GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 43-48cm (17”-19”)
Colour: Born black, by 18 months of age they should be any shade of blue with or without black points.
Coat: Soft, silky, plentiful and wavy. 
Gait: Smoothly co-ordinated with strong fore reach and hind propulsion. These neatly trimmed, wavy coated terriers catch one’s eye with their showy movement. The slight stop and very dark eyes are set mid-way between the proportionately long lean skull and the strong punishing jaws.
The ‘V’ shaped ears are set high but with more of the tips dropping forward than in other terriers. A relatively long neck with a short, straight back and an erect tail that is customary docked. The hindquarters are particularly powerful with well angulated stifles and small round feet.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Puppies are always born black and may take up to 18 months to break into blue. These spirited Irishmen need a firm hand during the puppy training period, but when their achievements are praised, the ultimate result is well worth the effort. The socialised and trained Kerry makes an adaptable, intelligent companion for life. While being protective of their family, they do recognize and accept those outsiders approved by their owners. Their coat neither sheds nor has any doggy odour. If not being shown, clipping or trimming about every 2 months should keep the Kerry looking presentable.
HISTORY
Taking their name from County Kerry in southern Ireland, the origin of this breed - like the Irish Terrier - is old and a little obscure. Some say they are the result of poodles left behind from the beached ships of the Spanish Armada and that some of these later crossed with the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (which would account for the Kerry’s soft silky coat), plus blends of Irish Terrier and possibly the Bedlington from across the Irish Sea. One thing is certain - these terriers made themselves invaluable to the farmers due to their rodent hunting abilities, herding skills and, possbily from their poodle ancestry, their ability to retrieve from both land and water.