Other names/Nicknames:
- Old English Terrier
- Black and Tan Wire Haired Terrier
Country/Date of origin:
- Wales
- 1500′s
Height:
- 14 to 15 inches
Weight:
- 20 to 21 pounds
Personality:
- Active and playful, the Welsh Terrier is a charmer.
- Very much a one-family dog.
- Less volatile than the Lakeland or the Wire Haired Fox Terrier. The Welsh will not back down from trouble if he finds it.
History:
The recorded history of the Welsh Terrier goes back to the 1500′s. By the 1700′s, it was customarily used with fox hunting packs in the northern part of Wales. The long-legged terrier was able to keep up with the horses but was still small enough to go after fox or badger below the ground. Show classes were offered for the Welsh Terrier at English shows in the 1880′s. By 1901 there were enough of the breed in America to offer classes for them at American Kennel Club (AKC) shows.
Body Type:
- A medium-sized, rough-coated terrier with a distinctive patterning of the coat.
- Often confused with the Lakeland Terrier, the Welsh can be distinguished by its broader head and sparser facial hair.
- Button ears are not altered.
- Erect tail is docked.
Coat:
- The workman-like coat is weather resistant and double. The outer hairs are hard and wiry and the undercoat soft.
- The preferred color is black and tan but black, grizzle and tan is also permitted.
- Requires professional grooming.
Health and Wellness:
- Generally hardy.
- Lens luxation.
What you should know:
- Puppies are usually born solid black. The dark color recedes quickly and the blanketed, black and tan pattern should be visible by the time the pup is three or four months old.
- More level-headed than most terriers.
- Welsh Terriers are excellent outfielders in a ball game.
- Relative rarity of the Welsh Terrier may make a puppy hard to find in some parts of the country.
