Kerry Blue Terrier vs Standard Schnauzer

A Kerry Blue Terrier
Photo: Eponimm
A Standard Schnauzer
Photo: Standardschnauzer1

Side by side

Kerry Blue Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Adult weight
Males 15–18 kg (33–40 lb); females 10–13 kg (22–29 lb)1
14–20 kg (31–44 lb)2
Height
Males 45.5–49.5 cm; females 44.5–48 cm1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 12.4 years3
Median 13 years3
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Terriers1
Pinschers & molossoids2
Coat
Wavy coat1
Wire or harsh coat2
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Mouth melanoma (much more likely)5
No sourced figure
Class
Watchdog
Watchdog

Which suits you

Size
The Standard Schnauzer is a little larger on average: about 17 kg (37 lb) as an adult, against 14 kg (31 lb) for the Kerry Blue Terrier.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Kerry Blue Terrier sheds through the year, the Standard Schnauzer holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out.
Grooming
The Kerry Blue Terrier needs more grooming, brushing a few times a week, where the Standard Schnauzer needs a brush once a week.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Kerry Blue Terrier: decides for itself; Standard Schnauzer: cooperative, with its own ideas) and on prey drive (Kerry Blue Terrier: likely to chase small pets; Standard Schnauzer: chases; needs managing).
Alike
Both are rated the same on loyalty: sticks close to its people.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Kerry Blue Terrier
Terriers · Medium

In temperament the breed is lively, clever and alert. It is affectionate and playful with its own household and watchful with strangers, which suited its old role as a farm guard.

Standard Schnauzer
Pinschers & molossoids · Medium

The breed is alert, intelligent and energetic, with a strong instinct to guard home and family. It tends to be reserved with strangers but devoted to its own people.

The Kerry Blue Terrier page →The Standard Schnauzer page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Kerry Blue Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Kerry Blue Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Decides for itself
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Kerry Blue Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour6. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home7,8.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Standard Schnauzer grows to the heavier adult, about 17 kg against the Kerry Blue Terrier's 14 kg.
Kerry Blue Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
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More comparisons

Compare the Kerry Blue Terrier with
Miniature Schnauzer vs Standard SchnauzerSoft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Standard SchnauzerAiredale Terrier vs Standard SchnauzerGiant Schnauzer vs Standard SchnauzerStandard Schnauzer vs West Highland White TerrierKerry Blue Terrier vs Soft Coated Wheaten TerrierAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·