A Poodle with an Attitude

By Kevin Davies
Published with the kind permission of Galwaydream Kerries

Seven years ago we were looking for a new dog after our old GSD died.  We looked at all breeds but thought the Kerry Blue was best suited to us, good house dog, not too big, good with children and no dog's hair around the house - excellent.   Little did we know when we picked up our black ball of fluff what was ahead of us.

On his first outing to my local pub all the "boys" were ribbing me about my new "poodle" but one of the old "boys" in the corner recognised the breed and said that to own a Kerry you have to be able to stand your ground in an argument.  I brushed his scepticism aside and took my "poodle" home.

While training my Kerry (Galway Dream "Tian") on the mountain 6 months later his words came back to haunt me.  I was having a game of fetch with his ball when along came a Broder Collie and decided that he would pick up the ball.  Tian flew into a rage and grabbed hold of the Collie in an aggressive way to prove that the ball was his.  The Collie's owner came running over and picked up Tian from behind, by the neck, and pulled him off his dog into the air.  Being an agile Kerry Blue he managed to turn around and bite the man on the hand - he was instantly dropped to the ground.  The man then shouted at me "Your dog just bit me" so I replied "If you had picked me up by the neck I would have bitten you as well!".  We then got into a rather heated argument but I was able to "stand my ground"!!

Apart from his little indiscretions my family and I have had great fun with him.  At 9 months old he won the Bannerdown Stakes at South Wales Kennel Club Association and at 18 months he came Best in Show at Abergavenny and Border Counties Show and the following week Best in Show at the Brecon Show.  He has won numerous BoBs and Groups.  We are now getting him ready to make his return in Veteran.

Lots of people know me as "that bald chap with the Kerry and the Bird" as, even though it is frowned upon by some, I hunt my Kerry with my Harris Hawk.  It is a joy to see him running through the ferns, working the field.  One day he caught more than I'd bargained for in the ferns!  I was walking on one of the local mountains with my son and my Kerry, training up my new Hawk, when suddenly Tian started barking at something in the ferns.  I thought he had run a fox to ground.  He went quiet so I started walking towards him, he started barking again so I thought that the fox had bolted.  I ran towards him with my Hawk on my arm and my son by my side.  He went quiet again and I couldn't figure out what he'd found but had a horrible feeling that he'd killed a sheep.  I ran faster, bouncing the bird on my arm and dragging my son along by my side.  I ran up to him and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what he had found.  There, in the ferns, was a courting couple, naked, trying to get dressed.  Every time the man moved to put his trousers on Tian started barking at him, the woman was turned away from me, trying to hide her modesty!

I managed to put the lead on Tian and tried to hide my son's eyes at the same time.  I don't know who was the most embarrassed, me or the couple.  Tian didn't seem to like the fact that I had put his lead on and when the man tried to get his pants and trousers upTian nipped him on the backside - with this the woman picked up her underwear and ran through the ferns.  I looked at the man but didn't say anything but the old boy's words went through my mind "you need to be able to stand your ground with a Kerry Blue"!!

I was reading an article in Dog's World a few years ago disputing the fact that the Kerry Blue can be used for hunting.  I hunt with my Kerry Blue and know the stamina of the breed and willingness to please.  Most people forget that years ago a Kerry Blue was judged at Irish Shows on trials involving rat, river work and rabbit as well as drawing the badger and no Kerry Blue Terrier could become a Champion unless he had been awarded a certificate as an efficient working terrier at the field trials.  Drawing the badger was considered the highest test of courage and for this was awarded the "Teastas Mor" certificate, while for ordinary sporting work the "Teastas beag" was given.  These words are Irish for "great test" and "little test".

We have enjoyed the breed so much that we now own three Kerries.  A bitch and another dog - Windygap Dream of Galway and her son, Galwaydream Colonial Boy.  Let's hope I won't have to "stand my ground" too often with these!

Last Update:   Terms of Use and Disclaimer.