How long does a Kerry Blue Terrier live?

The listed lifespan for a Kerry Blue Terrier is 12–15 years.

How tall is a Kerry Blue Terrier?

The listed height for a Kerry Blue Terrier is 18–19.5 in (male), 17.5–19 in (female).

Is a Kerry Blue Terrier good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Kerry Blue Terrier is 4 out of 5.

What is the energy level of a Kerry Blue Terrier?

The AKC energy score for a Kerry Blue Terrier is 4 out of 5.

Terrier Group

Kerry Blue Terrier

Kerry Blue Terrier is a medium dog in the Terrier Group. Adult weight is 26.5–33.1 lb (male), 22–28.7 lb (female), height is 18–19.5 in (male), 17.5–19 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Alert, Smart, People-oriented.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Kerry Blue Terrier dog — Photo: Peter Kumpert, Germany · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–15 years

Weight26.5–33.1 lb (male), 22–28.7 lb (female)

SizeMedium GroupTerrier Group

Height

18–19.5 in (male), 17.5–19 in (female)

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

1 / 5

Grooming

3 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

4 / 5

The breed record

Across 59 single-size medium breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13.5 years is about the same as the 13.3-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 27.6 lb is about 6.6 lb lighter than the 34.1 lb average for those medium breeds.

The listed origin is Ireland. The coat is described as wavy, medium. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, 0.4 points above the group average of 3.6 for the Terrier Group. Shedding scores 1 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 3 out of 5. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 4 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 2 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 155 in 2025.

AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked

Questions from the breed record

The verified adult weight for a Kerry Blue Terrier is 26.5–33.1 lb (male), 22–28.7 lb (female).

Sources

More Terrier Group breeds

All Terrier Group breeds

Staffordshire Bull Terrier
28–38 lb (male), 24–34 lb (female) · 12–15 years
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American Hairless Terrier
12–28 lb · 14–16 years
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Miniature Bull Terrier
18–28 lb · 11–13 years
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Irish Terrier
27 lb (male), 25 lb (female) · 13–15 years
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More medium breeds

All medium dog breeds

Finnish Spitz
25–33 lb (male), 20–28 lb (female) · 13–15 years
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English Cocker Spaniel
28–34 lb (male), 26–32 lb (female) · 12–14 years
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Dachshund
Standard 16–32 lb; Miniature up to 11 lb · 12–16 years
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American Eskimo Dog
Toy 6–10 lb; Miniature 10–20 lb; Standard 25–35 lb · 13–15 years
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