Welsh Terrier

The Welsh is the clown of the Terrier group. Versatilebut with a mind of its own, the Welsh has an indomitable spirit and is not adog for the faint of heart! Itsportability and minimally shedding coat combine to make the Welsh a popularcompanion for those with sensitivities to dogs and who look to size as aconsideration in their choice of canine companion. Bred to hunt vermin, the prey instinct is never far from the fore- endless hours of fun can be had hunting squirrels, groundhogs and sundryother small animals in the back yard. But beware - this little dog is not able to distinguish between the petand garden variety of rodent so gerbils and hamsters must be maintained farfrom the ever-present interest of a resident Welsh terrier.

Similar in lookto its longer legged cousin the Airedale Terrier, the Welsh is NOT a miniatureAiredale. The breeds are distinctlydifferent from their antecedents to their outlook on life. The Airedale is a relatively easygoingTerrier, active through puppy hood but with a reasonably benign view of theworld as an adult. Not so theWelsh. The Welsh maintains its verveand lust for life through old age. Arace for a prized possession is as likely to occur in a ten year old as it isin its year old counterpart. The Welshis the soul of tenacity, never believing for a minute that ‘No’ actually meansNo. At worst, ‘No’ is synonymous with‘Maybe later’ and is a word almost never mistaken by the Welsh as anabsolute. This breed loves to test itslimits, whether it is learning a new game or trying one more time to outrun youwith your favorite shoe in its mouth.

The Welsh standard in Canada describes a dog 15 inches at the shoulder and weighingtwenty pounds. Black and tan with a hard,wiry coat, it does resemble its cousin the Airedale in a smaller package. The general appearance of the Welsh shouldbe one of substance - a more substantial dog pound for pound than any of theAiredale, Wire Fox or Lakeland Terriers. It has a powerful looking outline and gives an overall impression of a dog ready to work ably in the mountains of its native Wales.

The Welsh is a minimally shedding breed. See the aboveparagraph on the Airedale coat for an elaboration of the Welsh coat.

There is littledefinitive material published on the Welsh Terrier so we are fortunate inrecent years to have had a book written by Bardi McLennan, published by DoralPublishing entitled The Welsh Terrier Leads the Way. The book is well researched and gives a detailedoverview of the history of our great little breed.

Welsh Terriers and Children:

The Welsh Terrieris an active, inquisitive dog with a great sense of humour and a mind of its'own. It must be made to understand at ayoung age the hierarchy of the family unit and have this hierarchy reinforcedthrough its' first few months in any family. This being done effectively, the Welsh settles in as a great pet. Children from the ages of eight to adulthoodreally seem to enjoy the Welsh for its' irreverence and its' “let's find thenext adventure” viewpoint. This dog isexuberance personified. It willoutwalk, outhike and outplay the most active of children. In the next breath, it will be asleep ontheir beds. With its' virtuallynon-shedding coat and portable size, it can make an ideal companion. In addition, the dog will accept unendingamounts of attention and never seems to tire of interaction with its'human. This has been a remarkableaddition to families of only children. They become almost a surrogate sibling due to their large personality and their loyalty.

Dog play, notbeing the same as child play, and including jumping and grabbing, will notalways be seen as positive by parents of visiting young children. We honestly feel a Welsh puppy does best inhomes where children are, at a minimum, of school age. There are of course exceptions. In homes where parents are very experienceddog owners, the situation is mitigated greatly. In addition, adult Welsh cope better with young children than dopuppies.