Kerry Tales
Living Up To the Word "Versatile!"

by Janet Joers, jjoers@impulse.net
Copyright © 2003 Kerry Blue Terrier Foundation

Perhaps a better title would be: "You Can't Predict Your Kerry's Behavior 100% of the Time!" Here are a few stories to prove it.

The Kerry as Herder

We all know that Kerries were used for herding back in Ireland. But could your Kerry do it? Louise Lang, Secretary/Treasurer of the KBTC of Canada recently took her three Kerries to a Herding Instinct Test where ducks were used. Her report:

Katie, who had qualified on sheep last summer, did it again. Bonnie, who had thought those sheep were on the lunch menu, did a beautiful job on the three quackers! The evaluator even remarked on how gentle Bonnie was with them. Clyde, who loves to chase seagulls, flunked. Oh well.

I've watched Lisa Frankland's Lav and my Guinness chase a whole herd of cattle, though I'm not entirely sure how much herding went on. Jazz doesn't care where the cattle go, as long as they get out of her way.

Nancie Echeverria of Colorado has a different kind of story about her Kerry.

Traveling in the mountains with my husband, another couple, and Holly (Ch. O'Kovin's Circe the Siren), we had stopped on a remote, rough, dirt road for a short rest when my husband leaned forward, stared out the window, and said, "You'd better check your dog!"

Holly, who had been riding in the back of our sport vehicle, had squeezed through an open window, run down a bank, crossed a mountain stream, and came up on the other side and was now confronting a small herd of cows-cows with horns!

I stared out the window in total disbelief. Things were moving so fast I couldn't even react, only watch in amazement while this dog, going full tilt, danced in among the cows who were now snorting, pawing, and starting to stomp around with lowered heads! In less than a minute, the cows were bunched up tearing around and around in a circle with this little dog running in her own circle on the outside! Finally the cows broke the circle formation and went thundering down the mountainside in a cloud of dust, Holly right behind!

Holly enjoyed her little adventure with the cows so much that she would sit in the front passenger seat of our car when we would go from our summer home in Arizona to our farm in Colorado, intently watching out the window for more cows the whole way. At the end of this 11-hour trip, I would be exhausted. Holly, on the other hand, would be looking for . . . more belligerent bovines!

Another story of spontaneous herding comes all the way from Kuwait from Phil and Julie Thompson.

Today we went to the desert north of Kuwait City with a group of friends in 4-wheel-drive vehicles to an area called Mutlaa Ridge. While there, a Bedouin with a herd of about 30 sheep and goats was trying to get them to go up a path that led over the ridge. He wasn't having much success. We were sitting about 400 meters away from all this and, of course, our Kerry Murphy was intently watching the scene unfold.

After about 20 minutes he couldn't contain himself any longer and decided "it was time to help." Off he went! He reached the herd in about a minute and had them in a circle in less than 30 seconds. He subdued the rush of the big lead goat with two strong barks and established absolute control over the flock, continually checking to see if he may have missed any! "OK guys, now where do you want them?" he seemed to ask.

I have to say we were all fascinated! Murphy worked that flock as if he had been doing that for some time. Not one animal was bitten, not one got away. The shepherd was a bit nervous with all the barking, but that was placated with Coke for him and water for his donkey.

Ever since, Murphy's been gloating, "I can herd, hunt, or harass, which will it be?"

Picture: Murphy herding Kuwaiti goats.

The Kerry as Bunny Mother

"How many rabbits your Kerry get today?" swaggered the Irish farmers with their pints of Guinness in the local pub. Today we have other things to brag about. Certainly June Hulit, Editor for the KBTC of Greater Pittsburg, does. Here's her story.

Years ago, we lived on the family farm with our two Kerries, Danny and Zephyr, and the rabbits we raised. One year, a doe died, leaving us with a litter of three. We brought them into the house, put them in a small crate with appropriate bedding, and bottle-fed them ourselves.

One day while I was bottle-feeding the babies, Zephyr, who had been watching intently, came over and gingerly sniffed the little bunny I was holding. I laid the bunny gently on the floor, and Zephyr proceeded to "clean" it with her huge tongue. The expression on the bunny's face as he tried to shake off the excess moisture indicated that it was not quite the same kind of "cleaning" he was used to. One by one, Zephyr cleaned and nuzzled each little bunny.

About that time, Danny and my husband returned from their chores. I immediately huddled over the bunnies, thinking for sure that with Danny there, both Kerries could take on a different view of things (namely "bunny snacks"). I can't describe the communication that went on between the two Kerries, but Zephyr obviously made it quite clear to Danny that "these were our babies." Danny, who was used to going after groundhogs and very proud of it, sniffed the bunnies, and from that moment on, stood guard over their crate. And Zephyr appeared at every feeding to "wash" and mother them. Who would have guessed: Kerries as bunny parents!~

The Kerry as Goalie

All Kerries like games, but not many have their own jersey and play on a team. Cinder does, and she's not even 6 months old! Bridget Greer of Ontario, Canada, tells the tale.

Cinder loves balls. She would fetch and return a ball until the cows come home. To her, soccer balls are the most exciting attraction. I have to restrain her on a 24-inch lead when attending my kid's soccer games. She seems to think she should handle all throw-ins from her side of the field. My daughter's team was once short of players for a practice session, so they put Cinder between the goal posts and practiced shooting on her. In 13 kicks, she only let one through the net, much to the delight of the seven-year-old girls.

My daughter suggested the team get a special jersey for Cinder with four holes for legs, and perhaps she could start as goalie in the next game!

Many thanks to the contributors for sharing their wonderful Kerry stories!

Last Update:   Terms of Use and Disclaimer.