Kerry Blue Or A Poodle?

[mushka]

I'm looking for a new family pet.

These are our criteria: non-shedding, medium sized, able to be trusted in a off-leash in a dog park, smart, not super high-energy. For context we have previously owned a dog-aggressive dog that required at least an hour of exercise a day and preferred 2 hours plus. We loved him but he was hard work and we don't have time in our lives for this sort of dog right now.

After reading through lots of breed descriptions I feel like a standard poodle would be a good match but I have two problems 1) I'm not sure about the poodle personality - I like mischievous dogs that have a bit of character and 2) I just don't really like the way they look -this isn't such an important thing to me but it is a minor factor. So, how well do you think a Kerry Blue would fit our criteria?

I have not spent time with either Poodles or Kerrys.

[SpikesPuppy]

Don't get a Kerry Blue - they aren't just mischevious dogs with a bit of character- they are Terriers full of Terrier attitude and I don't believe the average KBT would be a good candidate for off-leash play. They are also high energy dogs.

A Poodle is definitely full of character. As for the way they look, that is the beauty of the poodle- you can essentially make the dog look how you want it to look, short buzz cut, foofy puppy clip, fancy show clip, mohawk etc.

Of course, any non-shedding dog requires regular grooming and clipping approximately every 2 months.

[Dogsfevr]

Kerries are great dogs but offleash is a requirement then i would be very careful.

we had 2 show kerries,our girl was a true kerry,fiessty all terrier

Our boy was a total reject LOL a social butterfly who thought anything with 4 legs was to be loved.

We rehomed him to a family that owned 4 Kerries prior & where thrilled to get him with his nature & being able to run offleash.

There are many Kerries that can be allowed offleash BUT as we say to any that own them dont under estimate the breed.

A good breeder would be able to tell those that are more placid & providing you do all the right socialising from a youngster you certainly can have a kerry offleash but that will come down to the commitment you want to put in .

No effort then dont even consider this breed

Have you considered the Soft Coated Wheaton terrier they arent fiesty like a Kerry but are Kerry size,do very well at obedience

Edited February 2, 2010 by showdog

[becks]

What about a schnauzer? They require obedience training as they can be stubborn and have selective hearing when they choose. Good off lead (when trained/socialised) and full of character. 3 sizes to choose from!

[poodlemum]

I'm looking for a new family pet.

These are our criteria: non-shedding, medium sized, able to be trusted in a off-leash in a dog park, smart, not super high-energy. For context we have previously owned a dog-aggressive dog that required at least an hour of exercise a day and preferred 2 hours plus. We loved him but he was hard work and we don't have time in our lives for this sort of dog right now.

After reading through lots of breed descriptions I feel like a standard poodle would be a good match but I have two problems 1) I'm not sure about the poodle personality - I like mischievous dogs that have a bit of character and 2) I just don't really like the way they look -this isn't such an important thing to me but it is a minor factor. So, how well do you think a Kerry Blue would fit our criteria?

I have not spent time with either Poodles or Kerrys.

That pretty much sums up my 2 boys :D

What is it you don't like about the Poodle appearance? Is it the "Continental" (or show) clip? If that's so, pet Poodles are normally kept in "lamb" or "sporting" clip - like Harrison & Dylan

[Kavik]

From what I have heard Kerries are not generally good dog park candidates as they can be fiesty towards other dogs, so if that is a requirement I would go with the Poodle instead. You can clip a Poodle in many different ways and there are many looks you can choose from :D

[poodlefan]

If dog aggression is something you want to avoid then don't get a Kerry Blue. They are what I'd describe as a "fanciers dog". You need to be devoted to the breed and willing to train and manage a pretty feisty terrier personality. If a dog park social butterfly what you are looking for, the poodle would be a better bet. You could also look at the Lagatto.

You can clip a poodle in lots of ways - including a "terrier clip". Don't be put off by a hair do. :D Standard poodles may best be described as a big woolly gundog - that's what they were bred to be.

Edited February 1, 2010 by poodlefan

[blacklabrador]

What about a schnauzer? They require obedience training as they can be stubborn and have selective hearing when they choose. Good off lead (when trained/socialised) and full of character. 3 sizes to choose from!

Yep this was going to my suggestion when I read your criteria.

