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Short History of the Breed

This is "Rocky," a Welsh Terrier at nine months. A male, he will grow to 16-20 pounds.

The Welsh Terrier breed can be traced back to the 1500's in Wales, of course. By the 1700's they were customarily used with fox hunting packs in the northern part of Wales. They were also reported to be used to hunt badgers. The breed goes "to the ground" and is tireless in the hunt.

Show classes were offered for the Welsh Terrier at English shows in the 1880's. The Welsh Terrier was first shown in England in 1884 and first imported to the United States in 1888. It has been reported that by 1901 there were enough Welsh Terriers in America to begin offering classes for them at American Kennel Club shows.





Rocky at 5 months:

Physical Description & Size

Size of Male: Height: 15-16 inches Weight: 18-22 pounds
Size of Female: Height: 14-15 inches Weight: 16-20 pounds

A Welsh is a sturdy, relatively calm terrier with a steady temperament. His coat is black with a "reddish" or "tan" head and highlights. His ears are naturally folded. The tail is docked soon after birth. The Welshman’s coat is dense and wirey to keep him waterproof, with a woolly undercoat for insulation. He’s basically a tan dog with a black “jacket!”

As noted above, puppies are born with much more black hair. The puppy coat does shed and is removed by plucking or clipping. The adult coat does not shed unless it is not cared for, so he needs plenty of brushing to remove the dead hair, but very little bathing. The longer hair on his face and legs is called his “furnishings” and these need to be combed. It's recommended that a Welsh be clipped once every 3-4 months to keep his coat in the best possible shape.

Temperment

The Welsh Terrier is an affectionate dog with an outgoing nature, making him an ideal family pet. He is especially friendly with other dogs and a good puppy will show appropriate "deference" to larger breeds. The Welsh has been described as "all of the energy of an Airedale, but in a smaller package." However, a Welshman is not an Airedale or Lakeland, despite their similar physical appearance. The Welsh is intelligent, playful and stubborn. He responds to training and lots of people time. Still, he can be left alone for long periods of time without driving himself crazy. The Welsh responds well to crate training as a puppy. Welsh Terriers have lots of energy and like to play "tug of war" games with just about anything!

Dog Care (exercise, grooming, diet)

Stripping brings out the best texture and color of the coat. Many pet owners are not equipped or have the time, talent, or inclination to pluck the dead hairs, so they use electric clippers. However, clipping makes the coat softer on the back, and, in many dogs with gray undercoats, leads to the appearance of gray hairs in the black jacket. In black undercoats the color changes from season to season when the coat is clipped. About four or five clippings a year will keep a pet looking trim. The adult coat doesn't shed, so a good brushing and combing once a week is necessary to keep the dead hairs removed.

The all-weather coat repels water and insulates against heat and cold. The dog should not be bathed too frequently as water destroys the coat's wiry texture and natural oils. Many Welshes go a lifetime with only two or three baths without doggy odor.

In terms of diet, the Welsh is pretty much omnivorous and one should follow guidelines for amount of food served according to the dog's weight.

For play time, Welshmen are especially fond of tug-of-war games, fetch and squeaky toys.

Health Issues, Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy of this breed is 10 to 16 years.

AKC Group

Terrier

A Welsh Named "Chance" Who Knows How To Relax:

Additional Resources

http://www.dog.com/breed/Welsh-Terrier.asp
http://clubs.akc.org/wtca/puppy.htm
http://www.dogbreed.mypetdogs.com/welsh_terrier.htm
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/welsh.html#Intro
http://clubs.akc.org/wtca/

Welsh Terriers on wikiFido

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Resources, Research, and Other Terrier Enthusiasts Materials.

Name of Resource	Material Type	Description	Comments
Dog Adoption Guide , Pedigree	Interactive Questionnaire	Take the Profiler to narrow your choices to the Group which you can best care for. Is a Terrier really right for you?	Terriers are not for everyone. It is essential that one has the patience to care properly for these fiery, challenging breeds.
Select-A-Dog Questionnaire , Pedigree	Interactive Questionnaire	Narrow your choices down to a list of the top 10 breeds best for you and your lifestyle.	Did you match a Terrier in your top 10 selections? Is Terrier really the right breed for you?