The exact origins of the Kerry will probably never be known. There is a romantic story of a blue dog swimming ashore from a shipwreck. The coat of this dog was so lovely that it was mated with all the female Wheaten Terriers in Kerry (or in all Ireland according to some) producing the Kerry Blue. Maybe this is not entirely fantasy as the Portuguese Water Dog is often suggested as part of the Kerry's make up. The Kerry is known as a good swimmer and one of the few breeds used for hunting otter in deep water. Others suggest the Kerry was produced by the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier crossed with the Bedlington Terrier with (or without) some Irish Wolfhound or Irish Terrier blood. The extinct Gadhar herding dog is also mentioned as another possible branch of the Kerry's family tree. One certain fact is the breed became very popular as an all around farm dog in rural Ireland. They are well known for their stubborness. If you are planning on getting a Kerry Blue make sure you are ready for it. They are also fairly hard to train

The Kerry Blue Terrier is a breed of dog named after County Kerry in South West Ireland. In its motherland the it is often called the Irish Blue Terrier which is probably a better name because the breed was never restricted to Kerry. Over time the Kerry became a general working dog used for a variety of jobs including herding cattle and sheep and as a guard dog. It was, however, primarily developed for controlling "vermin" including rats, rabbits, badgers, foxes, otters and hares and dog fighting. Today the Kerry has spread around the world as a companion and working dog. Despite a Kerry Blue winning Crufts - the most important UK dog show - in 2000, it remains an unfashionable breed. Not as threatened as some of the other Irish native breeds (Skye Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier) but still distinctly uncommon.