I wouldn't get a Kerry Blue for the reasons mentioned above. Schnauzers are great dogs and much better looking than poodles too! :D :D (sorry but the narrow heads and faces on poodles just don't appeal to me).

[Crazy Daisy]

I would love to own a standard poodle one day. All the ones I've met and groomed have been complete clowns with great distinctive personalities. If well socialised from a young age they are great fun with other dogs.

Don't worry about a haircut. Find a good groomer and they will show you that a poodle is the most versitile dog to groom.

I've only ever met one Kerry, another groomers dog, and he was lovely. But I don't have any personal experience with the breed so take the advice of the others.

My only other suggestion is maybe a curly coated retriever? Or a standard Schnauzer? I love standard schnauzers and used to groom the most delightful black girl. They are real characters too.

[poodlemum]

What about a schnauzer? They require obedience training as they can be stubborn and have selective hearing when they choose. Good off lead (when trained/socialised) and full of character. 3 sizes to choose from!

Yep this was going to my suggestion when I read your criteria.

I wouldn't get a Kerry Blue for the reasons mentioned above. Schnauzers are great dogs and much better looking than poodles too! :D (sorry but the narrow heads and faces on poodles just don't appeal to me).

:D :laugh: :D

Hw could you NOT love this widdle face?

Edited February 1, 2010 by poodlemum

[poodlefan]

What about a schnauzer? They require obedience training as they can be stubborn and have selective hearing when they choose. Good off lead (when trained/socialised) and full of character. 3 sizes to choose from!

Yep this was going to my suggestion when I read your criteria.

I wouldn't get a Kerry Blue for the reasons mentioned above. Schnauzers are great dogs and much better looking than poodles too! ;) (sorry but the narrow heads and faces on poodles just don't appeal to me).

:o ;) :eek:

:D :D :D

[Sandra777]

For personality and all the other criteria check out the Portuguese Water Dog. Awesome dogs, super intelligent but with an independent streak a mile wide.

The third best dog breed in the world :D

[Monah]

For personality and all the other criteria check out the Portuguese Water Dog. Awesome dogs, super intelligent but with an independent streak a mile wide.

The third best dog breed in the world

Another huge PWD fan here. I regularly see someone who has 5! They are fantastic and great at dog sports etc. They are very very intelligent, naughty!! need supervision (as do all breeds) because they WILL get into mischief.

Poodles are another massively wonderful dog that I adore. Too many good things about them to mention, as well as they are just GORGEOUS looking!!!! :D

Big no to a Kerry, for reasons others have mentioned, these are specialist dogs even for dog people, dont let the 'pretty' look fool you!!

Have a look at Lakeland terriers. These are wonderful (I've had them), weigh around 9kgs (average), compact, happy happy happy dogs. Yes they are terriers, dont shed at all, but because they were originally bred to work with foxhounds or other packs of dogs, they are not (shouldn't be!!!) dog aggressive. Mine would allow any dog/cat/ to eat from their bowls etc. even strange visitor/foster dogs. NEVER ever had any issues with them, great health fantastic with the kids. As with any breed you can get 'rogues' that may not be typical, so you have to go with excellent lines. You cannot beat a 'good' Lakeland if that is the type of dog you are after. I would not say they are 'easy' to train, but they do want to please and are very very intelligent, just not as biddable as say a gundog. The little red fluffy dog in my avatar is a Lakeland, but he is a bit fluffy!! in that pic. :D

[poodlefan]

The little red fluffy dog in my avatar is a Lakeland, but he is a bit fluffy!! in that pic. :D

Funny, looks like Henry VIII to me! :D

[Monah]

HI becks, re schnauzers, yes lovely, I would not rec. them in 3 sizes though. Giants are not anything like the smaller schnauzers, they are more herding/guarding/police etc type dogs and don't have much in common at all with the smaller ones. Also need a pretty confident owner, but are great dogs and I adored my giants to bits.

I have a mini at flyball, and SORRY!! :D he drives me nuts (appologies, appologies ) I know this is probalby to do with training, but OMG! he never stops the excited barking etc. at everything. :D

There are very few standards around, so hard to get.

[Monah]

The little red fluffy dog in my avatar is a Lakeland, but he is a bit fluffy!! in that pic. :D

Funny, looks like Henry VIII to me! :D

:D Um, so is that other thing the signature?? You'd think I'd know by now!

