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.

Hip Dysplasia:

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.

The Bull and Terrier was no doubt a robust breed with few health issues. However his owners of that time would have had to be aware of eye diseases such as cataracts that could have lead to blindness.

Other health issues they would have had to contend with would have been hip and elbow dysplasia, a disease which can cause lameness in a dog accompanied with pain. Because the Bull and terrier was mixed with the English Bulldog, the dog owners would have had to be aware of respiratory health problems, as the Bull dog is a breed that is susceptible to these problems.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

kerry blue terrier dogs - caringThe 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.

Diet:

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.

Exercise:

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.

Grooming:

Long ago the Bull and Terrier was developed to be a hunting dog, and because he was a blend of the English Bulldog and Terriers such as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and English Terrier, he no doubt had a short coat that would have required being brushed down from time to time.

Diet:

The Bull and Terrier dog was bred for hunting, and he would have in all likelihood have caught some of his own food. He would therefore have got a lot of protein in. His owners would also have fed him some of their own food too which would have been eggs, home-made bread, rice, fresh vegetables and meat.

He would have had a good quota of raw meat in his diet too and this would have ensured that his coat was shiny and glossy, free of rashes. Dogs such as the Bull and Terrier wouldn’t have eaten commercially produced kibble as that was only introduced in the 1930s.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Terrier dog
Origin:
Ireland
United Kingdom
Height Male:
44 - 51 cm
17 - 21 inches
38 - 50 cm
14 - 20 inches
Height Female:
44 - 51 cm
17 - 21 inches
36 - 50 cm
14 - 20 inches
Weight Male:
15 - 18 kg
33 - 40 pounds
11 - 22 kg
24 - 49 pounds
Weight Female:
15 - 18 kg
33 - 40 pounds
9 - 22 kg
19 - 49 pounds
Life Span:
13 - 15 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 8
1 - 9
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Irish Blue Terrier
Bull & Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier
Colors Available:
blackish, grey, Blue
White, fawn, tan or brindle
Coat:
Soft, wavy to curly, dense
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Schnauzer vs Kerry Blue Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Kerry Blue Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  3. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  4. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  5. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  7. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Bedlington Terrier - Breed Comparison
  8. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Fox Terrier (Smooth) - Breed Comparison
  10. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  11. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  12. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Jagdterrier - Breed Comparison
  13. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Blue Paul Terrier - Breed Comparison
  14. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Indian Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Irish Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  16. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Japanese Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Brazilian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Lakeland Terrier vs Kerry Blue Terrier - Breed Comparison
  20. Old English Terrier vs Kerry Blue Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Scoland Terrier vs Kerry Blue Terrier - Breed Comparison
  22. Skye Terrier vs Kerry Blue Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Kerry Blue Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Kerry Blue Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Welsh Terrier vs Kerry Blue Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Schnauzer vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Fox Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  28. Bull and Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  29. Bull and Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  30. Bull and Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Bull and Terrier vs Bedlington Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Bull and Terrier vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  33. Bull and Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Bull and Terrier vs Blue Paul Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. Irish Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Fox Terrier (Smooth) vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Lakeland Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Jagdterrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Indian Bull Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Irish Bull Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  41. Japanese Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Brazilian Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Old English Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Scoland Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Skye Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Welsh Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds