We are restarting our Kerry Pets and Their Owners Interviews, if you’d like to participate – its not lengthy and is a fun piece – please email us and we’ll get the ball rolling!

We hope you enjoy our latest Pets & Their Owners Interview with the delightful Lila and her equally delightful owners – thank you for taking part.

1. Your Names (first names) and name of your Kerry Blue Terrier(s) I’m Paul, my wife is Jan and our Kerry is Lila 

   

2. Location? North West UK
3. How old is/are your Kerry/Kerries? 11 years 6 months
4. Did you have from a Puppy or get an older dog? from puppy
5. What made your mind up that a Kerry Blue Terrier was for you? this my 5th Kerry. Dad said they were the best
6. House training easy? quite good, but not as good as my last Kerry
7. Did you participate in puppy and or dog training? yes
8. Is there a Master in the Family who was responsible for training or was this shared? Yes me
9. Is your Kerry(s) good eater or picky about their food? quite good, but she knows when she is full
10. What is their usual feeding regime? Eg dry, tinned, mixture. A mix of dry and tinned
11. Favourite treats? doggy chocs
12. Super favourite absolute do anything for treat? chicken
13. Where does your Kerry(s) sleep? in hall in her bed or son’s bedroom when home.
14. How often and what do you do when grooming your Kerry? Clip every month, tidy with scissors once or twice a week – kept short
15. Does your Kerry go on holidays with you? she may do in uk in the future
16. If you’re going abroad or away does your Kerry have a regular kennel or holiday home or sitter? Is/was that a simple process to organise. Yes 
17. When out and about how good are they on and off the lead. Very good off. Pulls a bit on a collar, better with harness
18. Meeting other dogs? very peace loving, more interested in me.
19. Do you do any extra curricula activity with your Kerry eg obedience, fun shows, agility, field work? not officially, but both my last girl and this will jump the walls in my local common (6ft high) quite easily. Both really athletic jumpers
20. Apart from regular boosters, worms, flea and tick prevention has your Kerry had any health problems?. No not so far. Most of my others had cysts
21. Does your Kerry perform to command any tricks? yes basic roll over
22. What’s the funniest thing they do? rolls on her back for tummy tickle when meeting you
23. And the naughtiest thing that’s potentially interpreted as cheeky dare I ask? (Was it a one off or habit?) Started refusing to come when called in the park, if she thinks we are heading home.
24. Describe your Kerry(s) personality? Unusually Very dog friendly. Tribute to the breeder.
25. Describe the Owner(s) personality?! Strong willed, but kind. (my wife’s description)

Local dialect – Scran is a Merseyside term for food – you learn something new every day!

Best Regards Paul, Jan & Lila

Want to share your Kerry’s story? Please get in touch here 

We live in Northern Ireland

Finn is his name…..but generally he is affectionately known a Finn the fecker [you probably need to be Irish to appreciate that]…John calls him ‘my Kerry blue puppy’

He is 2 years and 3 months and we have him from eight weeks.  My friends hubby was the breeder so he was picked early… bout 3 weeks I think.

The story behind getting a KBT is. When John was growing up he had a Lakeland terrier…Darkie.  John’s dad just about tolerated Darkie but told John and me that if he ever was to get a dog it would be a KBT.  We lost John’s dad five years back and we still miss him so much. When my friend told me her hubby was going to breed a litter I booked one for John.  He still wasn’t convinced about getting one at that stage.  It was Finn that picked me but when John saw him for the first time… still not convinced he would take him…that was that Finn was his. They are inseparable and to add to this, johns mum adores Finn too because he is a direct link to what John’s dad wanted.

We had another dog Zacc a lab terrier cross. Our daughters dog who we had to say goodbye to after Christmas.  He was in his 14th year and has dementia, was blind and the hips had gone.  

Zacc and Finn developed a tolerance for each other and believe it or not despite his issues Zacc was the top dog and for all his feistiness Finn had respect for Zacc and was lost for a good few weeks after he died.

He settled really well and trained quickly.  He is a really clean dog. I’m convinced if he could use a toilet he would

Yes John went to dog training classes… it’s funny how John and Finn were quickly segregated from all the other lovely quiet obedient dogs… he went in with most to learn but by the end of the six weeks Finn tolerated the other dogs and eyed the humans with a bemused inquisitiveness!!! He also completed all the tasks without any mistakes, the only one in the class to do so.

John is the master… if John is not here it’s our son Rory… and failing that it’s me??!!!!!

Feeding what a picky picky eater… nibbles everything… cannot be made eat… has devised his own eating pattern… eats a bit and then goes back later to finish… of course he is spoiled… John adds wee nibbles of meat to encourage him to eat… not sure how he does it, but he picks the meat out and leaves the dried food!

Dried sausages from the pet shop or roast beef… fancy!

His big treat is his duck… advertised as being indestructible…. we are now onto duck number 4.  The others were washed and mended but the eventually had to be replaced we didn’t want him eating the stuffing

Sleep… ‘dogs are meant to sleep outside or should never get passed the kitchen’.. a quote from John when we got Zacc many years ago…. where does Finn sleep … on our bed of course and when it’s cold he snuggles into whoever is warmest… usually me.  Bed time is funny. Finn knows the routine and sneakys up to bed while John locks up but he flies up and down the stairs as if to say… ‘would you hurry up I’m tired’

John does his grooming 4-6 weekly. He took tips from the breeder but mostly learned from YouTube… he’s doing a great job… brushed every day or every other day and he loves it.

Yes we took him to Kerry last year and we are going back again this year

Since we love staying at home for holidays leaving him with anyone is not an issue… we left Zacc in kennels when he was younger 3 or 4 times and swore never again… you could tell he missed us so much… if we need to go somewhere our son would look after him.

The only time Finn has been off the lead is on a beach in Donegal and Kerry… he hates anything and anyone other than his family… whom he shows with actual hugs and kisses.

No extra curricular duties.. not interested in Showing him either..we went to a friendly closed show .. too stressful for him and us not our scene

No health problems.. due his boosters soon.. oh yes he hates the vet too but there is a vet there that adored him and watches out for him coming in… he had a KBT when he was younger

No major tricks

Funny things

He makes us laugh every day but here’s s few things:

• Finn was heading to his water bowl to drink but John said hold on I will give you fresh water… what did Finn do… turn around retrace his steps sat down at the sink and waited for the water to be changed
• At the weekend when we lie in he ‘grooms’ John… particularly interested in his left arm
• He flies to the front door when John comes home and wants a hug… an actual hug… i.e. Two paws on either shoulder
• He loves loves loves gettin raspberries blown in his neck… tough if you’re dizzy doing it he snuggles in tighter as if to say… do it again…
• When Zacc was alive he kept sneaking in and getting his toy which we chastised him about… we gave it back to Zacc but the wee fecker would go get it again and sit there with it in his mouth just looking at us as if to say… ha ha

Finn is loyal beyond question.  He adores his family and once any visitor is passed by us he likes them too

He is feisty, very dog aggressive… incredibly smart… and he just knows when you are sick or feeling down… I had a chest infection… for two days he lay his head on my chest at every opportunity…

John is very much similar … outside his family he tolerates other people but if you are his friend he is loyal… bye the way he would get the opportunity to lie on my chezty if I was sick!!!!

John and Finn but written by Elaine somewhat approved by John!