[Sheridan]

I'm looking for a new family pet.

These are our criteria: non-shedding, medium sized, able to be trusted in a off-leash in a dog park, smart, not super high-energy. For context we have previously owned a dog-aggressive dog that required at least an hour of exercise a day and preferred 2 hours plus. We loved him but he was hard work and we don't have time in our lives for this sort of dog right now.

After reading through lots of breed descriptions I feel like a standard poodle would be a good match but I have two problems 1) I'm not sure about the poodle personality - I like mischievous dogs that have a bit of character and 2) I just don't really like the way they look -this isn't such an important thing to me but it is a minor factor. So, how well do you think a Kerry Blue would fit our criteria?

I have not spent time with either Poodles or Kerrys.

As I've said in the past, I haven't yet come across a recommend a dog breed for me thread where I've said, 'yes, that person could have one of my breeds' and this one is no exception.

You're considering a poodle or a kerry. Completely different dog breeds with totally different temperaments.

While I agree that kerries should only be owned by those who understand them, calling them 'fanciers dogs' rather implies that they're not for pet people. Kerries make great pets for those who are prepared for them. I wouldn't recommend them for the inexperienced dog owner and if you've previously had an aggressive dog, maybe consider something calmer. They can be dog aggressive if not well socialised. They will remain fiery to the last even if they've been socialised. I would be careful as to temperament. There are obedience champion kerries and agility champion kerries but if their owners don't put in the hard yards then they're not going to be remotely obedient. They are independent dogs with minds of their own and are supposed to be. On the animal planet survey, they come up first if you choose 'May kill small animals'.

Of the points you've mentioned the kerry:

1. is not to be trusted in an off-lead park

2. can be dog aggressive if not socialised; my kerry has a wonderful temperament but still goes off like a pocket rocket at anything that moves

3. should be well exercised - perhaps not two hours but the walk is very important

4. is hard work even for those with experience in the breed (my most oft repeated thing to Princess Mini is 'Oi, miss!')

5. yes, is mischievous: completely charming but do you like removing things from your dog's mouth as a constant form of entertainment for yourself? 'Oi, miss, is generally followed by a thunderous, 'Put that down now!' Mind, my wheaten is worse at this. At 14, I'm forever bribing him to drop things and chasing the pair of them around the house.

Do you like dogs that jump and dig? Badger hunters, vermin hunters, have been used as police dogs - chasing is fun. One of Mini's nicknames is Princess Pogo. She can pogo higher than my head.

Best dogs ever along with their nutty blonde cousins but I'm sorry to say, the kerry is not for you.

[mish13]

One thing to consider with the poodle is, are you going to groom it yourself or pay someone else to do it? A standard will cost you upwards of $70 to get it done at a grooming saloon. Or you can buy the gear and learn to do it yourself which is what I have done.

I bath and clip mine every two weeks so you can see how the money can add up.

[Noelle]

Lagotto Romagnolo.

[Christina]

A Poodle is definitely full of character. As for the way they look, that is the beauty of the poodle- you can essentially make the dog look how you want it to look, short buzz cut, foofy puppy clip, fancy show clip, mohawk etc.

Of course, any non-shedding dog requires regular grooming and clipping approximately every 2 months.

Biased as a Poodle fanatic but lets just look at that last sentence for a moment & change it to

If you are not going to pick up a brush & comb every couple of days forget a poodle.

I visited a lady who has a 7 month old poodle, not from me, to show her how to clip & care for its coat.

Long, as she had shown it once & had it done at the groomers 3 times. She thought she was brushing it as she flicked the slicker over a couple of times a week.

Greeted by one big mass of knots to the skin underneath & a very happy gorgeous bouncy dog who bounded all over & did not know how to stay still for grooming & freaked at the clippers.

As she didn't want it shaved to the skin she got left with one short scissored dog & a demonstration of face, feet & tail clip on an untrained dog, which she dare not try. With strict precise instructions on how to train & brush it, every day.

A very good owner who will do this now, she just didn't know or realise.

You can't have a poodle & flick the brush over weekly & put it in the groomers 2 monthly. Not fair on the dog.

A few minutes work every day or 2 is well worth the effort for these beautiful dogs but they are high maintenance unless you just clip short all over, which is fine too.