Accepting applications for puppies for the Nora + Carter litter born July 18th, 2024. Click here to find out more!
Is the Kerry Blue a good family dog?
Yes! They are exceptional family companions as well as working dogs. They excel in obedience, vermin hunting, herding, and so much more. They are extremely adaptable and love to be a part of family life. They are innately good with children, although we always encourage supervision when interaction occurs. It is important to teach both your children and Kerry how to appropriately interact with each other and create boundaries of which you set to keep everyone safe.
Are Kerry Blues Hypoallergenic?
Kerry Blues are known for their strikingly beautiful coats, which are known to produce minimal allergens and are considered to be hypoallergenic. 'Hypo' translates to less, not none, therefore they may still cause allergic reactions. Additionally, due their innate love for the outdoors, while they may not produce dander allergens, they may pick up environmental pollen, dirt, etc., that may cause irritation. With diligent grooming care, they should not cause allergic reactions seen in other breeds.
Are they trainable?
Kerry Blues have an exceptional amount of intelligence and love putting it to use! They absolutely thrive off of training, however, they need short training sessions and ways to make it fun and not repetitive. Having a sense of humor when training your Kerry is a must, as they are very enthusiastic and goofy when training. The best way to bond with your Kerry is through positive and constructive training, and when all else fails, a good laugh and a tennis ball!
Is the Kerry Blue good with other pets?
Kerry Blues love being the center of attention, however, with proper introduction and socialization for all family pets, most live life very attached to their family companions including felines. Some Kerries don't do well with other dogs and pets and this must be acknowledged as a possibility. *Due to the spirited nature of the breed, Kerries can be reactive toward other dogs. This does not, and should not, equate to aggression. However, despite best breeding practices and ongoing training, some Kerries cannot be around other dogs, especially those of the same sex. **It should be noted that extreme caution is taken when households have small animals such as rabbits, mice, hamsters, etc., as their innate behavior to chase and hunt may cause injury or fatal harm.
How often do kerries need to be groomed?
Kerry Blue Terriers require grooming every 4-6 weeks to maintain healthy skin and coat. Since they do not shed, they need to be brushed daily to avoid painful tangles known as 'matting'.
what is their activity level like?
Kerry Blue Terriers are a moderate to high-energy breed that requires at least an hour of exercise daily. This can be broken up into long walks, various training exercises, and play sessions. They truly prefer variation and most love swimming, hiking, biking, or just a scenic walk. They also need mental stimulation which can be as simple as a snuffle mat or puzzles when feeding, training periods/refreshers, barn hunt activity, etc. They need to use their brains in a constructive way, or they will find mischief to preoccupy themselves.
Is the Kerry Blue a healthy breed?
Few genetic conditions are prominent in the breed (i.e. vWDs, Factor XI deficiency, CMSD, and DM), all of which we test for before breeding our dogs. Hips are also typically evaluated as part of standard health testing. The most common health concern seen in Kerry Blue Terriers is a condition called 'dry eye' where they cannot produce enough tears to keep the eye properly moisturized. Overall, they are a healthy breed, and their zest for life continues well into their senior years.
How much for a Costerra puppy?
Costerra Kerry Blue Terriers are $3,000 USD per puppy. We do not sell puppies to brokers, pet stores, or puppy mills. (Pricing is subject to change over time)
What is your return policy for puppies?
If for any reason you are unable to care/keep you puppy, it is REQUIRED that you notify me and arrangements will be made for me to get the puppy or dog back into my possession at any point during their life. Puppies that are returned within 7 days of the sale will be provided a full refund, less the deposit fee of $500 USD. If puppies are returned beyond the 7 day timeframe, buyer understands they forfeit the entire purchase price of the puppy.
what is your policy on altering pets?
All puppies placed as companion pets are required to be spayed/neutered by 2 years of age. It is our recommendation that puppies are not to be altered prior to 10 months of age. Altering prior to this age will void parts of our health guarantee. This is outlined in our contract of sale further.
Do you ship puppies to new homes?
