Welsh Terrier Breed Information Puppies and Breeders Australia

Breed Type: Terrier
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Size: Medium
Also known as:  Welshies
Height: 35-39 cm Weight:  9-10 kg
Exercise Requirements: Medium
Care Requirements: Medium
Lifespan: 11-14 Years
Best Suited as: Family Pets

The Welsh Terrier, known for their history as hunting dogs, is intelligent and inquisitive. They make good pets with proper exercise and stimulation.

Appearance
The Welsh Terrier is a sturdy, compact, medium sized dog with a coarse wire-textured coat. They have a double coat; the undercoat is soft, hard and dense while their outer coat is wiry to the touch. This outer coat is very helpful to the breed as it protects them from wind, rain and dirt while the undercoat keeps them warm. The Welsh Terrier is an attractive dog with a tan colored coat except for the black jacket that covers his neck and back.  Some females have less black fur and instead have a tan coat throughout.

The Welsh Terrier is an excellent runner for both endurance and speed. He has a free gait that is effortless.  Their body shape is rectangular while their head is a square, almost brick like.  Their expression is confident and alert. Their eyes are small, dark brown and almond-shaped and spaced rather far apart. They have V shaped ears and a long muzzle. Most Welsh Terriers have docked tails in countries where this practice is still permitted.

History
The Welsh Terrier is said to be one of the oldest purebred terriers originating in the late 17th century in the high mountains and hidden valleys of Wales.  The breed was originally called the Black-and-Tan Wire Haired Terrier, Old English Terrier and the Old Reddish-Black Wirehaired Terrier. They were used for hunting badger, fox, otter, and hares and where known to drive the quarry to a spot where they could corner and seize their prey.  The Welsh Terrier became a prized hunting dog due to their strength, small size and strong sense of smell.  The breed was first shown in England in 1884 and in 1886, the English Kennel Club recognized the breed. While the breed became competitive in the show ring, they have not achieved the strong success that some of their terrier cousins have.

The Welsh Terrier was brought to the United States in 1888. In 1900 the Welsh Terrier Club of America was formed.  The Welsh Terrier is moderately popular in Australia today.

Temperament
Welsh Terriers have a unique personality but with a typical terrier temperament.  They have been described as intelligent, confident, happy, lively, and rarely shy. They make good pets as they are highly social with people and other dogs.  They can also relax and cuddle with you on the couch but quickly become active when he sees a squirrel outside the window.

The Welsh Terrier does present challenges, however. They have a stubborn streak when it comes to obedience training.  While they learn a command fairly easily, once they have mastered it they see little value in repeating it.  When acting on their own, they are quite creative and quick decision makers. The Welsh Terrier will firmly stand its ground in a confrontation and will not easily back down. Easily bored, the Welsh Terrier can become yappy, mischievous and destructive without the proper stimulation.

Care and Grooming
The Welsh Terrier needs a moderate amount of grooming.  Brushing and combing is required several times a week. While many owners take their Welsh Terriers to the groomers, an owner can learn how to use the clippers to shape their dog’s typical cut.  Fortunately, this breed is a light shedder.

Welsh Terriers are full of energy and require regular exercise. Going for a long walk or hike, a swim or playing fetch will help channel this dogs’ energy. If allowed to run off leash, she should be in a safe area because of her instinct to hunt.  Most Welsh Terriers are reserved with strangers and can be scrappy with other dogs and pets.

Health
Welsh Terriers tend to be healthy dogs provided they are well exercised, fit and fed a healthy, balanced diet.  Some studies suggest they are a predisposed to glaucoma and skin allergies. This has been less of an issue for Australians Welsh Terriers.  Hypothyroidism also occurs in some Welsh Terriers.

Suitability as a Pet
The Welsh Terrier can be a devoted companion for an active family who has the time to care for her and meet her exercise requirements. She is quite tolerant of kids and likes games where she can run, romp, jump, and display her silly antics. While Welsh Terriers are highly entertaining and active, they can be calm and quiet.

Welsh Terriers need an owner with patience and dedication to making training fun and different. Not the easiest to train, providing food as a reward will often do the trick.  They also need to be socialized with other family members at a young age, if possible. If there are young family members present, your pet should learn not to tug at their pant legs or bowl them over. Welsh Terriers can learn to play gently. Older Welsh Terriers who are used to being the “baby” of the family may need time to adjust to a new human sibling. If not properly socialized, a Welsh Terrier can be nippy, excessively bark and show signs of separation anxiety.

As with most terriers, your Welsh Terrier may dig holes in your backyard and may make a mess of your garden when you are not looking. Make sure you play fun games to keep his attention focused on fun instead of mayhem.  Although not ideal, a Welsh Terrier can live in an apartment.  Most do better in a home with at least a small yard or on a country estate.  As a born watchdog, he will likely bark at anyone of anything suspicious which can be a problematic with close neighbors.  

Not sure which gender to adopt?  Males tend to be more easy-going, devoted, and friendly. They are steadier, quieter, and quicker to enjoy having fun than the female. Most Welsh Terriers do well with other dogs but have a tendency to chase cats and other small furry pets.