The Welsh Terrier is just as vigilant and lively as any other self-respecting terrier, yet it’s a little less aggressive than most. The Welshman was developed to take on badgers, otters, and other challenging foes. Welsh is built in the traditional style of Britain’s long-legged terriers, being sturdy, compact, and hardy with a tight-fitting black-and-tan coat and a rectangular head having folded ears and a jaunty beard. They are slightly taller than the Lakeland Terrier but considerably shorter than the powerful Airedale, standing around 15 inches at the shoulder. But all three breeds are related; some believe that the Old English Black and Tan Terrier, a long-extinct breed, is the ancestor of all British terriers, including these three.
Welsh Terrier
intelligent / friendly / spirited
Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.
Height
15 inches (male)
proportionally smaller (female)
Weight
20 pounds (male)
proportionally smaller (female)
Life Expectancy
20 pounds (male)
proportionally smaller (female)
Breed Traits & Characteristics
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Affectionate With Family
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Openness To Strangers
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!
Playfulness Level
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.
Watchdog/Protective Nature
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.
Adaptability Level
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.
Trainability Level
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!
Energy Level
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.
Barking Level
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.
Mental Stimulation Needs
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.
About the Breed
What To Expect When Caring For a Welsh Terrier
Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.
Health
Welsh puppies don't seem to be as frail as many other puppies, and they typically thrive with routine care. Welsh people who live to be between 15 and 18 years old are not rare, but the average age seems to be between 12 and 14. Breeders are responsible check their animals for diseases including Legge-Calve-Perthes disease, hip deformity, and allergy issues.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
- Primary Lens Luxation(PLL)
Grooming
The Welsh Terrier's coat requires similar maintenance to other terrier breeds with damaged coats. It is possible to manually remove the hair, a process known as hand-stripping. The art of this kind of grooming is one that takes years to perfect and is a continuous practice. A Welsh Terrier is an easy pet to maintain. Every 8 to 12 weeks, the dog should have its nails clipped; in the winter, the coat should be left longer. The dog should be brushed once or twice a week, and the nails should be cut at least once every week. In most cases, taking a bath in between clippings is not necessary, but if it is, make sure to use a decent shampoo with moisturizers.
Exercise
Welsh Terriers are energetic canines. They like playing ball or catching a flying disc in an enclosed yard with their owner as forms of exercise. They should have plenty of opportunities to run in a contained space, in addition to taking daily or weekly long walks. When the dog is an adult, and only if he is healthy, let him to play and run until he is thoroughly worn out but not exhausted.
Training
Welsh Terriers are sociable and outgoing dogs, but to promote good manners with other dogs, parents must properly socialize their puppies. All Welsh should be trained to walk on a lead with control and consideration for other dogs. This exuberant dog can become the devoted, well-mannered friend he was meant to be with lots of exercise and love.
Nutrition
Welsh Terriers are friendly and outgoing dogs, but their owners need to properly socialize their puppies to encourage good behavior with other dogs. All Welsh should be taught how to control themselves while walking on a lead and show consideration for other dogs. With lots of love and exercise, this boisterous dog can develop into the loyal, polite buddy he was meant to be.
History
Welsh Terriers may have existed before the 1700s, although it is impossible to pinpoint their exact origin. In the isolated mountainous region of northern Wales, they were developed specifically to hunt fox, otter, and badger. Welsh Terriers were well-suited for the job of squaring up against razor-toothed, razor-clawed prey because to their muscular forequarters, punishing jaws, and characteristic terrier bravery. Digging enemies out of their burrows—especially deadly ones like badgers—was not a task for meek dogs.
