History and Character

If Airedales are considered the King of Terriers - Welsh are the ’Heir Apparent’.  They may only be a small breed but their demeanour and stature is ‘one who believes he is King’.  He is a no nonsense dog who has no reservations about taking on bigger dogs if the occasion warrants. He considers himself the boss and has right-of-way in all cases. However, he can quite happily live alongside most any other larger breed of dog, provided the other dog agrees that the Welsh is No.1!

Its origins, as its name suggests, is firmly rooted in Wales - a black and red bellied bitch being mentioned by a Welsh poet as early as 1450.  Wales at that time had a multitude of game and wildlife ranging from badger, beaver, polecat, fox, stoat and other vermin just waiting for the versatile Welsh terrier to hunt it down.

Fairly easy to train so long as you are firm and start as you mean to go on.  An 8 week charming feisty little bundle soon grows up to be a feisty hard to handle adult. Early training is a necessity as he can become quite deaf when he is on the trail of something of interest. A hunter by nature he loves nothing better than going off on a foray into fields and woods, but he can also quickly change into a regular lap dog hogging the nearest chair by the fire. Welsh Terriers have a great enthusiasm for life and so are not for people who want a dog that needs little exercise.  He is adaptable enough to fit into many lifestyles but they do need regular daily exercise, otherwise all their pent up terrier spirit will turn him into a destructive demon. 

A hardy breed. Compact and square in shape.  Sometimes referred to as the “miniature Airedale” but there the comparisons stop.  They have very different characters from the Airedale -  much more energetic, very quick on their feet (so be careful when opening doors), slightly more vociferous which could be a problem if not properly checked when a puppy.  They make good watchdogs, letting their owners know if something is amiss.  They are good with children, but as with all dogs/children ,you must lay down boundaries and teach both to respect each other. Puppies are not toys and they need their sleep and rest periods just like babies to enable them to grow into sound mature adults. Patient firm training as a puppy will reap great rewards in the older dog.

Grooming

The Welsh Terrier has a harsh wiry black and tan coat which needs regular grooming and as they do not moult they need to be hand trimmed or clipped on a regular basis, at least 4 to 5 times per year.  The tan can be anything from mahogany to honey in colour. The basic grooming equipment you need is a terrier palm pad, a fine and a wide tooth comb and a good bristle brush. The palm pad can be used everywhere on the dog, the wide tooth comb should be used for combing through the beard and the leg hair and the fine tooth comb the back coat.  The bristle brush can be used all over for the final gloss. A well groomed Welsh Terrier is a very smart dog indeed.  Nails should be clipped every two weeks and this is best started off when a puppy so that it becomes used to this.  Teeth should be cleaned regularly.

Feeding

They can be greedy so be very careful not to over feed.  For adults 1/2 to 1  standard tin of food plus biscuit per day. The actual amount greatly depends on the amount of exercise the dog has.  For complete diets follow the breeder’s advice or that shown of the manufacturer.  Any change in diet should be introduced gradually. Every dog is an individual so what is right for one may be too much or not enough for another. The breeder of your puppy should give you a diet sheet along with Kennel Club Registration papers, Pedigree Certificate and Worming Certificate.

 

 Links

www.welshterrierclub.co.uk	Welsh Terrier Club of America
Southern Point Welsh Terriers - Holland	The Welsh Terrier Association