No, we do NOT ship puppies in cargo. For puppy homes out of state and using airline transportation, it is required they fly in cabin as your carry-on, or I can fly your puppy to you at your expense. *Carriers and all transportation fees are the responsibility of the puppy buyer. Everything must be paid for in full and arrangements made in advance, especially if I am to transport your puppy to you.
What kind of registration do Costerra puppies come with?
Each litter from Costerra is registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC). When picking up your puppy, you will sign a contract of sale that details our terms for puppy ownership, the type of sale, and our expectations for each puppy and their new home. Both parties will receive a signed and dated copy of this contract, which may be digital or physical, depending on availability or preference. Puppies intended for companion/pet homes are sold with an AKC limited registration. This means they are not intended for breeding and must be spayed or neutered by 2 years of age. Once we receive proof of the alteration, we will finalize the AKC paperwork. Puppies designated as conformation/show prospects are sold with a co-ownership and full AKC registration. We will remain listed on the registration until the terms of our contract are fulfilled or the dog is altered.
What type of Vaccines will my puppy recieve?
All puppies will go home with age appropriate vaccinations administered by a licensed veterinarian. While we follow the Dodd vaccination schedule, we advise that each new vaccination be given separate from others (at least 1 week in between other vaccinations) to limit immune suppression and to identify any reactions that may result from a vaccination.
What is your return policy for puppies?
If for any reason you are unable to care/keep you puppy, it is REQUIRED that you notify me and arrangements will be made for me to get the puppy or dog back into my possession at any point during their life. Puppies that are returned within 7 days of the sale will be provided a full refund, less the deposit fee of $500 USD. If puppies are returned beyond the 7 day timeframe, buyer understands they forfeit the entire purchase price of the puppy.
What kind of registration do Costerra puppies come with?
Each litter from Costerra is registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC). When picking up your puppy, you will sign a contract of sale that details our terms for puppy ownership, the type of sale, and our expectations for each puppy and their new home. Both parties will receive a signed and dated copy of this contract, which may be digital or physical, depending on availability or preference. Puppies intended for companion/pet homes are sold with an AKC limited registration. This means they are not intended for breeding and must be spayed or neutered by 2 years of age. Once we receive proof of the alteration, we will finalize the AKC paperwork. Puppies designated as conformation/show prospects are sold with a co-ownership and full AKC registration. We will remain listed on the registration until the terms of our contract are fulfilled or the dog is altered.
Do you breed designer mixes or doodles?
Absolutely not! As a preservation breeder, we breed to preserve the unique qualities and traits of the Kerry Blue Terrier. By mixing breeds, we lose not only the time and effort to preserve this breed cultivated over a century ago, but also we lose the genetic predictability we rely on to better grow our breed. The Kerry Blue Terrier already has many amazing qualities that people are sold when looking for designer mixes and 'doodles' --such as non-shedding coats, medium size, active family companions, health, etc. That being said, Kerry Blue Terriers are first and foremost a working terrier breed that requires ongoing training, complete daily stimulation (mental and physical activities), and a keen owner to create a happy and balanced life. The growing trend of doodle breeding has exponentially gotten out of hand and truthfully made a great impact on shelter/rescue numbers due to unethical breeding. Most of these "breeders" found that people will purchase an animal on a whim or even if the dog has the right markings (i.e., merle), and offer no health, temperament, or structural guarantees. They often will happily take money for deposits and payment of their puppies without any regard to where they go, how they fit into their family's lifestyle, and any research pertaining to the breed(s) that the dog may be made up by genetically. By choosing an ethical breeder, you are not only guaranteeing we are breeding to the standard upheld by our national breed club (USKBTC), but we are health and temperament testing and screening to ensure that our puppies and families are set up for a lifetime of success.
How many litters per year do you breed?
We are a small preservation breeding program, and likely will only breed one to two litters every couple of years. We wait until our dogs are fully mature and can be health tested accordingly. Typically, most genetic testing cannot begin until the dogs are at least 24 months of age when they reach physical maturity. However, genetic screening can be done as early as possible.