kerry blue terrier Q&A WITH CONNIE CLARK, JULIE FELTEN, ANN KATONA, DAVID KIRKLAND AND GIGI REILING
“TO BE A GOOD ONE, A KERRY MUST HAVE TERRIER CHARACTER:
KEEN, ON-HIS-TOES, EVER-READY, PROPER SET AND USE OF EARS, GOOD BITE, DARK EYE,
UP-TAILED ATTITUDE, PLENTIFUL, SOFT AND WAVY COAT OF VARYING SHADES OF GRAY BLUE, COMPACT BODY AND THE FREEDOM OF ACTION THAT IS DISTINCTLY KERRY.”
AK: I have several must-have traits. Outline: does it look like a Kerry Blue Terrier? Definite Terrier style: Alert, intelligent, keen, proud, feisty and confident! Balance: indicates soundness and ability. Well-knit signifies a pulled together dog while well-developed shows health and fitness. Height: clearly defined in standard. One sen- tence makes way for the superior specimen and justifies its existence (of course, here is where one questions who makes that “superior specimen” decision). Most breeders try not to take advantage of the maximums and attempt to stay within the moderate size range. However, the size pendulum swings every few years. DK: To be a good one, a Kerry must have Terrier character: keen, on-his-toes, ever-ready, proper set and use of ears, good bite, dark eye, up-tailed attitude, plentiful, soft and wavy coat of varying shades of gray blue, compact body and the freedom of action that is distinctly Kerry. GR: A large bear-like nose is my favorite trait, though coat texture and movement are what make the breed for me. 3. Are there any traits in this breed you fear are becoming exaggerated? CC: We are losing proper coat texture with grooming styles that tend to remove the waviness of the coat. JF: The tendency to breed and show dogs with incorrect fronts (i.e. short upper arm, lacking forechest) and exhibitors racing them around the ring thinking speed will cover up the obvious. AK: Body length and short legs are becoming exaggerated. The standard states, “Well-knit refers to the length of loin and ribcage making the back (topline)… Legs moderately long with plenty of bone and muscle.” However, most judges look at this combo and wonder, ‘Is the body too long or are the legs too short?’ In today’s show ring, one could see both! DK: I don’t know about exaggerated; however, there are a few things that have changed from the past. First, heads
are often shorter and blockier rather than clean with length. Second, presentation is different. They are shown with coats trimmed much tighter to the skin rather than with enough coat to be considered dense and plentiful (I see this tight trimming in Wheatens, also). Finally, size can sometimes be an issue deviating towards too large. GR: Exaggerated traits keep changing; however, narrow fronts and high kicking rears are not good. 4. Do you think the dogs you see in this breed are better now than they were when you first started judging? Why or why not? CC: Overall, the quality is consistent. As with many breeds, the quality depends on which part of the country you are in. In addition to the successful breeders here in the US, we’ve seen beautiful exhibits imported from the UK, Wales and Ireland that have also contributed to the breed’s success. “Mick” is a perfect example! JF: I think there are breed greats in many breeds that stand out in people’s minds. However, this is not an indicator of the depth of quality in general now or then. For the most part I feel breeders are doing a fine job keeping the Kerry Blue Terrier close to the blueprint. AK: I hate to answer this question, and please remember my remarks are my own opinions, but here goes. No, I do not think the breed is as good today as in 1980, or 1990 or 2000 to today. Yes, there have been a few really superior specimens. Unfortunately, none have produced as good as themselves, and certainly not better. That has been detrimental to the breed! All breeders have been striving to do the best possible with what they have to work around. Every once in a while, there will be a superior specimen and I keep my fingers crossed he will reproduce as good or better. However, there are several very good representatives of the breed (both dogs and bitches) in the show ring today! May the breeders be blessed by the Irish angels!
332 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J ANUARY 2019
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